It is not difficult for an offshore company to maintain a storefront office in the USA , and to claim they are based in this country when in reality the bulk of the company and its assets are offshore. Simple matter of setting up a sham corporation in the USA that lists the American address on its articles of incorporation.  The offshore company becomes a shareholder of the sham corporation , and funds are dividended to the offshore company. Shareholders generally are not listed with the secretaries of state. There are some countries down in the Carribean Islands that treat corporate information as well as bank accounts as confidential. You can trace the offshore company to the borders of that island, but it is almost impossible to get any information concerning the company or its officers/directors. You are right it is a scary prospect.