Another day, another scam alert. It seems that these days, everyone is trying to reach into your pocket. Some are doing it legally, others...not so much. This one got our attention because the warning comes from both Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

From their release:

A firm called Illinois Council for Corporations is contacting Illinois businesses in an attempt to collect a $125 fee to fill out a corporation’s “Annual Minutes Records Form.” The Illinois Business Corporation Act does not require corporations to file a “Minutes Records Form” or pay such a fee with the state or any private entity. “This bogus firm is sending out a form that looks similar to the Secretary of State’s annual report form,” White said. “We are concerned that companies are filing the form and paying the $125 fee because they believe they are filing their annual report with us, as required by law.”

The problem is that there is no fee due to the state for "annual minutes." The only fee that should be paid to the Secretary of State Business Services Department by corporations is the annual report fee. So, if contacted about this bogus charge, what should you do?

White is recommending that corporations do not reply to the solicitation. He also recommends business owners who believe they’ve been targeted by this scam file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office.

“Posing as government officials is a tactic frequently used by scammers, so it’s important that business owners be vigilant,” said Attorney General Madigan. “If business owners are asked to submit fees and forms they are unfamiliar with, I encourage them to first contact my office.”

All of the Secretary of State’s Business Services forms are available on the website at www.cyberdriveillinois.com. For all other questions, please call 217-782-6961.

If a business would like to file a complaint in relation to this solicitation, please contact the Illinois Attorney General’s Office Consumer Fraud Bureau at 800-243-0618 or visit IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.gov.

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