IL Secretary Of State Warns Of Scam On Businesses

Secretary of State Jesse White warned businesses Wednesday to beware of a scam targeting Illinois corporations. A firm called Corporate Records Service is contacting Illinois businesses in an attempt to collect a $125 fee to fill out a corporation’s “Annual Minutes Records Form,”  he said. The scam is that Illinois doesn't require corporations to file it in the first place.

“The problem is that the form this bogus firm is sending out looks similar to our Secretary of State’s annual report form,” White said. “We are concerned that companies are filing the form and paying the $125 because they believe they are filing their annual report with us, as required by law.”

Although the bogus notice states that the fee must be paid by September 21, 2012, there is no
fee due to the state for that purpose. The only fee that corporations must pay is the one with their annual report, said White. Similar solicitations by the company have been reported in Florida and Georgia, too. White said State police and Illinois Attorney General’s Office are investigating Corporate Records Service and recommended that corporations ignore the solicitation. If a business has questions or wants to report victimization, the Secretary of State’s complaint number is 312-814-2201.