SECRETARY OF STATE WARNS BUSINESSES OF SCAM

Ill. Sec. of State Jesse White is joined by Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin, and Ill. State Police Director Hiram Grau in announcing the busting of an auto theft ring that stole more than 200 vehicles worth $4 million, including Cadillacs, Land Rovers, Mercedes & BMWs. The joint law enforcement effort, headed by the Secretary of State Police, disbanded the illegal operation and arrested 21 offenders.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is warning businesses to beware of a scam targeting Illinois corporations. A firm called Corporate Records Service is contacting businesses in an attempt to collect a $125 fee to fill out and file 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.
“The problem is that the form this bogus firm is sending out looks similar to our Secretary of State’s annual report form,” Jesse White says. “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 fee that is paid with their annual report. Illinois corporations should be on the alert for this and other similar attempts to defraud them.
    White is recommending that corporations do not reply to the solicitation. The Secretary of State Police and Illinois Attorney General’s Office are investigating this deceptive business practice.
    If a business has questions or wants to report that it has been a victim of the scam, they are asked to contact the Secretary of State’s Office at 312/814-2201.