Publications & Sites 
Jesse White warns of statewide corporate scam
Updated: November 27, 2012 12:33PM
Illinois — Secretary of State Jesse White is warning businesses to beware of a scam targeting Illinois corporations.
This is the second attempt this year by this group to swindle businesses.
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.” 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 form this firm is sending out 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 because they believe they are filing their annual report with us, as required by law,” he said
The false notice, mailed in a green envelope, states that the fee must be paid by Nov. 9, 2012. However, there is no fee due to the state for that purpose. The annual report fee is normally the only fee a corporation would pay.
The scam is also occurring in Ohio, Florida, Rhode Island, Texas and Washington. It has been reported in Connecticut, Michigan, New York, North Carolina and Massachusetts.
Anyone who has become a victim of the scam should call the Secretary of State’s Business Services Office at (217) 782-6945 or (312) 793-3380. The Secretary of State Police is leading the investigation together with other state and federal agencies.
Businesses that have received the notice are encouraged to contact the Secretary of State’s Business Services Office at (217) 782-6961 or (312) 793-3380.~.
