Jesse White Warns Businesses of Statewide Corporate Scam
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is warning businesses to beware of a scam targeting Illinois corporations.
A firm called Illinois Corporate Compliance is contacting Illinois businesses in an attempt to collect a $150 fee to file a corporation’s “Annual Minutes Disclosure Statement.” The Illinois Business Corporation Act and the Illinois Limited Liability Act do not require organizations to file a minutes disclosure statement or pay such a fee with the state or any private entity. Although the bogus notice states that the fee must be paid by April 24, 2009, Illinois corporations should be on the alert for other similar attempts to defraud them.
“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 $150 because they believe they are filing their annual report with us as required by law.”
The Secretary of State police and the U.S. Postal Service Inspector’s Office are conducting a joint investigation of the corporate scam.
White is recommending that corporations do not reply to the solicitation. The Corporate Compliance scam has targeted corporations in California, Colorado, Florida, Oregon and Texas.
If a business has questions or wants to report the scam, please contact the Secretary of State’s office at 312-814-9509.