Tag Archives: scam

Commonwealth Edison warns of scams

Jan 6, 2016 | WLS-AM Staff

By John Dempsey, WLS News

(CHICAGO) Commonwealth Edison is announcing that scam artists have been contacting customers posing as employees of the utility.   The company says scammers are contacting customers by phone and in-person claiming to be ComEd representatives and telling them their service will be disconnected unless payment is made. They instruct the

individual to wire funds or buy a prepaid credit card and call them back with the personal identification number (PIN).

Edison says sometimes the scammers tell customers that their billing cycles have changed, or that their accounts are past due, and that they must make immediate payment to avoid disconnection of service.

Edison issued a statement saying it is not the company’s policy to make such requests, and that anyone who is unsure about the status of their accounts should contact the company directly at 1-800-EDISON1.

If you think you have been the victim of a scam, ComEd asks you to call the Illinois Attorney General’s office at 1-800-386-5438.

 

@ 2016 W;S News

Authorities warn of ‘bogus firm’ scamming Illinois corporations

Oct 13, 2015 | WLSAM Staff

(CHICAGO) Authorities are warning businesses of a scam targeting Illinois corporations.

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, according to a statement from the Secretary of State’s office.

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 annual report fee is normally the only fee a corporation would pay to the Secretary of State Business Services Department, according to the statement.

“This bogus firm is sending out a form that looks similar to the Secretary of State’s annual report form,” said Secretary of State Jesse White in the statement.

Business owners who believe they’ve been targeted by this scam should file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office, according to the statement.

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

Businesses can file a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office Consumer Fraud Bureau at (800) 243-0618.

© Copyright 2015 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

Scammers target businesses with ‘Annual Minutes Form’

Jan 5, 2015 |

(Chicago)  A firm called Annual Business Services is sending a solicitation letter and attempting to scam Illinois businesses, according to Secretary of State Jesse White.

The firm is contacting businesses and attempting to collect a $125 fee for a corporation’s “corporate minutes,” a statement from White’s office said.

The fake notice, which resembles the state’s annual report form, warns the fee must be paid by Jan. 9, but White recommends corporations do not reply to the solicitation, the statement said.

The Illinois Business Corporation Act does not require corporations to file an “Annual Minutes Form.” The only fee that corporations are required to pay is included in their annual report, the statement said.

“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 in the statement. “We are concerned that companies may be filing the form and paying the $125 because they believe they are filing their annual report with us, as required by law.”

Businesses can file a complaint about the solicitation at the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Division at (800) 243-0618.

© Copyright 2015 Sun-Times Media, LLC

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