Illinois AG sues over unnecessary fee scam

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed suit against a company for allegedly conning businesses into paying unnecessary fees with an official-looking letter.

The bogus letters instructed companies to pay a $125 fee for an "annual minutes records form." Madigan's office says the letters were made to look like they were from the Illinois Secretary of State's office.

Madigan says companies can toss those letters in the garbage. The fee isn't required by Illinois law.

Madigan's office and the Illinois Secretary of State's office have received dozens of complaints and hundreds of calls from Illinois companies about the scam. The lawsuit asks the court to ban the company from making such solicitations. The lawsuit also seeks refunds for any Illinois corporations that paid the bogus fees.