Tagged: scam

The Illinois Department of Insurance is warning consumers that a Florida-based company is illegally marketing home warranty services to residents in the state. The agency says Arkidus Home Protection continues to market the warranties despite a previous cease and desist order from the Illinois Insurance Department. They say the state of Florida has taken similar action against Arkidus for illegal activity. The company markets warranties for household appliances via the Internet.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is filing suit against a company for allegedly conning businesses into paying unnecessary fees with an official-looking letter. The bogus letters told 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 the letters in the garbage because the fee isn't required by Illinois law.

A consumer advocacy groups says scams adding charges to people’s cell phone bills have almost doubled in Illinois this past year.  The Citizens Utility Board says scammers target cell users as wireless communication increases and new laws forbid cramming land lines. Cramming refers to third-party charges added to customers’ bills for services they never ordered.

The Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative is warning its members about a telemarketing scam offering bogus payment of energy bills.