Illinois Attorney General warns of tobacco settlement scam

Posted on July 10, 2017
Cigarettes
The Illinois Attorney General’s office is alerting the public about a scam tied to the 1998 tobacco settlement. (Photo courtesy Pixabay)

By WJBC Staff

SPRINGFIELD – Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office is warning the public about a scam related to the tobacco master settlement.

The settlement with tobacco companies over deceptive marketing was reached in 1998, but attorney general spokesperson Annie Thompson said con artists are still trying to take advantage of the situation.

“The attorney general’s office has received an increase in calls from consumers to let us know they are receiving emails or seeing online ads letting them know they could be eligible to receive payments under the tobacco master settlement agreement,” Thompson said.

Thompson noted that’s a scam since individuals are not eligible to receive money from the settlement.

“In the end all they receive is information about bond purchases that are backed by settlement money and once consumers subscribe it can be extremely difficult to cancel the subscription,” Thompson said.

She urges consumers to report these bogus offers to the Illinois Attorney General’s office.

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