(815 ILCS 505/3) (from Ch. 121 1/2, par. 263)

Sec. 3. When it appears to the Attorney General that a person has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in any practice declared to be unlawful by this Act; when he receives a written complaint from a consumer or borrower of the commission of a practice declared to be unlawful under this Act; or when he believes it to be in the public interest that an investigation should be made to ascertain whether a person in fact has engaged in, is engaging in or is about to engage in, any practice declared to be unlawful by this Act, he may:

(a) Require that person to file on such terms as he prescribes a statement or report in writing under oath or otherwise, as to all information as he may consider necessary;

(b) Examine under oath any person in connection with the conduct of any trade or commerce;

(c) Examine any merchandise or sample thereof, record, book, document, account or paper as he may consider necessary; and

(d) Pursuant to an order of a Circuit Court impound any record, book, document, account, paper, or sample of merchandise that is produced in accordance with this Act, and retain it in his possession until the completion of all proceedings in connection with which it is produced.

(Source: P.A. 78-904.)