CHICAGO (AP) — Legislation banning a telephone bill scam known as "cramming" was signed into law Wednesday, making Illinois among the few states to ban third-party companies from adding fees to bills.

The new law prohibits such companies from adding unwanted, unneeded or bogus charges on a landline telephone bill that may show up each month for things such as extended warrantees or vague service fees. The scam — with charges ranging from $10 to $45 per bill — has been around for years on landline phone bills and is creeping into the cellphone industry.

Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn signed four bills into law Wednesday, all relating to consumer protections and utilities.