SE Illinois News

The Illinois Attorney General's office has recently revealed the top 10 most frequent scams that Illinois residents fell victim to in 2023. According to the office, the top three categories of scams were construction/home improvement repairs, identity theft, and consumer debt. It was noted that for the third consecutive year, home repairs claimed the top spot in the list of common scams.

Highlighting the prevalence of scams in the home improvement sector, the Illinois Attorney General's office stated, "This is the third straight year that the top spot was taken by home repairs." One significant issue within this category was contractors failing to fulfill their commitments after receiving a down payment.

In the realm of identity theft, the Attorney General's office emphasized the importance of proactive measures, stating, "A primary key for protecting yourself from identity theft is to frequently change passwords and not share personal information online." Additionally, residents were advised to be cautious of unsolicited calls and texts, with the recommendation to ignore such communications to prevent falling victim to scams. The office noted, "Unsolicited calls and texts are another way scammers attempt to retrieve your personal information, and leaving those calls unanswered is the best way to avoid being scammed."

To combat these prevalent scams and report fraudulent activities, Illinois residents were directed to the Federal Trade Commission's website for more information and resources.