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* Last month…
Secretary of State Jesse White is warning Illinois residents to be on alert for multiple texting and emailing scams claiming to be from the Secretary of State’s office seeking personal information to defraud Illinoisans. “I have zero tolerance for fraudsters who prey on people in desperate times,” said White. “My office is working with the Illinois Attorney General’s office to protect Illinoisans from falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.”
White is warning the public of scammers who are sending unsolicited text messages or emails claiming to be from the Illinois Secretary of State. In some instances, the scammers copy the Secretary of State website logosand masthead to appear official.
* I got one today. Here’s a MightyText screenshot…
The SoS office tells me they’ve had some success shutting down these fraudster websites. So far, they’ve managed to knock out 271 of them.
Earlier today, I received an obviously fake but oh-so-serious robocall claiming that I’m being sued and that my Social Security number had been compromised.
Been that kind of a day.
* The Question: Have you ever been defrauded? Come close? Explain.
…Adding… From Secretary White’s spokesperson…
Thanks for posting this topic on your blog. Public education is a powerful weapon to combat these scams and fraudsters.
Secretary White reminds residents: DO NOT CLICK on links and DO NOT provide personal information. To provide the Secretary of State’s office with screenshots of scams, please email ScamAlert@ilsos.gov
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 1:32 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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I’m seriously going to miss telephone grifters whenever they are prosecuted from existence…having mean/fun at their expense is one of my current hobbies.
I’m almost ashamed of the things I say to them…in Hindi…mostly.
Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 1:40 pm
The SOS should look at this in relation to its private vendor that handles license renewals at SOS emission testing facilities. I went for emissions testing two weeks ago and renewed license plate at same time.
The renewal cost $9 “convenience fee,” which was galling but whatever. The person doing the plate renewal specifically stated the company was an outside private vendor.
Within 48 hours after my renewal, I started receiving what have now been several of these scam texts. I couldn’t help think they were related.
Comment by Helm Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 1:45 pm
I get phony texts from IL SOS office, IL DOT, and a new one from IDES. (I have not filed for unemployment since 1975).
I have been deleting these texts. How do we go about reporting these?
Comment by DuPage Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 1:48 pm
I’ve not been defrauded but hardly a day goes by that I don’t receive several texts, phone calls and/or e-mails that are attempting to defraud me. I received the text purporting the be from the Secretary of State’s Office yesterday and also one supposedly from the IDOT with the exact same message. One big one circulating right now is a phone call apologizing for overcharging you on your utilities and they will send you a refund if you give them your information.
Comment by Manchester Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 1:48 pm
Closest I ever came was when buying sports tickets online. Fraudster was offering a good, but not too good to be true deal to a football game. When I insisted he show proof of ownership (either screenshot or photo of tickets w/o barcodes), he was conveniently “at work” and insisted I act quickly to transfer the money and he’d send them right away. Cancelled the deal and later found out he was a known scammer.
Moral of the story is to say no if someone is pressuring you to send money quickly. It’s almost always a scam.
Comment by OutOfState Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 1:49 pm
I’ve getting soam texts from Ill. DOT, IDES, and a couple other Illinois entities. These began in the past two weeks. But the Trump texts demanding money have ceased, at least I hope so.
Comment by My New Handle Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 1:53 pm
I was never defrauded ‘out of pocket’ but, then again, I rarely use my debit card.
I’ve lost count of the purchases and car rentals taken out in my name in at least five states.
Comment by Jocko Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 1:57 pm
I got this the other day. Pluss several threatening me with jail unless I paid an IRS dept. I agreed told him we could meet down at the Federal Building, he did not think it a good idea. I have had my debit card used as far away as Florida and New York but bank caught it and called me first. Soemtimes I think if these guys worked as hard in a real job they would go fr.
Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 1:58 pm
I received one from the winner of the Mega Millions jackpot and this person wanted to share the prize money with me.
Very generous indeed.
All I needed to do, I presume, is give him access to my banking information to expedite his generosity.
I always wonder how many fall for this. Please, please be careful out there.
Comment by MrGrassroots Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:01 pm
I got one of these texts this morning and it made me pause because I just received my Real ID and the message mentioned an issue with my Real ID. Fortunately I know that text would never be the form of contact for such things, but it’s easy to see how less tech familiar people can get scammed.
Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:09 pm
Years ago while eating dinner, one of the kids answered the phone as the calleer asked for my husband by his formal name. Kid knew enough to say he wasn’t home but relayed American Express said to call the number on the back of your card ASAP. Turns out someone had a very expensive dinner on his account in another country. Being the total smart %ss he is, he said he was happy to hear at least they left a great tip. Luckily he wasn’t on the hook for the charges.
Comment by Because I said so.... Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:10 pm
I was victim in a fraudulent ebay sale for a few thousand $ but miraculuously got my money back and the guy pulling the scam left too many bread crumbs and eventually was caught. It was a lot of documentation and work to get the $ back, and I also had the cops in Orange Co, CA involved. I always hang up if a call comes in pretending to be the IRS, SoS, etc. They usually are easy to identify as phony.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:15 pm
My uncle fell victim to the classic call from someone pretending to be my lawyer and I needed urgent bail money and he wired $10,000 to the “lawyer.” After wiring the money he realized he should try to call me and when I assured him I was not in jail he was fortunately able to un-do the wire transfer within the 60-minute window. Upon reflection he realized the fraudster just said “your nephew” and it was my uncle who then volunteered my name and location.
Comment by Just Me 2 Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:18 pm
I have not, but at my office, scammers regularly try to get staff to give them info by sending emails that look like they are coming from me. I have made it clear many times - I will never ask you to buy me Itunes gift cards.
Comment by GrayWall Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:21 pm
State employees have been getting a “change your password” scam - it is sent to the Illinois.gov emails.
Comment by PMS Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:21 pm
I’ve never been defrauded. But my firm has been hit with ransomware. Luckily, we had a robust backup system to avoid having to pay.
The FCC has the power to shut this down but, so far, are disinclined.
Comment by Downstate Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:24 pm
…having mean/fun at their expense is one of my current hobbies.
Me too. One of my fav hobbies when I am not busy.
I have been getting the SOS texts for about 3 weeks now. I regularly get the “IRS” “Your social security” and “a lawsuit” calls.
Comment by Fav Human Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:25 pm
I’ve started getting text messages from zipcodes in Texas and elsewhere saying they’re from IDES and need me to fill something out
So that’s something
Comment by Nick Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:30 pm
“The renewal cost $9 “convenience fee,” which was galling”
Went to the Meike in South Elgin for emissions and sticker. Yep, you pay a convenience fee but unlike the “Air Team” locations there are no lines. And the staff were polite and professional - never received any scam notices from fake SOS.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:32 pm
Almost on a daily basis, my wife and I get either the “driver’s license has expired”, or the “Unemployment verification” texts.
I miss the good old days of the “your microsoft license has expired”
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:32 pm
I’ve received over two dozen scam texts posing as SoS or IDES. Emails, too.
A long time ago my first job was running a cash register at a business along the interstate. Using some fast talking and slight-of-hand, a customer tricked me into giving him back far more change than he was due. The business was out the $20, and graciously didn’t blame me. I taught myself how to avoid the tricks people will try. Learned a lot that day.
Comment by Don't Bloc Me In Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:36 pm
The SOS can do better all the way around itself. This winter I received a duplicate drivers license in the mail that I did not request. I called SOS, and they instructed me to mail back the license to them, put a freeze on my credit reports, and request a police report. SOS refused to tell me what IP address requested the license or how that person paid. They simply said my driver’s information had been compromised.
Months later I received a threatening letter from the SOS demanding payment for that duplicate license I never requested (and had indeed sent back to their fraud department as requested). The letter threatened to invalidate my license and take me to court. Many calls to the fraud department later they agreed to drop the demand for payment, but refused to provide resolution in writing. It took intervention by my state representative to get SOS to send an email stating the matter was resolved and I didn’t owe them.
The scam seems to be prevalent in Wisconsin: https://wkow.com/2020/01/09/id-theft-victims-recover-as-wisconsin-dot-upgrades-driver-license-safeguards/
SOS has not implemented any of the security features they could to prevent the ordering of fraudulent duplicate licenses, like requiring an email address or having the payment clear before processing.
Comment by Fairycat Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:40 pm
The good news is these things appear very fake if people just take a breath and look at them before responding- bad English, grammar, punctuation, etc. and IL SOS never refers to itself as the DMV. The bad news is those same issues indicate the scammer is likely outside the country and law enforcement reach.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:42 pm
Now getting them four or five times a day.
Comment by walker Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:44 pm
I’ve been getting most of the usuals–SOS, IRS, vehicle warranty expiration, warrant for your arrest. Some of the voicemails are in Chinese, so I’m not sure what the topic of that scam is. The only one that gave me pause so far was an email saying my anti-virus software had automatically renewed. It wasn’t the software I use, so the urge was to contact them and say I hadn’t ordered (whereupon I’m sure they’d ask for my credit card number to ‘cancel’ the order). It was pretty well-done, but I figured it out before I clicked on anything.
My 80-something mom gets the “this is your grandson” and “we’re ready to schedule life alert installation” rather frequently. She lectures them about being terrible people and that they should get jobs.
Comment by Leslie K Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:50 pm
I get a daily call from someplace in CA begging me to renew the extended warranty on my car. If I’m busy I put the phone down so they can waste time they could be attempting their scam on someone else. If I’m busy I yell “I don’t own a car” at them until they hang up.
Comment by Cheryl44 Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:51 pm
Just received a text from UPS … we tried to deliver your parcel but you weren’t home (I’m home) and there’s no safe place to leave it. Contact xxxxx.
Live in a building with an office manager and receiving room. Not gonna answer. Delete.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 2:55 pm
If I am bored and get a phone call I string them along until they realize I am not falling for it or hangup just as it sounds like I am giving credit card info.
The texts have been coming in every other day all hours. I just block the numbers and wait for the next one. Over 200 blocked text numbers right now.
I encourage everyone with the humor and patience to play back with them. It ties them up and slows them down calling more people.
We have a national do not call registry that isn’t working. We will have to be annoyed or annoy them until phone companies figure out how to stop it.
Comment by FormerParatrooper Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 3:13 pm
I’ve been threatened with arrest, lawsuits, and IRS garnishments in voicemails, repeatedly called about my expiring or expired auto warranty, repeatedly called about special credit card programs, and had my identity compromised by IDES and private businesses after hackers roamed their systems. Other than that…. :/
Comment by thisjustinagain Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 3:43 pm
Apparently I have filed for unemployment benefits twice in the last 9 months and have never missed a paycheck from my employer. This scam has caused a great deal of trouble for the company that employs me.
Comment by flea Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 3:59 pm
I get texts from SOS. Something about my Driver’s License. I just delete them.
I also get texts about renewing my car warranty, which is pretty funny considering I have a classic car.
Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 4:11 pm
I get an occasional scam text, and many from Republican entities urging me to support the former guy and/or his minions.
If you have a Galaxy, the “block contact” option is your friend.
Comment by Northsider Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 4:42 pm
Last week I got a text from “IDOT” asking me to verify my drivers license details.
A few years ago I got a letter from the IRS saying they needed more information to process my refund. Problem was I hadn’t filed yet. Had I been owed a refund that year it could have been a real problem.
Comment by Jaguar Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 4:43 pm
Got the same call, Rich.
Comment by Sonny Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 6:26 pm
I just received the UPS text as mentioned by Rudy’s Teeth. I also deleted.
Rich - thanks for providing this public service. Does anyone know of a site that publicizes the most recent scams?
Comment by Res Melius Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 7:17 pm
The Better Business Bureau has a site to collect scams. The info is forwarded to law enforcement and others..This week I shared info about two phishing attempts claiming to be IDOT.
https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us/reportscam
Comment by Nearly Normal Thursday, Jul 15, 21 @ 8:32 pm