Attorney General Kwame Raoul urged Illinois residents on March 30 to be alert for scam text messages that claim recipients have committed a traffic or tollway violation and must pay a fine. The office warned that these unsolicited messages are designed to trick people into sharing personal and financial information.
This warning comes as scams using text messages, also known as smishing, continue to target vulnerable groups such as workers, immigrants, and seniors, according to the official website of the Illinois Attorney General according to the official website. Raoul said, “Illinois residents should be assured that government agencies will not call, text or email unprompted to ask for payment or personal information. If you receive such a message, even if the phone number appears to be local, do not respond. If you are unsure if the request is legitimate, contact the agency through the information provided on its official website.”
The Attorney General’s office cautioned that scammers can spoof caller IDs so texts appear reliable in order to convince recipients to provide sensitive data or click links leading to malware or fake websites. If usernames and passwords are entered on these sites, scammers may gain access to personal accounts.
Raoul advised consumers not to share personal details over text message or email with unknown parties and recommended against sharing phone numbers online because this makes individuals more susceptible to scams and data leaks. He also warned against responding quickly out of urgency created by scammers: “Smishing scams attempt to create a false sense of urgency by implying that an immediate response is required.” Residents were told never to open links from suspicious sources nor reply even with commands like “STOP,” since this could confirm their number is active.
The Attorney General’s office handles thousands of consumer complaints each year according to its official website and offers services including complaint filing for consumer fraud and civil rights issues according to its official website. The agency aims not only at protecting consumers but also at promoting safer communities while advocating for environmental concerns and rights issues according to its official website. Its advocacy extends across Illinois in partnership with law enforcement agencies supporting crime victims and promoting open government according to its official website.
Consumers who suspect they have been victims of identity theft or fraud are encouraged by Raoul’s office either file a complaint through his agency’s site or use resources from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.