Springfield, IL-(Effingham Radio)- The Illinois State Police (ISP) is warning the public of a phone scam. ​ Over the past two days, ISP has received several phone calls from individuals reporting a person claiming to be an ISP investigator telling them their identity has been stolen. ​ This is a scam. ​ ISP special agents will not make cold calls requesting personal or financial information, or ask you to confirm personal or financial information. ​ ​ ​ ​

If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be an ISP investigator, ask for the caller’s name, badge number, and phone number, and then hang up. ​ Never provide or confirm personal or financial information over the phone to an unknown caller. ​ You can verify if a caller is an ISP special agent by contacting one of the seven investigative regions throughout the state, which can be found on the ISP website. ​ ​ ​

If you have provided personal or financial information to a caller, or think someone may have stolen your identifying information, ISP recommends contacting each of the three credit bureaus to put a free security freeze on your credit. ​ This will prevent someone from opening credit in your name.

You can also call the Illinois Attorney General’s Identity Theft Hotline at 1-866-999-5630 (7-1-1 relay service). ​ You will be assigned a Consumer Advocate to guide you through the recovery process.

The new store opened April 11 in Naperville, a western suburb of Chicago.

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming is continuing its expansion, this time in the Midwest.

The grooming chain, where customers can find luxury grooming and spa services in addition to gourmet treats and premium pet food and nutrition options, has opened its first location in Illinois. The new store opened April 11 in Naperville, a western suburb of Chicago.

The entrance into Illinois follows Woof Gang’s recent expansions in Oregon and Michigan. The company says it plans to continue its growth in the Midwest, with four upcoming locations in Indiana, three more in Illinois, two in Minnesota, three in Michigan, and one in Wisconsin.

“We are thrilled to extend Woof Gang’s reach into Illinois with the opening of our first location in Naperville,” said Ricardo Azevedo, CEO of Woof Gang, who detailed the chain’s growth in an interview with Chain Store Age last year.. “Expanding into new locations allows us to fulfill our mission of providing exceptional care and top-quality products to pets and their owners. We are committed to becoming an integral part of the Naperville community, enriching the lives of pets and their families with every wagging tail and joyful bark.”

With the addition of Naperville, Woof Gang, founded in 2007, now operates a network of 350 locations open or under development across North America.

“As a pet lover and proud resident of Naperville, I am honored to bring Woof Gang’s exceptional services and products to my fellow pet enthusiasts in the area,” said Lisa Moran, franchisee of the new location.”Our team is dedicated to providing personalized care and creating lasting bonds with pets and their owners. We look forward to welcoming everyone to our store and providing a warm, inviting atmosphere.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – One day after the Biden administration announced it is putting an end to junk fees in air travel, Illinois lawmakers are one step closer to sweeping legislation that puts an end to hidden fees on just about everything residents buy in the Land of Lincoln.

With inflation showing no signs of letting up, Illinois lawmakers are pushing legislation designed to offset rising prices at the pump, the grocery store, and everywhere else Illinois residents find goods and services.

State Rep. Bob Morgan is the sponsor of the “Junk Fee Ban Act.”

“This last weekend I was at a restaurant and ordered a burger and it was $12. I paid it. I knew what I was getting, but then when I got the check there was a 3-percent mandatory surcharge on there and when I asked what it was for, they said it was the service fee and I said service for what?” Morgan said.

The sweeping legislation covers what some describe as “stealth inflation” padding restaurant bills with additional fees, concert tickets, and rideshare totals — anything that includes a surcharge that customers can’t see until after they order goods or services.

“Give me the choice as the customer, the consumer to decide whether or not to pay that money,” Morgan said.

If the bill is signed into law, the savings for a family of four in Illinois averages $3,000 per year.

“Inflation is a global pressure right? These are services and goods that we know the costs are going up. What we expect though and demand is that there is transparency. Let me make the choice when I’m going to buy an airline ticket, concert ticket, that I know what the actual price is the true price,” Morgan said.

The legislation passed in the House and is now on its way to the Senate. If signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker, it would take effect in January 2025.