Illinois Secretary of State warns of text message scams

SPRINGFIELD, In poor health. (WIFR) – A latest textual content message rip-off claiming to be from the “Illinois DMV” motivated Secretary of State Jesse White to remind residents to be on alert.

The textual content message says, “Because of elevated gasoline costs, State of Illinois has initiated rebate funds of $1500 per car. Test eligibility.” White says it is a rip-off and asks recipients not click on on the hyperlink.

“I’ve zero tolerance for scammers who prey on individuals in determined instances,” stated White. “My workplace is dedicated to defending Illinoisans from falling sufferer to those fraudulent schemes.”

Scams claiming to be from the Secretary of State’s workplace or from “Illinois DMV” are looking for private data to defraud Illinoisans. This new spherical of fraudsters’ makes an attempt to lure the general public into falling sufferer to faux messages.

“Delete the textual content or e-mail,” stated White. “Don’t click on on these texts or emails and don’t present any of your private data to those fraudsters.”

Some key tricks to keep away from sharing private data with scammers consists of:

• Delete emails and texts that promise or supply entry to driver’s licenses or state ID playing cards. Don’t click on on any hyperlinks contained in such emails or textual content messages, as they could place malware on units.
• Dangle up on any calls, together with robocalls, that ask people to take speedy motion or present personally identifiable data, corresponding to a Social Safety quantity or checking account quantity.
• Hold software program updated, together with cellphone and pc working programs and antivirus safety packages. Most telephones, computer systems and antivirus software program could be set to replace routinely when new software program variations are launched.

If most of these messages come throughout your smartphone, pill or pc, present screenshots of the fraudulent emails or texts to ScamAlert@ilsos.gov.

Additionally, people who’ve clicked on a hyperlink, have offered private data or imagine they’ve been a sufferer of id theft, can contact the Illinois Legal professional Common’s Identification Theft Hotline at 866-999-5630.

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