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Illinois agencies warn of phishing scams

phishing text message exampleThe Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) and the Illinois Secretary of State DMV are aware of text and email messages being sent fraudulently on their behalf, asking for personal information.  

While the messages might look official, a government agency will never request personal information, such as Social Security numbers or banking information, via text or email. If you receive such a message, delete it. Do not provide any information or click any links. Doing so could install malware on your device or computer.

To protect your personal information, take the following precautions:  

  • *Delete unsolicited emails and texts requesting personal information or promising state driver’s licenses or IDs. Do not click on any links contained in such emails or texts, as they may place malware on your computer or devices.

*Hang up on any calls, including robocalls, that ask you to take immediate action or provide personally identifiable information. Consider blocking the number.

*Ask to use other types of identifiers besides your Social Security number.

*Keep your software up to date, including operating systems and antivirus protection programs on your computer, phone and other devices. Most can be set to update automatically.

If you have questions about phishing scams or identity theft, please call the Illinois Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Hotline in Chicago at 800-386-5438 (TTY: 800-964-3013). Spanish speakers may call 866-310-8398. 

For more information about how to avoid phishing scams, visit the FTC website.