Metro East Sun

The Illinois Attorney General’s office has revealed the top 10 most frequent scams that Illinois residents fell victim to in 2023. According to the office, home improvement repairs, identity theft, and consumer debt were the leading categories of scams faced by Illinoisans last year. In a consistent trend, home repairs have claimed the top spot for the third consecutive year.

One notable issue highlighted by the Attorney General's office was related to home improvement scams, with contractors often failing to complete jobs after receiving a down payment. Regarding identity theft, the office emphasized the importance of regularly changing passwords and avoiding sharing personal information online as a crucial safeguard against such scams. Additionally, the office warned about the risks associated with unsolicited calls and texts, advising individuals to ignore such communications to prevent falling victim to scammers.

To learn more about protecting oneself from these prevalent scams and to report instances of fraud, individuals are encouraged to visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website at https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection.