State Officials Warn of Latest ID Scam
- Posted by Barrington Hills
- On June 11, 2021
Don’t be a victim of the latest scam!
REAL ID Scams: Beware of Texts and Emails About New Driver’s License
State officials are warning consumers that criminals are using a multistate phishing scam targeting driver license holders regarding their licenses being “REAL ID compliant,” the alert said. Their texts or emails often direct consumers to a sham third-party website that asks for personal information.
Phishing is a technique identity thieves use to obtain sensitive data to open new financial accounts, invade consumers’ existing accounts, or infect a computer device with malicious software.”
Jesse White, Secretary of State, is warning the public of scammers who are sending unsolicited text messages or emails claiming to be from the Illinois Secretary of State. In some instances, the scammers copy the Secretary of State website logos and masthead to appear official.
White says these texts and emails are scams and recipients should not click on any links or provide any information. Visiting these various fraudulent websites could place malware on the recipients’ devices or trick them into disclosing sensitive personal information. The Secretary of State’s office NEVER requests personal information, like a Social Security number, via text message or email.
“Delete the text or email,” says White. “Do not click on them and do not provide any of your personal information.” Criminals have also claimed to be from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Department of Employment Security (IDES).
If you have a question about a suspicious communication supposedly from the state, visit a legitimate website, such as Illinois Secretary of State, Illinois Dept. of Employment Security, or Illinois Dept. of Transportation, and report these scams to the Illinois Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Hotline.
