How to avoid the top 10 most common scams in Illinois this holiday season
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Illinois AG logged more than 18,900 consumer complaints in 2024; construction led.
- FTC reported $12.5 billion in U.S. fraud losses in 2024; investments and imposters common.
- Officials urge credit-card payments, resisting high-pressure sales
Using your Christmas gift cards to shop? Illinois state officials recommend residents safeguard themselves from common scams, especially when online shopping.
Illinois residents made more than 18,900 written consumer complaints in 2024, according to the state attorney general’s office, in addition to “tens of thousands of phone calls.”
Nationwide, fraud losses increased significantly in 2024, with U.S. residents losing more than $12.5 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission. This represents a 25% increase from 2023.
Investment scams were the most costly to Americans in 2024, and imposter scams were also a large contributor to losses. U.S. consumers lost more paying through bank transfers or with cryptocurrency than paying with any other method combined, the FTC reports.
While online payment scams are particularly common, another issue often seen in Illinois is fraud around construction or home improvement purchases. These are often sold door-to-door, and although Illinois state law does not require solicitors to heed “no solicitation” signs, Belleville’s city code does.
Here’s what else to know about the most common types of consumer fraud and scams in the state and how you can avoid them.
What are the most common scams in Illinois?
Here’s a list of the top 10 most common types of consumer complaints reported to the Illinois Attorney General’s office in 2024:
1. Construction/home improvement (remodeling, roofs and gutters, heating and cooling, plumbing): 2,256 complaints
2. Identity theft (credit cards, data breaches, utilities, government document fraud): 2,002
3. Consumer debt (residential mortgage lending, banks/financial institutions, collection agencies): 1,840
4. Motor vehicle/used auto sales (as-is used cars, financing, advertising, warranties): 1,607
5. Promotions/schemes (phone scams, work-at-home scams, lottery scams, investment schemes, phishing): 1,166
6. Internet/mail order products (internet and catalog purchases, TV and radio advertising): 1,145
7. Telecommunications (cable and satellite TV, telemarketing, wireless phones, phone service and repairs): 859
8. Motor vehicle/non-warranty repair (collision, engines, oil changes and tune-ups): 705
9. Government agencies (local agencies, state agencies, federal agencies): 538
10. Motor vehicle/new auto sales (financing, defects, advertising): 511
If you believe you’ve been a victim of any type of fraud in Illinois, you can report it by calling the attorney general’s Carbondale office consumer fraud hotline at 1-800-243-0607. A Spanish language hotline is available at 1-866-310-8398.
How to stay safe from scams in Illinois
One of the No. 1 warning signs of a scam is the use of high-pressure tactics, which can be particularly potent when shoppers are trying to take advantage of limited-time holiday deals.
“Scammers count on perceived pressure to convince us to do things we otherwise wouldn’t, such as sharing personal information,” a Nov. 26 press release from the attorney general’s office reads.
State officials recommend instead taking your time when shopping, and consider comparison shopping first to avoid ending up on a high-interest payment plan or purchasing a low quality, possibly drop-shipped item. Drop shippers act as an intermediary between manufacturers and consumers, and don’t actually own inventory. They may dishonestly portray their products as handmade goods.
To protect yourself from potential scams, state officials advise making purchases with a credit card, if possible. Using a credit card can minimize your liability, and credit card companies generally provide protection against fraudulent purchases.
You should be wary if a website you’re shopping at does not accept credit cards and requires you to pay with a money order, wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency.
After you’ve made an online purchase, you should receive an estimated delivery date.
“If a seller doesn’t promise a timeline to ship in their ad, they must ship your order within 30 days of receiving your name, address and payment, unless they explain delays and give you the option to cancel and receive a refund,” the attorney general’s office says.
In addition to best practices for holiday shopping, the attorney general’s office also recommends Illinois residents take precautions when making charitable donations.
“During this giving season, I encourage potential donors to take a few minutes to review my Charitable Trust Bureau’s tips before making any Giving Tuesday donations and throughout the holidays,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in a Dec. 1 press release. “I will continue to offer resources to protect generous Illinois residents who give charitable donations, so they find comfort in knowing their donations are used for the intended purpose.”
One of the most important things to do is to keep in mind is just because you see a social media post encouraging donations to a particular organization, it doesn’t indicate whether the group has been vetted. You should research the charity yourself, Raoul said in the press release.
Some scammers may pose as a legitimate charity by donning a similar name, so pay close attention.
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