{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Citizens Utility Board","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org","title":"Scam alert! Beware of these scams | Citizens Utility Board","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"cz9rspzTjp\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/06\/15\/scam-alert-beware-of-these-scams-in-2023\/\">Scam alert! Beware of these scams<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2025\/06\/15\/scam-alert-beware-of-these-scams-in-2023\/embed\/#?secret=cz9rspzTjp\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Scam alert! Beware of these scams&#8221; &#8212; Citizens Utility Board\" data-secret=\"cz9rspzTjp\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","description":"Illinois consumers are no strangers to scams&#8211;a review of the latest statistics shows how the Land of Lincoln is a favorite target. The Federal Bureau of Investigation&#8217;s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that in 2024 Illinois ranked sixth in the number of victims (25,446) of Internet-related crime and fifth in losses, at $479 million. In the first quarter of 2025, Illinoisans reported $77.9 million in losses connected to fraud, according to the Consumer Sentinel Network of the Federal Trade Commission. U.S. consumers received just over 4.8 billion robocalls in May 2025, according to new estimates from the anti-robocall tech firm YouMail. Scam calls make up roughly 55 percent of all robocalls. Legislation requiring carriers to implement &#8220;STIR\/SHAKEN&#8221; technology has made it more difficult for robocallers to hide their identity through caller ID spoofing. Still, scam artists will always find a way. It\u2019s important to stay on top of the latest rip-offs, like the ones below, to protect yourself from cyber crimes. Please let us know if you&#8217;ve seen or heard of other scams. #1 Imposter Scams What&#8217;s the scam? You may receive texts, calls, a pop-up or emails (more on that below) from imposters trying to gain access to your private information and your money.\u00a0 These crooks claim to be a well-known business, such as your utility company; technical support; the government, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Illinois Secretary of State or Social Security Administration; or even a romantic interest. (The Secretary of State and Illinois Tollway have warned consumers about scam texts about unpaid traffic tickets or tolls.) The scammers can be convincing, with fake websites made to look like the real thing (your utility&#8217;s site, for example). If they phone you, the crooks often employ caller ID spoofing to look legitimate.\u00a0 They often use urgent messaging claiming that the situation is dire&#8211;maybe you owe money or are in trouble with the law. Imposters also could show up at your door, posing as utility workers or government officials. Scammers may choose to target you during stressful times, such as a heat wave, when you&#8217;re worried about utility bills. \u201cComEd will never contact customers demanding immediate payment under the threat of disconnection,\u201d ComEd said in a past warning. What can you do? Never provide personal information via text, email or over the phone. If you&#8217;re concerned about a call, text or email you have received, call an official number that you find by visiting the website of the entity claiming to contact you. \u201cIf anyone knocks on your door claiming to be a government official or a utility worker, request to see their identification to verify that the home visit is legitimate before you open the door,\u201d\u00a0 CUB Program Coordinator Matt Harvey said.\u00a0 &#8220;You also can call the company or agency in question&#8211;with a number you find independently&#8211;and verify if an employee has been dispatched to your home.&#8221; (Check out a recent CUB warning.) #2 Phishing Scams What&#8217;s the scam? This is another variation of the imposter scam. The messages use urgency to try to trick consumers into clicking on fraudulent links to enter sensitive information (passwords, credit [&hellip;]","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/25152222_10154984281551561_1486902628290806877_n.jpg","thumbnail_width":567,"thumbnail_height":393}