Downers Grove Police Warn Of Email, Text Scams Sent To Residents

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — The Downers Grove Police Department is reminding village residents of email and text scams that Secretary of State Jesse White first warned of in June.

The scammers send unsolicited text messages or emails that claim to be from the Illinois Secretary of State, White's office said in a news release, and some of them even copy the office's website logo and masthead to appear official.

Police released examples of scams that have been sent to Downers Grove residents, and they can be seen below.

Recipients of these messages should never click on any links or provide any information, the news release said, as doing so could place malware on the recipients' devices or trick them into disclosing sensitive information.

The Secretary of State's office would never request personal information like a social security number via text message or email, according to the news release.

"I have zero tolerance for fraudsters who prey on people in desperate times," White said in a statement. "My office is working with the Illinois Attorney General’s office to protect Illinoisans from falling victim to these fraudulent schemes."

The Secretary of State's office is encouraging residents to avoid scams by deleting emails and texts that promise or offer access to driver’s licenses or state ID cards. Individuals should also hang up on any calls that ask them to "take immediate action" or provide personally-identifiable information.

Anyone who receives a scam message of this nature should submit a screenshot of it to ScamAlert@ilsos.gov. If you clicked on a link, provided personal information or believe that you have been a victim of identity theft, call the Illinois Attorney General's Identity Theft Hotline at (866) 999-5630, the news release said.