Yingling Encourages Residents to be Vigilant Against New Scams that Mimic Services Offered by Secretary of State

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, is warning residents about reports of new scams targeting Illinoisans.

“With so many residents struggling as is, the last thing they need is to get scammed or defrauded,” said Yingling. “The best way to avoid being scammed is to know the schemes and tactics that scammers are using, so I highly encourage residents to take a few moments to learn about the new scams that are surfacing.”

Recently, the Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) alerted residents to two new scams that have been reported recently. One of the scams includes a number of websites that sell license plate sticker renewals, but end up charging an extra, unnecessary fee on top of the sticker renewal fee. The other scam is a text claiming to come from the SOS asking recipients to click on a link leading to a website that potentially has malware or can steal personal information. The SOS is encouraging residents to only use their official government website, cyberdriveillinois.com, to renew their stickers online and to not give out information such as Social Security numbers or bank account information to unsolicited texts or calls.

Since entering the General Assembly, Yingling has worked to protect constituents from frauds and scams. He regularly hosts events with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office that give residents tips and best practice advice on how to avoid scams. In addition, Yingling regularly updates the public with information on new scams that are targeting residents.

“It is unfortunate that there are still those who look to steal money from hardworking individuals,” said Yingling. “I will continue to raise awareness on scams as they present themselves and crack down on those who try to defraud and scam others.”