Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
Do not fall victim to online scams and theft by not knowing what to avoid. We are living in a society which relies on digital data, and hackers know this which is why tactics will be used to separate he or she from their personally identifiable information (PII). According to the recently released Javelin Strategy & Research Identity Fraud Study, Identity Theft Affected 40 Million U.S. Adults in 2022 Totaling $43 Billion in Losses.
Here are some tips for reducing the risk of online theft
- Protect your Social Security number
- Polish your Passwords- create strong passwords which include letters, symbols, and numbers.
- Add 2-Step Verification to all personal accounts if possible
- Click with Caution- never click on “Pop-Ups” while browsing the web
- Ensure the website you are visiting is encrypted- “https” prefix in the URL of the website.
- Use only one card while making online purchases
For additional information for online safeguards, follow this link: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/insurance/protect-yourself-from-identity-theft
While online scams are popular, other theft tactics are still being used. For example, you might receive mail from a sender that looks very similar to an institution you do business with, such as banks. Be very careful filling forms out or calling a number that requests your personal information over the phone. Avoid these red flags and contact your institution if you think it’s a scam.
Businesses across Illinois are seeing scams that are attempting to collect fees.
Here are (4) scams targeting businesses:
IL Certificate Service
WARNING! A non-governmental firm called “IL Certificate Service” is contacting Illinois businesses in an attempt to collect a $87.25 fee for a form entitled “Illinois Certificate of Status”. Please be aware that corporations are NOT required by law to file this form and it is not required for loans, business licenses or tax purposes. THIS IS A SCAM! It is recommended that business organizations in Illinois ignore this solicitation and do NOT reply to this solicitation.
Illinois Council For Corporations
WARNING! A non-governmental firm called “Illinois Council For Corporations” is contacting Illinois businesses in an attempt to collect a $150 fee for a form entitled “Annual Records Solicitation Form”. Please be aware that corporations are NOT required by law to file this form. THIS IS A SCAM! It is recommended that business organizations in Illinois ignore this solicitation and do NOT reply to this solicitation.
IL Certificate Service
WARNING! A non-governmental firm called “IL Certificate Service” is contacting Illinois businesses in an attempt to collect an $87 fee for a form entitled a “Certificate of Status”. Please be aware that corporations, LLC’s and other business organizations in Illinois are NOT required by law to obtain said “Certificate of Status”. THIS IS A SCAM! It is recommended that business organizations in Illinois ignore this solicitation and do NOT reply to the solicitation. If a business organization requires a certificate of status, also known as a certificate of good standing, it can be obtained from this website for a fee of $25 for corporations and LLC’s and $5 for not-for-profit corporations.
LLCS-Labor Law Posters
WARNING! A non-governmental firm called “LLCS” at 4200 Conestoga Dr. in Springfield, Illinois is contacting Illinois businesses in an attempt to collect a $94 fee for Labor Law Posters. THIS IS A SCAM! It is recommended that business organizations in Illinois ignore this solicitation and do NOT reply to this solicitation.
To learn more about fraud and identity theft, visit IDES: https://ides.illinois.gov/unemployment/fraud-id-theft.html