During National Consumer Protection Week, the Illinois Attorney General’s office released a list of some of the most common scams that plagued Illinois residents in 2023. Construction/ home improvement repairs, identity theft, and consumer debt were the top three categories of scams that Illinois residents faced last year. This is the third straight year that the top spot was taken by home repairs.

The largest complaint in the home improvement category involved contractors failing to show up and complete the job once a down payment was made. According to the Illinois Attorney General’s office, a primary key for protecting yourself from identity theft is to frequently change passwords and not share personal information online. Unsolicited calls and texts are another way scammers attempt to retrieve your personal information, and leaving those calls unanswered is the best way to avoid being scammed.

For more information on how to defend yourself from these scams and to report fraud, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website at https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection