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Scammers continue sending fraudulent text messages to Illinois drivers claiming unpaid tolls of $12 with pending $50 late fees and directing them to fake websites to collect credit card and bank account information, even after authorities shut down the original website. The Illinois Tollway and federal authorities have been working to stop the scheme, but the automated texts persist as scammers use a "shotgun approach" sending mass messages hoping a small percentage of recipients will fall victim. The FTC reports that imposter scams like this remain a top fraud category, with scammers increasingly favoring text messages and emails over phone calls to initiate schemes.

Illinois State Police Trooper Jason Wilson and AARP Illinois are working to combat fraud in the state, where consumers reported $244.7 million in losses to fraud in 2023. Wilson highlights common scams like phishing emails and fake refund schemes, and recommends preventative measures including not engaging with unknown callers, avoiding suspicious links, using two-factor authentication, and reporting crimes despite potential embarrassment. AARP Illinois is offering a five-part online fraud prevention series with expert speakers to educate the public on recognizing and avoiding elder fraud.

Valerie of Illinois lost nearly $100,000 in a PayPal phishing scam that began with fraudulent billing emails in January 2023. After calling a number in the suspicious emails, a scammer convinced her to download remote access software, then manipulated her account to make it appear he had deposited $100,000 while actually stealing that amount from her savings. She eventually received a full refund in February after local news coverage prompted Blue Ridge Bank to assist, though her initial fraud report from Chase Bank had been declined.

The Illinois Tollway warned customers of a phishing scam involving text messages claiming outstanding toll amounts. Customers should delete suspicious texts and verify any toll issues directly through the official website or customer service line (1-800-UC-IPASS), and report phishing messages to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

As the April 8 solar eclipse attracts tens of thousands of travelers to Missouri and Illinois, scammers are targeting consumers with counterfeit eclipse glasses and fraudulent rental listings, exploiting patterns from the 2017 eclipse when fake glasses and rental scams proliferated online. The Better Business Bureau advises buyers to purchase eclipse glasses only from vetted manufacturers meeting ISO 12312-2 safety standards, verify rental properties exist through address research and reverse image searches, and use credit cards rather than cash transfer apps to protect against deposit fraud. Consumers should report suspicious products and listings to BBB Scam Tracker.

Medicare fraud targeting area seniors involves billing schemes for medical items not received, particularly urinary catheters; in recent cases documented by county aging officials, one senior's fraudulent claim involved 2,000 catheters with Medicare paying $14,613.80 to a fraudulent supplier while the senior's out-of-pocket cost reached $3,728. Similar scams originating from companies in New York, Texas, and Illinois have also targeted seniors with false claims for back braces and other medical supplies. Authorities urge seniors to review Medicare correspondence carefully and report fraudulent activity to Medicare at (800) 633-4227 or Kansas Senior Medicare Patrol at (800) 432-

In 2023, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul identified the top consumer scams affecting state residents, with construction/home repair fraud leading for the third consecutive year (2,091 reports), followed by identity theft (1,885 reports) and consumer debt complaints (1,683 reports). The Consumer Fraud Bureau recovered over $9 million through mediation and $76 million through enforcement actions, and the office received nearly 20,000 written complaints plus tens of thousands of calls. The attorney general recommends residents protect themselves by guarding personal information, changing passwords frequently, and being cautious of unsolicited communications, especially as scammers increasingly use AI technology.

Two men attempted a fundraiser scam at a Chippewa Falls bank on February 15th, claiming to sell candy bars to raise money for a Boys and Girls Club mentorship program and scholarships. When bank employees verified with the actual Chicago-area club, they confirmed the men had no affiliation with the organization. The suspects, one identified as Chris Jefferson from Illinois and the other using a fake name, attempted to collect payments via digital wallets and Square card readers, prompting a statewide warning after similar schemes were reported elsewhere.

The Better Business Bureau of Central Illinois reports a 70% increase in scam reports year-to-date (roughly 100,000 compared to 58,000 last year), with seniors age 65 and older being the hardest hit, experiencing median losses of over $6,000 from romance/friendship scams and sometimes losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. To address this rise, BBB leader Jessica Tharp is launching the Senior Scam Stop 2025 education series to combat the stigma around victimization and empower seniors with knowledge about common scams (including romance plots, grandparent scams, and Medicare fraud) and protective strategies.

The Illinois Department of Revenue warned of a nationwide phishing scam involving fraudulent text messages impersonating state tax agencies and claiming tax refunds have been processed. The scammers pressure recipients to provide banking and personal information or risk losing their refunds, with IDOR clarifying it does not send unsolicited text messages requesting sensitive financial data. Residents are advised to ignore such messages, avoid clicking links, and verify communications directly with IDOR through its website or phone line.

Two men, Danny Piao, 29, of New York City and Chul Paik, 44, of New Jersey, were charged with felony theft for targeting at least 10 elderly residents in Lake County, Illinois through elaborate scams involving fake PayPal and antivirus company emails that tricked victims into withdrawing cash. In one case, an 80-year-old woman lost $17,000, and in another, a Lake Forest resident lost $25,000; investigators used license plate reader technology to identify the suspects' rental vehicle and apprehend them with over $16,000 in cash found in their car. Both suspects were denied pretrial release.

Eight defendants, all Indian nationals except one Ohio resident, were prosecuted for operating a transnational money laundering conspiracy that defrauded victims across Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana of their life savings between May and November 2023. The scheme involved "phantom hacker" scams where fraudsters falsely claimed victims' accounts were compromised, then impersonated law enforcement to pressure victims into transferring funds for supposed "protection," resulting in nearly $4 million in restitution ordered and prison sentences ranging from 2 to 6 years. The last defendant, Kishan Vinayak Patel, 26, received a 46-month sentence after conviction on money

Gabrielle Borthwick, a 23-year-old from New York, pleaded guilty to attempting to deposit $2.7 million in fraudulent checks across Missouri and Illinois banks by using counterfeit cashier's checks, stolen personal information, and fake identification documents bearing her photograph but victims' names. She successfully fraudulently obtained $271,667.98 before banks discovered the scheme, and faces sentencing on December 17 with potential penalties up to 30 years in prison plus restitution. The fraud targeted multiple unidentified victims whose identities were stolen for the account openings.

Eight individuals were sentenced to federal prison for operating an international "phantom hacker" scam that defrauded victims across Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana of tens of millions of dollars between May and November 2023. The conspirators posed as company officials and law enforcement agents to convince victims their financial accounts were compromised, then persuaded them to withdraw cash or gold bars for alleged safekeeping, which was then distributed among the scammers. The defendants were ordered to pay nearly $4 million in restitution, with sentences ranging from 24 to 72 months in prison.

Eight members of a transnational money laundering conspiracy, seven Indian nationals and one Ohio resident, were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 2 to 6 years for laundering proceeds from "phantom hacker" fraud schemes that victimized residents across Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana between May and November 2023. The scam involved fraudsters falsely claiming victims' accounts were compromised, then impersonating law enforcement to pressure victims into transferring their life savings under the guise of account protection. The eight defendants were ordered to pay nearly $4 million in restitution to victims who lost their life savings.

Federal authorities indicted Brookfield resident Ankurkumar Patel, 41, for participating in "phantom hacker scams" that defrauded elderly victims across multiple states of over $1 million. Patel allegedly served as a money launderer in the scheme, physically collecting gold bars and cash from victims who were tricked by scammers posing as government agents and company representatives claiming their identities had been compromised. Specific victims included a Vietnam veteran in Illinois who lost over $1 million in gold bars and a Sheboygan elderly woman who lost $27,500, with additional fraud occurring in Minnesota and Missouri.

Illinois passed a new law in 2024 allowing credit unions to contact a client's "trusted contact" (typically a family member) when fraud is suspected, enabling faster intervention in time-sensitive scams that cost American seniors $4.9 billion that year. While this approach can effectively stop scams more quickly than traditional legal channels, experts caution that banks must carefully request trusted contact information to avoid offending customers and must be aware that scammers are sometimes family members themselves. Financial institutions are advised to frame the conversation around sophisticated scamming tactics rather than the customer's vulnerability, and to establish trusted contact lists before fraud occurs.

Impersonation scams targeting older adults in Illinois and nationwide have increased more than fourfold since 2020, with losses exceeding $100,000 skyrocketing from $55 million in 2020 to $445 million in 2024, according to FTC data. Scammers impersonate trusted entities like government agencies, banks, and businesses through urgent calls, texts, or emails, pressuring victims to transfer money, move funds to cryptocurrency, or hand over cash by falsely claiming account compromises, criminal ties to Social Security numbers, or hacked computers. The FTC advises consumers to never send money in response to unsolicited communications, verify contacts through

**Summary:** The Federal Trade Commission warned about a text message scam circulating in Illinois and elsewhere claiming recipients owe late toll fees and threatening legal action or driver's license suspension if unpaid. Scammers use multiple phone numbers to contact victims and attempt to obtain passwords, PINs, credit card, and banking information; the FTC advises those concerned about tolls to contact the tollway agency directly using verified phone numbers or websites rather than responding to unsolicited messages.

**Article:** File taxes early to avoid SCAMS during 2025 tax season Identity thieves exploit compromised personal information to file fraudulent tax returns in victims' names and redirect refunds to their own bank accounts. The IRS recommends filing taxes as early as possible and requesting a six-digit PIN from the IRS to prevent unauthorized filing using your Social Security number. Illinois is also introducing new tax credits and free tax filing options for 2025.

The FBI warns consumers to be vigilant against holiday scams, which proliferate during the shopping season when people are rushed and spending more money. Common schemes include spoofed shopping websites designed to steal payment information, puppy scams advertising fake pets for sale, and fraudulent package delivery texts. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, Illinois residents alone reported over 15,000 scams resulting in $335 million in losses.

Courtney and Teresa, fraud prevention specialists with AARP Illinois, have partnered together as "the Fraud-Fighting Fraudlets" to expand their fraud awareness and prevention efforts across Illinois, combining resources from Springfield and Chicago. The duo emphasizes that scams are constantly evolving and criminals continuously target people of all ages to steal money and personal information, making ongoing education and awareness efforts essential.

AARP Illinois launched "Fraud-Fighting Fraudlettes," a collaborative awareness initiative featuring AARP representatives Theresa Jones and Courtney Herman to educate seniors about prevalent scams. The program aims to increase fraud prevention awareness among older adults, who are identified as particularly susceptible targets for scams.

A nationwide Medicare fraud scheme involving a medical supply company in Roselle, Illinois resulted in over $100 million in fraudulent claims, with scammers ultimately making approximately $3 billion in fake Medicare billing before being caught. The small office, which normally submitted less than $8 million annually in claims, suddenly submitted over $260 million in just a few months, primarily for urinary catheters that had no legitimate purpose for the products listed. Federal investigators were observed conducting raids on the office as part of the investigation into this Medicare fraud ring.

Romance scams have become a national epidemic affecting victims across the country, with CBS News investigating a billion-dollar online fraud operation. The report features the tragic case of an Illinois woman who fell victim to a romance scam, developing an intense emotional attachment to a scammer in just 12 days, which ultimately had devastating consequences for her family. These scams exploit the emotional vulnerabilities of victims—often causing psychological harm and financial devastation that extends far beyond monetary losses.

**Romance Scam Epidemic** CBS News investigated a national epidemic of romance scams involving victims who are manipulated into emotional relationships with scammers over dating sites, sometimes in as little as 12 days, resulting in financial losses totaling approximately one billion dollars. The investigation documented tragic cases where victims lost not only money but also their lives, including an Illinois woman whose death raised questions about whether she had been coerced into working for the scammers. Romance scams rob families of far more than financial resources, causing devastating emotional and psychological harm to victims and their loved ones.

An Illinois woman, Laura Coall, lost $1.5 million in a romance scam and was later found dead in the Mississippi River; her daughter discovered that Laura had been coerced into becoming a "money mule" for the scammers, laundering stolen funds through her accounts. This tactic has become increasingly common among romance scam perpetrators, who manipulate victims so deeply that they unwillingly participate in money laundering and other crimes, often without initially realizing they are committing felonies. Federal agents have issued warnings about this evolution in romance scams, where victims are exploited beyond financial loss to become unwitting accomplices in criminal activity.

A 57-year-old retired healthcare executive from Illinois was defrauded of her life savings through a romance scam after meeting a man posing as a Swedish businessman on Match.com; the scammer used stolen photos of a Chilean doctor and manipulated her emotionally over an extended period. The case highlights a growing epidemic of romance scams in the United States, with 64,000 Americans losing over $1 billion to such scams in the previous year—more than double the $500 million lost four years prior. The victim's daughter is seeking answers from law enforcement about the circumstances surrounding her mother's death in connection to the fraud.

A 57-year-old widowed healthcare executive from Illinois lost $1.5 million in a romance scam after meeting a man posing as a Swedish businessman on Match.com; the scammer used stolen photos of a Chilean doctor and manipulated her emotionally over an extended period. The case, investigated by CBS News, illustrates a growing threat affecting tens of thousands of Americans, with romance scammers defrauding over 64,000 people of more than $1 billion annually. The victim's daughter is seeking answers and working with law enforcement to understand how her mother fell victim to the sophisticated scam.

I cannot provide a summary of elder fraud, scams, or abuse from this text. The provided content is a weather forecast broadcast from WTVO news dated April 12th, 2024, which discusses temperatures, wind conditions, and weather predictions for the Rockford, Illinois area. It does not contain information relevant to the Elderus database's focus on elder fraud or abuse.

The L's Park Police Department held a free educational session warning Illinois seniors about tax refund scams and other fraud schemes, including the grandchild scam where criminals impersonate relatives to extract money. Police emphasized that scammers are particularly active during tax season and encouraged victims to report fraud to local authorities and the Better Business Bureau for current scam alerts in their area.

Officials in New York seized nearly two dozen web domains from IP addresses in China used to conduct "pig butchering" cryptocurrency scams, which operate across multiple states including California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Scammers use dating apps and group chats to build trust with victims before convincing them to invest in cryptocurrency schemes that appear to generate returns, then steal their money; reported losses include $16,000 and $118,000 from individual victims in Brooklyn.

A Glenwood, Illinois man named Elliot Lawson Henderson defrauded multiple people through discounted travel deals advertised on social media and a dedicated website. One victim, Pinky Jackson, paid Henderson for flights, a hotel room, and Broadway tickets for a New York City trip, but upon arrival discovered the hotel booking was never actually paid for, forcing her family to pay full price on the spot. Multiple individuals report that Henderson takes payment for travel packages and then fails to complete the bookings, leaving customers stranded without accommodations.