Fraud perpetrated online is growing nationally and in Illinois as criminals use email, texts, computer pop-up messages and social media apps to lure people into their financial traps.
The online missives are designed to set you on edge: Your account has been locked, your computer has a virus, your package can’t be delivered. The supposed solution? Just call this number or click on this link for help.
Cybercrime is becoming hard to detect because the tactics are so sophisticated, says Teresa Jones, AARP Illinois associate state director of advocacy and outreach and a fraud specialist. “It looks like it’s coming from credible sources, and sometimes we press send or put in info when we shouldn’t,” she says.
Data from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center shows about 3,500 victim reports from Illinoisans over the age of 60 who lost money to cybercriminals in 2021, with losses totaling nearly $50 million. That’s up from 2019, when there were 1,797 Illinois victim reports among those over 60, with losses of $18 million.
Overall, Illinois ranked 16th per capita in the number of fraud and other incidents in 2022, with nearly $200 million in fraud losses, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
The surge in online fraud comes as Illinois works to close the digital divide by expanding access to high-speed internet.
The state’s $420 million Connect Illinois program aims to provide high-speed internet across the state by 2028. That means more opportunity for state residents to get online. These tips can help people stay safe online:
- Avoid clicking on links in texts, emails and other messages.
- Don’t use easily guessable passwords, and change your passwords frequently.
- Install antivirus software on your computer and block pop-ups.
- Be wary of emails that include a promise (you won something) or a warning (an account is locked).
- Don’t disclose financial information unless you verify a request is legitimate.
To learn more, go to aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork
This article was taken in part from the April 2023 AARP Bulletin for West-Win members’ benefit.