How to report a scam in Illinois

Scammed? Call your bank or card company first. Calling quickly may improve the chance of stopping a payment, but recovery isn't guaranteed. Then use the list below.

Who to report to in Illinois

• Illinois Attorney General, Consumer Protection. Consumer fraud hotlines: Chicago 1-800-386-5438, Springfield 1-800-243-0618, Carbondale 1-800-243-0607. Spanish-language hotline: 1-866-310-8398. Consumer Protection.
• Your local police. File a report. Your bank may ask for it.

Phone numbers and links last verified Oct. 21, 2026. Check the agency's official contact page before calling.

Federal places to report (all states)

• FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov for most scams.
• FBI IC3: ic3.gov for online scams, crypto, and email payment scams.
• Identity theft: IdentityTheft.gov gives you a recovery plan.

Illinois scam numbers

FBI, 2025. Illinois residents reported 32,977 internet crimes to the FBI's IC3, 5th in the U.S. Reported losses were $535,255,201, 8th. That's 259.3 complaints per 100,000 people, 26th per person. (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, 2025 Internet Crime Report, state data appendix)

Crypto, 2025. Illinois residents filed 4,910 crypto complaints with reported losses of $257,919,562. (According to the FBI.)

Older adults, 2025. Illinois residents age 60 or older filed 7,701 complaints and reported losses of $189,491,209. (According to the FBI.)

FTC, 2024. Illinois had 186,426 fraud and other reports to the FTC. Reported fraud losses were $318.1 million, and the median (middle) loss was $400. Illinois ranked 10th of 50 states for reports per 100,000 people (1,469). It also had 43,028 identity theft reports, ranking 9th. The top three report types were credit bureaus (29%), identity theft (19%), and imposter scams (9%). (FTC, Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024)

These numbers only count people who reported. Many people don't, so real losses are likely higher. FTC figures come from unverified consumer reports, not a survey.

Scams Illinois officials are warning about

• Investment scams on social media. In April 2026, the Attorney General warned about fake investment ads on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, including "deepfake" videos and "pump and dump" crypto and stock schemes. (Illinois AG consumer alert, April 6, 2026)
• Storm repair scams. In July 2026, after damaging spring storms, the Attorney General warned about door-to-door contractors and fake adjusters who pressure people into quick, costly repair deals. (Illinois AG consumer alert, July 1, 2026)
• Back-to-school scams. In August 2026, the Attorney General warned about fake school-supply websites, test prep offers, and scholarship scams that steal money or personal data. (Illinois AG release, Aug. 21, 2026)

What to do right now

1. Stop all contact. If a social media ad or chat group promises big investment returns, stop replying and don't send more money.
2. Call your bank or card company and ask whether the payment can be stopped or reversed.
3. Change passwords on any account the scammer touched, and turn on two-step login.
4. Save proof: screenshots, texts, emails, call logs, receipts, and phone numbers.
5. Report it to the state agency listed above, plus the FTC or IC3.
6. Beware of "recovery" offers. A request for a fee to get your money back is a common warning sign of a recovery scam.

Nearby states

• How to report a scam in Indiana
• How to report a scam in Iowa
• How to report a scam in Kentucky

Learn more

• How to report a scam anywhere in the U.S.
• How a $25 million email payment scam worked
• The fake closing email that cost $1.3 million

Last checked October 2026. Phone numbers and links come from each agency's official website. Agencies change them, so check the agency's site if something doesn't work. FraudMeNot is an independent publisher. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting for any government agency listed here. Links go to official sites. We can't take reports or get your money back. General education only, not legal, financial, tax or security advice. No guarantee. Consult a qualified professional. Stories may be dramatized or composite; see each label. See our disclaimer. Found an error? Tell us.