Grundy County, IL – Law enforcement officials are warning residents to take immediate steps to protect their personal and financial information as overseas cybercrime and identity theft cases continue to surge across Illinois and the nation this year.
According to the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office, investigators are seeing a growing majority of financial fraud and identity theft cases originate from overseas criminal networks. Officials report that the United States has already recorded approximately 3,200 identity theft and financial fraud incidents in 2025, with multiple major data breaches occurring within just weeks of the new year.
Authorities say compromised platforms include widely used services such as social media, healthcare systems, and insurance providers, potentially exposing millions of accounts. Investigators caution it is now safest to assume that much of the public’s personal information may already be circulating on the dark web.
The sheriff’s office is urging residents across Grundy County, nearby counties, the Chicago metro area, and throughout Illinois to take immediate action to reduce their risk. Recommended steps include enabling hardware-based multi-factor authentication, such as authentication apps or physical security keys, rather than relying on text message codes.
Officials also advise regularly updating passwords for what they call the “Big Three” accounts: email, banking, and cellphone providers. These accounts are often used by criminals to gain access to additional financial and personal data.
Residents are encouraged to monitor their credit for free through the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—and to consider placing a credit freeze to block unauthorized loan or credit applications.
Additionally, officials recommend using Google’s “Results About You” tool to search for and request the removal of personal contact information from public search results.
Anyone who notices suspicious financial activity or potential identity theft is urged to report it immediately.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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