Joliet, IL – The Joliet Police Department and the Illinois Secretary of State are warning residents to stay alert for scam text messages circulating this holiday season. The fraudulent messages claim recipients owe money for traffic tickets, tolls, or other state-related fines.
According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, these phishing attempts often appear as urgent or official notices and may direct users to click links or provide payment information. Officials stressed that the Secretary of State’s office does not send text messages about driver’s license issues, vehicle registration, or enforcement actions.
The scam, which tends to increase around the holidays, uses convincing language and fake logos to trick drivers into paying nonexistent fees. Law enforcement advises anyone receiving such a message to ignore it, avoid clicking any links, and block the sender’s number immediately.
Residents are encouraged to report suspected scam messages to both their local police department and the Illinois Secretary of State’s website.
For more local scam prevention resources, the Joliet Police Department provides additional information on its website.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
Follow us on Instagram & Facebook for more relevant news stories and SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS! Have a tip? Message us!
