The Illinois Department of Transportation is asking the public to be on the alert for text and email scams asking for personal information.  During the last month, IDOT has been made aware of messages that were sent fraudulently on its behalf attempting to defraud the public. IDOT Spokesperson Maria Castaneda says they will never ask for your personal information.

Delete unsolicited emails and texts that are requesting personal information or promising state driver’s licenses or ID’s. Hang up on any calls, including robocalls, that ask you to take immediate action or provide personally identifiable information. Also, ask to use other types of identifiers besides your SSN, and keep your software up to date including antivirus protection programs. Castaneda says that clicking links is where the problem comes in.

If you have questions about phishing scams or identity theft, please call the Illinois Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Hotline in Springfield at 800-243-0618.