Tag Archives: identity theft

Police: Skimming device found on ATM in Joliet

(JOLIET) Police are asking for the public’s help in finding the person who installed a skimmer on an ATM last month in southwest suburban Joliet.

The skimming device was in place on an ATM at a gas station between the middle of February and the beginning of March, according to Joliet police. Skimming devices are attached to ATMs and steal data encoded onto the magnetic strips of bank cards.

Police released surveillance photos of a person suspected of attaching the skimmer. Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Detective German at (815) 724-3029. Anonymous tips can be reported to Crimestoppers of Will County at (800) 323-6734 or via their website at crimestoppersofwillcounty.org.

Surveillance photos of the person suspected of installing a skimmer on an ATM at a gas station in Joliet. | Joliet police
Surveillance photos of the person suspected of installing a skimmer on an ATM at a gas station in Joliet. | Joliet police

Consumer debt and identity theft back on annual complaints list

(CHICAGO) The annual consumer complaints report released Monday by Attorney General Lisa Madigan confirmed a trend among some Illinois consumers who still do not know how to protect themselves from consumer debt and identity-theft crimes, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.

With 2,783 complaints out of the nearly 24,000 received in 2016, consumer debt complaints including mortgages, collection agencies and banks took the first spot of the list; that group of complaints has remained on top since 2008.

Identity theft occupied the second place for the ninth consecutive year, with 2,391 complaints.

Education-related complaints occupy spot number six — one higher than last year — with 1,691 complaints.

“My office continues to see an increase in education complaints, including loan servicers that don’t provide accurate assistance and for-profit schools that provide worthless degrees,” Madigan said. “I remain committed to seeking relief for students and holding schools and loan servicers that commit fraud accountable.”

“Reforms are absolutely necessary,” Madigan said. “There are changes that need to be made in terms of our laws and our regulations.”

Some of the necessary reforms for borrowers include alerting them of their financial rights.

Top categories of consumer complaints from 2016:

Consumer Debt (mortgages, collection agencies, banks) 2, 783 complaints
Identity Theft (government document fraud, credit cards, utilities, data breaches) 2,391 complaints
Promotions/Schemes (phone scams, investment schemes, lottery scams, phishing) 2,387 complaints
Construction/Home Improvement (remodeling, roofs and gutters, heating and cooling, plumbing) 2,094 complaints
Telecommunications (telemarketing, cable and satellite TV, phone service and repairs, cell phones) 1,851 complaints
Education (for-profit schools, student loan debt, loan counseling) 1,691 complaints
Used Auto Sales/Motor Vehicles (as-is used cars, financing, warranties) 1,648 complaints
Internet/Mail Order Products (Internet and catalog purchases, TV and radio advertising) 955 complaints
Motor Vehicle/Non-Warranty Repair (collision, engines, oil changes and tune-ups) 677 complaints
New Auto Sales/Motor Vehicles (financing, defects, advertising) 668 complaints

— Chicago Sun-Times