McHenry County 'Official' Involved In Warranty Scam, County Warns

MCHENRY, IL — McHenry County residents are being warned of a possible scam alert that targets people through the mail by offering them a new home warranty, local officials announced on Thursday.

McHenry County Clerk and Recorder Joe Tirio said in a news release that one of his employees received a notification in the mail offering a home warranty. However, when he called the number on the letter warning that the homeowner’s residential warranty was set to expire soon, the person informed him that he worked for the county. When Tirio identified himself, the person quickly hung up, Tirio said.

“While many scam attempts are obvious — from outlandish threats of fines and imprisonment to letters and emails chock full of laughable spelling and grammar errors — there are others that aren’t as easy to detect,” Tirio said in a news release. “County residents, especially seniors who are more often targeted, need to be on their guard against efforts to steal their money or their private information.”

Officials warn that every type of scam - from phone calls to phony letters and fake look-alike websites - has red flags that can be easily caught. The Better Business Bureau maintains an informative and easy-to-understand guide to various scams by clicking here, which also offers visitors the opportunity to sign up for weekly scam alerts, the news release said. People can also visit the Better Business Bureau's website to look up and report items they suspect are potential scams.

“While many scams are easily detectable — McHenry County government is not in the home warranty business — you can always call and ask if anyone suspicious is claiming that they are working on McHenry County’s behalf,” Tirio said.

The County Clerk and Recorder’s Office also offers a free service called the Property Fraud Alert Program, which offers personal notification by email, text message, or phone call if a document is recorded in their name. You can sign up by visiting this website or calling 800-728-3858.