'Multiple Reports' Of License Renewal Scams In Wheaton: Cops

WHEATON, IL — Wheaton police are warning residents to stay vigilant after they've received "multiple reports" of a new driver's license renewal phishing scam that uses a fraudulent Illinois Secretary of State website to steal personal information from victims.

Police say scammers send residents text messages or emails with links to renew their driver's licenses or license plates. The links direct victims to a web page designed to look like the authentic Secretary of State website. The website then prompts users to enter personal information, which scammers may use to commit identity theft.

The fake website may appear to be legitimate, but police advise residents to be on the lookout for the following items, which may indicate a text, email or website is fraudulent:

• Spelling or grammatical errors, awkwardly worded sentences
• Requests for personal information the Secretary of State's Office may not need or may already have on file
• Broken links

Residents who believe they have received a scam text or email should delete the email and avoid clicking any links or sharing personal data. If you're unsure whether a correspondence is valid, police recommend accessing the Illinois Secretary of State website in a new browser window and following the instructions for renewing driver's licenses or license plates.

Police are encouraging residents to call 630-260-2161 to file a police report if they shared personal information in what they believe was a scam.