The Illinois Department of Employment Security has issued a statement warning of a new phishing scam targeting small business owners and other employers.
“Phishing” is when scammers posing as legitimate businesses or, in this case, state agencies send emails or other electronic messages to trick individuals into divulging personal information such as passwords or Social Security numbers.
“Bad actors posing as IDES representatives are trying to trick individuals into disclosing their personal information through text, email, and social media messages,” the department said. “It is critical for claimants and the public to remain vigilant to detect fraudulent correspondence.”
The department warns businesses to use a strong password that is unique to the IDES website and never to share personal information online with individuals you do not know. “Please note that individuals will never receive a text message from IDES seeking personally identifiable information, like your social security or driver’s license numbers.”
