Business owners warned about scam

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is alerting business owners in the state about a scam in which scammers send emails, or in some cases social media messages, posing as representatives of the attorney general’s office in what is likely an attempt to con people into sending money or downloading malware.

Madigan’s office has received several complaints from Illinois business owners who have received emails from scammers pretending to be officials representing the Illinois attorney general. 

The emails contain false claims that complaints have been filed against the recipients’ businesses. 

Recipients are directed to a web link or attachment for more information about the alleged complaint. 

Madigan’s office warned that clicking on this link could install malware or viruses, such as ransomware or keylogging software, on their computers or networks.

“When we contact businesses about consumer complaints, my office never sends messages via social media and never emails asking businesses to open a web link or attachment to obtain more information. Businesses should never click on such a link or attachment,” Madigan said. 

Madigan urged business owners who receive the emails not to click any links, immediately delete the message and contact her office to report the correspondence by visiting her website or by calling her Consumer Fraud Hotline at 1-800-243-0607 for the Carbondale office.