FBI WARNS ABOUT HOLIDAYS SCAMS

The FBI Springfield Field Office is warning Illinois residents to avoid common holiday scams.  Officials say the scammers use techniques to obtain the victim’s money and personal information.  They include scammers acting as loved ones or authority figures in order to receive payment via gift card.  Some scams are linked to quizzes or advertisements for free items online.  Data shows more than 15-thousand Illinois residents reported 336-million-dollars in losses due to scams last year.