Illinois Scammers Are Tricking Victims With Fake Refund Promises

The Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently issued a warning about the "Recovery," or "Refund" scams that are claiming victims here in Illinois. There are all sorts of different scams being worked against Illinois residents, but this one is truly a double-whammy for victims.

Current scams currently being used in Illinois here in the middle part of 2025 include:

• Imposter / Smishing Scams: Fake texts or calls posing as the DMV, tollway, or government, threatening fines or actions.
• Storm-Chaser Scams: Fake contractors offering emergency home repairs post-storm.
• Back-to-School & Ticket Scams: Charges for freebies (FAFSA/tickets) or fraudulent ticket sales.
• Crypto Investment / Pig-Butchering: Romance/investment scams luring people into fake crypto schemes.
• Employment / Online Purchase / Funeral Fund Scams: Job scams, fake online purchases, emotionally manipulative “funeral” asks.

Recovery, or Refund scams are targeting people who've already been scammed and taken before by one of the scams listed above, which makes this type of scam even worse.

Here's What The Recovery/Refund Scam Is And How It Works

The Recovery or Refund Scam (sometimes called an “asset recovery scam”) is when a scammer targets people who have already been scammed or lost money in some other way and pretends they can recover the lost funds… for a fee. It’s a second scam that preys on victims’ desperation to get their money back.

It all starts when a scammer identifies a potential victim. They may buy or steal lists of people who’ve reported fraud to consumer agencies, posted complaints online, or been involved in lawsuits. They might also guess by sending bulk messages to people likely to have been targeted (crypto investors, lottery victims).

They scammer then pretends to be a legit company.

The scammers often impersonate government agencies, law firms, or private “recovery experts.” Some common fake identities include FTC or IRS representatives, court-appointed refund administrators, or private investigators. It's all to win your trust before scamming you.

After Getting You To Believe They Can Get Your Money Back, They Take More

Here's how the scam unfolds. The first step is finding a victim who's lost money to a scam. The second step can happen weeks or even months later when they’re contacted by someone claiming to have recovered their funds or offering to do so if they pay for “processing,” “insurance,” or “legal fees.”

The final step in the scam comes after you pay them for the "recovery," or "refund." You've paid for help, and they just take your money and completely disappear, leaving you as a scam victim not once, but twice. No recovery, no refund.

Here's how to avoid having this happen to you, according to the BBB:

• Never pay upfront to recover lost money. Legitimate agencies don’t charge for returning funds.
• Verify identities by calling the real agency or company using publicly listed contact info.
• Be skeptical if someone contacts you first about money you lost.
• Report it to the FTC, Illinois Attorney General, or the BBB’s Scam Tracker.