The Top 10 Consumer Complaints in Illinois: Who’s Scamming Who?

It’s that magical time of year when Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul unveils the state’s biggest consumer headaches we're taking a deep dive into the top 10 complaints his office received in 2024. Spoiler alert: If you’ve ever hired a contractor and then wondered if they took your deposit and moved to a tropical island, you’re not alone.

The Top 10 Consumer Complaints in Illinois

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10. Motor Vehicle/New Auto Sales (511 complaints)

New car, new problems. Whether it’s deceptive financing, false advertising, or a lemon disguised as a “great deal."

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9. Government Agencies (538 complaints)

Turns out, people do complain about government agencies, but not for the usual reasons like potholes and long DMV lines. These grievances range from mix-ups with benefits to mysterious bureaucratic black holes where paperwork disappears forever.

8. Motor Vehicle/Non-Warranty Repairs (705 complaints)

If you’ve ever taken your car in for an oil change and somehow left with a $2,000 repair bill, congratulations, you’re part of this statistic.

7. Telecommunications (859 complaints)

From “unlimited” data that isn’t actually unlimited to getting charged for a cable box you returned two years ago, telecom companies continue their reign of frustration.

6. Internet/Mail Order Products (1,145 complaints)

That $19.99 miracle gadget you ordered at 2 a.m. after a long day? It never arrived. Or worse, it arrived looking nothing like the ad. And no, customer service does not care.

5. Promotions & Schemes (1,166 complaints)

If a Nigerian prince, a fake IRS agent, or a lottery “winner” has recently slid into your inbox, you’re not alone. People are still falling for these scams, proving that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

4. Motor Vehicle/Used Auto Sales (1,607 complaints)

Buying a used car is always a gamble. The car looked fine on the lot, but after two weeks, the check engine light came on, and the “as-is” contract suddenly made a lot more sense.

3. Consumer Debt (1,840 complaints)

Between shady lending practices, aggressive debt collectors, and the fine print so small it might as well be invisible, financial institutions are keeping people on their toes—and on hold for hours.

2. Identity Theft (2,002 complaints)

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One minute, you’re scrolling Instagram; the next, someone’s opening a credit card in your name and booking a vacation to the Bahamas. Identity theft remains a major issue.

1. Construction/Home Improvement (2,256 complaints)

And the grand prize for “most likely to make you regret your life choices” goes to...home improvement scams.

Whether it’s the contractor who disappears mid-project or the roofer who swears he’ll be back “next week” (spoiler: he won’t), home repairs remain a financial black hole for thousands of Illinoisans. Yahoo News has more.

How to Fight Back (Because Enough Is Enough)

If you’ve been scammed, overcharged, or left in a consumer nightmare—report it. The Illinois Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Bureau recovered over $12 million for consumers last year. File a complaint on their website.

MORE: Never Buy These 6 Things at an Illinois Garage Sale