How To Spot Summer Scams In Northern Illinois

Another season, and another batch of seasonal scams that are being worked in Illinois by those who make their living off of your misery.

Sure, most of the year's biggest scams seem to arrive with the holiday shopping season, but summer has become prime time for con artists, too. As temperatures rise across Northern Illinois, the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers to watch out for a seasonal spike in scams targeting homeowners, travelers, and utility customers.

According to the BBB, scammers often take advantage of the distractions that come with summer vacations, home improvement projects, and severe weather events.

Utility Scams Lead The Way This Summer In Illinois

One of the most common warm-weather scams involves utility impostors. Fraudsters posing as representatives from ComEd or other utility companies may call and threaten immediate service disconnection unless a payment is made right away.

Dennis Horton, Senior Director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau (BBB):

During the hottest weather, con artists will contact people, threatening to cut off their electricity if they don't pay a fee immediately. Hang up the phone and contact the company directly if you have any concerns.

ComEd officials stress that the company will never demand immediate payment through prepaid cards, cryptocurrency, QR codes, or other unusual methods. Customers should also be wary of anyone requesting account or banking information over the phone.

Summer travelers are another favorite target. Fake vacation rental listings, phony travel websites, and convincing AI-generated ads are becoming increasingly common. Scammers often collect deposits for properties that don't exist, then disappear before vacation time arrives.

Also, Beware Of The "Storm Chasers" (Not the ones who chase real storms)

The BBB is also urging homeowners to be cautious after severe weather. So-called "storm chasers" frequently appear in neighborhoods following storms, offering roof repairs, gutter work, landscaping, or painting services at bargain prices. While some contractors are legitimate, others may take a down payment and vanish or perform substandard work without proper licensing.

To stay safe this summer, the BBB recommends researching businesses before hiring them, avoiding cash payments up front, using credit cards whenever possible, checking website security, and never allowing unknown individuals into your home without verifying their identity.

Summer should be about vacations, backyard barbecues, and enjoying the sunshine, not spending your hard-earned money cleaning up after a scam.