How common is identity theft in Illinois? (2026 Update)

Understanding Illinois's identity theft crisis

Illinois faces an identity theft crisis, ranking #6 nationally by per-capita rate (401 reports per 100K) with 50,961 identity theft reports in just Q1-Q3 2025—already at 118.0% of 2024's full-year total of 43,028. This represents approximately 187 new victims every single day across Illinois, with one new victim every 7.7 minutes around the clock. For comprehensive national context, see our 2025 Identity Theft Statistics report. All data is based on FTC Consumer Sentinel Network data.

The concentration of identity theft in Illinois reflects the state's unique vulnerabilities and risk factors. Illinois's 12.7 million residents¹ face elevated risk from Chicago's financial services concentration, massive corporate workforce, and sophisticated fraud operations. Comprehensive identity theft protection is essential for Illinois residents.

Why Illinois ranks #6 in identity theft statistics

Financial Services Industry Concentration: Illinois hosts the nation's largest derivatives exchange (CME Group), major banking operations (Northern Trust, Discover Financial), and massive insurance presence (AON, State Farm).³ This financial infrastructure processes trillions in daily transactions while maintaining extensive customer databases. Credit card fraud dominates Illinois's identity theft landscape, reflecting organized criminal networks targeting payment card systems. The state's loan or lease fraud shows sophisticated attacks on auto financing and mortgage systems.

Corporate Headquarters Data Exposure: Illinois hosts 53 Fortune 500 companies⁴ including Boeing, Abbott Labs, Walgreens, and McDonald's. These corporate giants maintain massive employee databases and customer records vulnerable to breaches. Business imposter scams often start with compromised corporate email accounts used to redirect payroll or vendor payments.

Chicago Transit Authority Vulnerabilities: The CTA's 1.6 million daily riders⁵ create mass vulnerability to physical wallet theft, card skimming on buses and trains, and phone theft that exposes mobile banking apps. The high-density transit system creates opportunities for sophisticated pickpocket operations and organized theft rings targeting commuters.

Midwest Regional Worry-Risk Gap: Illinois residents in the Midwest region show only 60.2% worry about identity theft,⁶ well below the state's actual risk level. This awareness gap is particularly dangerous in Chicago suburbs where affluent residents assume they're safer than city dwellers, yet face equal or greater risk from sophisticated remote fraud operations.

Healthcare Industry Breaches: Illinois's massive healthcare sector, anchored by major hospital systems (Northwestern, Rush, University of Chicago Medicine), has experienced repeated large-scale data breaches. Medical identity theft allows criminals to file false insurance claims, obtain prescription drugs, and steal tax refunds using victims' stolen personal information and medical records.

By income & socioeconomic status

Identity theft in Illinois cuts across income levels but manifests differently:

High-Income (>$150K): Targeted for sophisticated fraud—wire transfer scams, investment fraud, real estate title theft, business identity theft. High-income residents maintain higher credit limits and account balances, making them attractive targets.

Middle-Income ($40K-$100K): Highest volume of victims. Have established credit but may lack resources for premium monitoring services. Actively use credit for mortgages, auto loans, education—all fraud vectors.

Lower-Income (<$40K): Disproportionately impacted by government benefits fraud, particularly SNAP fraud, unemployment fraud, and healthcare fraud. May have less financial cushion to absorb losses and fewer resources for recovery.

For comparison, see how Illinois compares to other high-risk states like New York.

Fraud patterns and identity theft statistics

Most common types of identity theft in Illinois (2025)

Based on FTC Consumer Sentinel Network data for Illinois, the following identity theft types are most prevalent:

Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network, Illinois Identity Theft Data, 2025 YTD (Q1-Q3)

Year-over-year comparison (2024 vs 2025 YTD)

Illinois reported 50,961 identity theft reports in Q1-Q3 2025, compared to 43,028 reports for the full year 2024. This represents 118.0% of the 2024 total in just three quarters, indicating Illinois is on track to exceed 2024's numbers.

For comprehensive national context and trends, see our 2025 Identity Theft Statistics report.

2025 YTD Illinois trends by age group

Identity theft victimization varies significantly by age, with different age groups facing distinct fraud patterns and loss amounts.

Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network, Illinois Age & Fraud Data, 2025 YTD (Q1-Q3)

Who is at risk of identity theft in Illinois?

Chicago Financial District Workers: The 200,000+ employees⁷ working in Chicago's Loop and financial district face elevated risk from workplace data breaches and targeted phishing. Financial services workers handle sensitive customer information, making them targets for credential theft and social engineering. These professionals' high salaries also make them attractive targets for loan fraud, with criminals using stolen identities to apply for auto loans and mortgages.

CTA Commuters and Urban Residents: Chicago's 1.6 million daily transit riders⁵ face physical theft of wallets, phones, and credit cards on crowded trains and buses. Phone theft immediately exposes mobile banking apps if not protected by biometric locks. The high-density urban environment creates opportunities for organized theft rings that quickly monetize stolen cards before victims can cancel them. Implement mobile wallet locks and carry backup payment methods separate from primary cards.

Corporate Employees of Fortune 500 Companies: Illinois's massive corporate workforce faces business email compromise and credential phishing. Remote work policies created new vulnerabilities—criminals target corporate VPN credentials and exploit confusion around IT security procedures. Business imposter losses often start with compromised email accounts used to impersonate executives requesting urgent wire transfers.

University Students in Chicago and Champaign: Illinois's 800,000+ college students⁷ at University of Illinois, Northwestern, University of Chicago, and other institutions face employment and student loan fraud. Chicago's competitive job market creates vulnerability to fake internship offers requiring upfront fees. Students receive sophisticated phishing emails impersonating university financial aid offices, offering fake loan forgiveness or consolidation requiring personal information.

Suburban Affluent Residents: Residents of affluent suburbs like Naperville, Schaumburg, and Oak Park underestimate their risk vulnerability. These households maintain high credit limits and large bank balances, making them attractive targets for account takeover. Romance scams often target divorced or widowed suburban residents through dating apps, with criminals investing months building relationships before requesting money.

Healthcare Workers and Patients: Illinois's 650,000 healthcare workers⁷ and millions of patients face exposure from medical data breaches. Healthcare organizations have been repeatedly targeted, exposing Social Security numbers, medical records, and insurance information. Medical identity theft can destroy credit while preventing victims from receiving necessary medical care due to false medical records.

Small Business Owners: Illinois's 1.3 million small businesses⁸ face vendor fraud and business imposter scams. Criminals send fake invoices from supposedly familiar vendors, intercept legitimate payment instructions, or compromise business email accounts to redirect payments to criminal-controlled accounts. The state's complex tax environment creates additional vulnerability to fake tax preparation services and fraudulent state tax collection.

Elderly Residents in Retirement Communities: Illinois's 2.1 million residents aged 65+⁷ (16.5% of population) face tech support scams, IRS imposters, and Social Security fraud. Retirement communities in areas like Barrington, Geneva, and Springfield become targeted zones where criminals systematically call households. Grandparent scams exploit family obligations, with criminals claiming to be grandchildren in emergency situations requiring immediate money transfers.

How to protect yourself from fraud in Illinois

Illinois-Specific Legal Protections: Illinois Personal Information Protection Act (815 ILCS 530) provides comprehensive protections. Victims can place security freezes on credit reports for free and access Illinois's strong data breach notification law requiring 60-day notice. Contact the Illinois Attorney General's Consumer Fraud Bureau at (800) 386-5438 or visit illinoisattorneygeneral.gov for assistance.

Chicago Transit Safety: CTA riders should enable biometric locks (fingerprint or facial recognition) on smartphones to protect mobile banking apps if phones are stolen. Use mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay) rather than carrying physical cards—these generate one-time transaction codes, making stolen information useless. Carry backup payment methods separately from your primary wallet. Be vigilant in crowded trains during rush hour and report suspicious individuals to CTA security.

Credit Card Fraud Prevention (36,808 Reports): Enable real-time transaction alerts through card issuer mobile apps—Chicago's organized fraud rings work quickly, so immediate notification is critical. Set geographic spending limits on cards if you don't travel frequently. Use separate cards for online purchases versus in-person transactions to isolate potential breaches. Review statements twice weekly rather than monthly to catch fraudulent charges quickly.

Business Email Compromise Prevention ($55.7M Risk): Corporate employees should verify all payment requests through phone calls to previously established numbers, never through email or phone numbers provided in suspicious emails. Implement DMARC email authentication to prevent domain spoofing. Require two-person authorization for wire transfers over $25,000. Train employees to recognize red flags: urgent requests, executive impersonation, and requests to bypass normal approval processes.

Loan Fraud Protection: Freeze your credit reports with all three bureaus before applying for legitimate credit—this prevents criminals from opening unauthorized auto loans or mortgages. Illinois law provides free credit freezes. Unfreeze only when applying for legitimate credit, then re-freeze immediately. Monitor credit reports every four months (rotating between bureaus) to catch fraudulent accounts early.

Romance Scam Awareness: Suburban residents using dating apps should proceed with extreme caution. Be suspicious of people who quickly express strong feelings, claim to be traveling for business, or have emergencies requiring financial assistance. Never send money to someone you haven't met extensively in person. Research potential partners through reverse image search and social media verification. Report suspected romance scams to Illinois Attorney General and local police.

Healthcare Data Protection: After medical data breach notifications, place fraud alerts on credit reports and monitor for suspicious medical bills or insurance claims. Request annual insurance benefit statements showing all services billed under your name. Check for unfamiliar medical collections on credit reports. Medical identity theft can prevent you from receiving care, so addressing it quickly is critical.

Small Business Safeguards: Illinois businesses should implement payment verification procedures requiring verbal confirmation for all wire transfers and vendor payment changes. Never rely solely on email to confirm payment instructions. Use dedicated payment approval email addresses never shared externally. Maintain cyber liability insurance covering business email compromise and social engineering losses. Register with Illinois Secretary of State to verify vendor legitimacy.

Tech Support Scam Prevention: Remember: Microsoft, Apple, and other tech companies never cold-call about computer problems. These companies don't monitor individual computers. Hang up on unsolicited tech support calls. Never provide remote computer access to unknown callers. For actual computer problems, contact manufacturers directly using numbers from official websites or visit local authorized service centers.

Student Protection Measures: College students should verify scholarship offers and employment opportunities through university career services before sharing personal information. Never pay fees for scholarship applications or job placements. Be wary of off-campus housing requiring wire transfer deposits before viewing properties. Use university email for official communications—personal email is easier to compromise with phishing.

Illinois-Specific Resources: File identity theft reports with local police (Chicago: 311 non-emergency) and obtain case numbers for credit bureaus. Contact Illinois Attorney General Consumer Fraud Bureau at (800) 386-5438 or file online at IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.gov. Submit FTC reports at identitytheft.gov. For business fraud, contact Illinois Secretary of State Securities Department at (800) 628-7937. Healthcare fraud reports go to Illinois Department of Insurance at (866) 445-5364. Report transit-related theft to CTA Police at (888) 968-7282.

Recommended response to unusual credit activity

If you notice unusual credit activity or want to proactively protect against new account fraud, credit freezes prevent new accounts from being opened in your name. Contact all three bureaus:

• Experian: (888) 397-3742
• Equifax: (800) 685-1111
• TransUnion: (888) 909-8872

Free, reversible, doesn't affect credit scores, can be temporarily lifted for legitimate credit applications. For ongoing protection, consider credit monitoring from all three bureaus.

How to report identity theft in Illinois

Immediate actions (first 48 hours)

Step 1: Document Everything

• Screenshot all fraudulent transactions
• Save emails, texts, or calls from fraudsters
• Create dedicated folder for all identity theft documentation
• Start detailed timeline of events

Step 2: Place Fraud Alerts

Call any one credit bureau to place fraud alert (they notify the other two). Makes identity theft harder for criminals and entitles you to free credit reports.

Step 3: File Reports

• FTC: IdentityTheft.gov to create official federal report
• Local Police: File report with your local police department (required by many creditors)
• Illinois AG: File complaint with Illinois Attorney General - Consumer Fraud Bureau ((800) 386-5438)

Step 4: Contact Affected Institutions

• Close compromised accounts immediately
• Dispute fraudulent charges in writing—verbal disputes aren't legally sufficient
• Request fraud affidavits from financial institutions
• Change ALL passwords and PINs, even for accounts not obviously affected

Week 1-2: Secure your identity

Freeze Credit Reports: Contact all three bureaus to freeze reports. Free, reversible, prevents new accounts.

Request Extended Fraud Alert: With police report, you're entitled to 7-year fraud alert (vs. standard 1-year).

Review All Credit Reports: Order reports from all three bureaus. Examine every account, inquiry, and personal information entry. Dispute all fraud vectors.

Month 1-3: Deep clean & monitor

Close All Fraudulent Accounts: Send certified letters to creditors disputing charges. Include copy of FTC report and police report. Keep copies of all correspondence.

Monitor Aggressively: Check credit reports regularly for an extended period. Review bank/credit statements weekly. Set up account alerts for all transactions over $50.

Address Specific Fraud Types:

• Tax Fraud: File Form 14039 with IRS, request Identity Protection PIN for future filings at IRS.gov
• Medical Fraud: Request medical records, dispute charges with insurance companies
• Real Estate/Mortgage Fraud: Alert title companies, mortgage servicers; may require attorney. Home title monitoring can help prevent future incidents
• Employment Fraud: Contact employers where fraudulent employment occurred, file with Social Security Administration at SSA.gov

Long-term recovery

Identity theft recovery timelines vary significantly by case complexity. Simple cases involving a single credit card may resolve relatively quickly, while moderate cases with multiple accounts typically require more extensive documentation and follow-up. Complex cases involving criminal identity theft, tax fraud, or real estate fraud can take substantially longer to resolve.

When to Seek Professional Help:

• Criminal charges filed in your name
• Multiple fraud types occurring simultaneously
• Real estate fraud involving property titles
• Creditors refusing to remove fraudulent accounts
• Cases exceeding $50,000 in total losses
• Business identity theft

Illinois identity theft resources

State resources

Illinois Attorney General - Consumer Fraud Bureau: (800) 386-5438

https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers - Consumer complaints, fraud reporting

Federal resources

FTC Identity Theft Hotline: IdentityTheft.gov or (877) 438-4338

Social Security Fraud Hotline: (800) 269-0271 | Visit SSA.gov to create a My Social Security account

IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit: (800) 908-4490 | Request an IP PIN at IRS.gov

Credit bureaus (fraud alerts & freezes)

Place fraud alerts and freezes with all three bureaus:

• Experian: (888) 397-3742
• Equifax: (800) 685-1111
• TransUnion: (888) 909-8872

Support services

Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC): (888) 400-5530 - Free victim assistance with live counselors. Visit idtheftcenter.org for resources

Frequently asked questions

Why does Illinois rank #6 nationally for identity theft?

Illinois ranks #6 nationally with 401 reports per 100K residents in 2025 YTD. The state's unique risk factors contribute to elevated identity theft rates.

What are the most common types of identity theft in Illinois?

Credit card fraud, loan/lease fraud, and other identity theft categories are the most common types reported in Illinois.

How many identity theft reports were filed in Illinois in 2025?

Illinois reported 50,961 identity theft reports in Q1-Q3 2025, already at 118.0% of 2024's full-year total of 43,028.

What should I do if I'm a victim of identity theft in Illinois?

Immediately file reports with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov, your local police department, and the Illinois Attorney General. Place fraud alerts with all three credit bureaus and freeze your credit reports.

Are there state-specific identity theft laws in Illinois?

Yes. Illinois has specific identity theft laws. Check with the Illinois Attorney General's office for details on state-specific protections and reporting requirements.

How can I protect myself from identity theft in Illinois?

Given Illinois's #6 ranking, comprehensive protection is essential. Use credit freezes, enable transaction alerts, monitor credit reports regularly, and consider identity theft protection services designed for high-risk areas.