Seemingly fearless con artists are trying to bilk some west-central Illinois residents by claiming to be the very people trying to stop them: law enforcement officers.
Authorities in Jacksonville and Pike County are among those cautioning people to be suspicious about official-looking or -sounding messages.
At least one person in Jacksonville received an email last week saying they had been caught speeding 15 to 20 mph over the limit and instructing them to click on a link to pay the fine online.
“This notice is to inform you that you have been cited with a traffic violation and must pay your citation within 72 hours,” the message claimed.
For added flair, the note even had a real Jacksonville street name where the violation was alleged to have happened.
“The Jacksonville Police Department will never email you a traffic citation,” the department said in a social media post. “Please do not pay these” because they are a scam.
This con game has been around for a few years and some con artists have upped their game by including photos of a person’s license plate to add legitimacy.
“Ticket scams prey on fear. Most drivers are scared to leave tickets unpaid, especially when the scam insists you may be sent to collections, lose your car, or even be arrested,” according to the site DefensiveDriving.org. “Often, the scammers reach out in ways…
