Dupage Policy Journal

State Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) is warning residents about a growing online scam in which perpetrators pretend to be COVID-19 tracers.

According to Grant, scammers make contact with victims over social media, first getting their attention by telling them they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus. From there, unsuspecting victims are instructed to click on a link for more information.

“These scammers are taking advantage of people in the middle of a health pandemic,” Grant said. “People who receive a social media message of this nature should not click on the link.”

Illinois State Police have also sounded the alarm about the fraud, warning residents it serves as “a gateway for thieves to find their way into your world.”

Those fearing they may have been victimized are asked to report the information to the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and a local police department.

With the deadly virus still lingering, Grant has recently taking on a louder voice in the battle to aid those being impacted. She recently called for a “deep and independent audit” of the Illinois Department of Services (IDES) after countless Illinoisan complained about not being able to properly secure unemployment benefits.

“IDES has been a complete failure during the shutdown that has put more than 1.4 million Illinoisans out of work, and I believe the auditor general’s compliance audit represents just the tip of the iceberg,” she said. “As of today, my office has had to intercede on behalf of more than 200 District 42 constituents who could not get their benefits delivered or their questions answered by IDES. There is no issue more important right now than ensuring that out-of-work Illinoisans have access to deserved unemployment benefits. We need a deep and independent audit of IDES.”

Grant is now a co-sponsor of HR 860, which would authorize an independent audit of IDES, but Democrats refused to grant the legislation a hearing or vote when legislators were in session in May. She added that the state can no longer wait to find out once and for all why IDES is unable to properly serve the people of Illinois in this time of crisis.