Scams have been a growing concern for law enforcement, especially as scammers utilize the development of technology.  

Monticello Police Chief Rob Bross indicates that it's roughly every three years that he notices a spike in unemployment scams, particularly with people involved in a school district or the State University System. 

The Chief notes that scammers often use VPNs and other forms of online protection to greatly decrease the possibility of being tracked. It is this reason that proves why prevention is so important when it comes to scams. 

Scammers most often target the elderly. Chief Bross indicates that they will often impersonate a person's grandchild or family member and request that money be sent to them for a fake emergency. 

Phishing scams through text are another common way for scammers to try and take advantage of you. Chief Bross says that in recent memory, they have come through posing as the Illinois Tollway Authority, saying you have unpaid tolls. 

The Chief adds that AI is a growing concern for law enforcement, as scammers develop ways to convince victims to trust them to get their money or personal information.