FBI Chicago Warns Public About Growing Frauds and Scams Throughout the Holiday Season
FBI - Press Release
December 23, 2025
The FBI has launched an initiative to raise awareness about holiday scams impacting the public nationwide. By encouraging families to have open conversations during this giving season, the campaign aims to empower people to recognize common schemes, protect themselves, and report fraud to the FBI.
"Far too often, the FBI speaks with people who feel silenced, isolated, and helpless after falling victim to these incredibly common and dangerous scams," said FBI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta. "We're seeking to raise awareness to help ensure that others don't fall victim to these practices. This holiday season, we encourage everyone to stop and assess the legitimacy of the websites they visit or donations they make before finalizing payment. Talk to your loved ones and help protect what's rightfully theirs."
In 2024, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) recorded 535,314 complaints reporting $13.7 billion in losses, an average of $25,700 per victim. Between 2020 and 2024, a total of $50.5 billion in losses were reported to IC3. In Illinois, residents submitted the sixth highest number of complaints in the nation to IC3 for fraud–amounting to financial losses of nearly $500 million. People over 60 suffered the most losses and submitted the most complaints.
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