Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) –  In recognition of National Consumer Protection Week, Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced the Top 10 consumer complaints his office received last year.

For the fourth year in a row, complaints related to home repairs and remodeling topped the list. Identity theft complaints came in second.

Consumer debt came in third.

“During National Consumer Protection Week, and throughout the year, I encourage Illinois residents to visit my office’s website and social media channels to learn more about common consumer complaints and how to protect themselves from fraud and scams,” Raoul said. “Now more than ever, I am committed to defending the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau so it can continue to enforce federal consumer protection laws that protect our residents from fraud.”

According to our news partners at WAND-TV, in February, Attorney General Raoul joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general to file an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, arguing that dismantling the CFPB would significantly harm consumers and hamper enforcement of federal consumer protection laws.

The next day, Raoul, with the same coalition filed an amicus in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in support of CFPB workers who have helped return more than $20 billion to defrauded consumers, slashed junk fees, and stopped predatory auto and mortgage lenders.

Raoul encourages all consumers with any finance-related complaints to file a complaint with his office.

According to Raoul, in 2024 consumers contacted his office about a variety of home repair and remodeling work, reporting they were dissatisfied with the quality of work, as well as the complete failure by companies to conduct any work after receiving a down payment. Raoul emphasized the importance of researching contractors before making any payments or signing contracts, and encouraged consumers to visit the Attorney General’s website for more tips to help avoid home repair fraud.

Consumers also filed complaints with Raoul’s office related to concerns over disclosures and breaches of their information, having credit cards or other financial products taken out in their names, or having government benefits stolen by impersonators. Raoul reminded consumers to be vigilant about their personal information, particularly when they are online. He urged consumers to change passwords often and avoid using the same passwords for multiple accounts.

Top 10 Breakdown

Raoul’s annual Top 10 list of consumer complaints ranks every complaint his office receives on a range of topics. In 2024, the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Bureau saved consumers more than $12 million through mediation and secured more than $48 million through enforcement actions. The office received a total of 18,901 written complaints in 2024, in addition to tens of thousands of phone calls.

CATEGORY NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS
 

1. Construction/Home Improvement (remodeling, roofs and gutters, heating and cooling, plumbing)

  

2,256
   
2. Identity Theft (credit cards, data breaches, utilities, government document fraud) 2,002
3. Consumer Debt (residential mortgage lending, banks/financial institutions, collection agencies) 1,840
4. Motor Vehicle/Used Auto Sales (as-is used cars, financing, advertising, warranties) 1,607
5.  Promotions/Schemes (phone scams, work-at-home scams, lottery scams, investment schemes, phishing) 1,166
6. Internet/Mail Order Products (internet and catalog purchases, TV and radio advertising) 1,145
7. Telecommunications (cable and satellite TV, telemarketing, wireless phones, phone service and repairs) 859
8. Motor Vehicle/Non-Warranty Repair (collision, engines, oil changes and tune-ups) 705
9. Government Agencies (local agencies, state agencies, federal agencies) 538
10. Motor Vehicle/New Auto Sales (financing, defects, advertising) 511

Raoul urges Illinois residents who believe they have been the victim of any type of fraud to file a complaint by visiting his office’s website or calling one of his office’s hotlines.

Consumer Fraud Hotlines:

1-800-386-5438 (Chicago)

1-800-243-0618 (Springfield)

1-800-243-0607 (Carbondale)

Spanish Language Hotline: 1-866-310-8398

Student Loan Helpline: 1-800-455-2456

Identity Theft Hotline: 1-866-999-5630 (TTY: 1-877-844-5461)

Homeowner Helpline: 1-866-544-7151