DeKalb Times

Illinois is in a three-way tie for first place when it comes to states with the most identity theft per capita for 2021.

A WalletHub study ranked Illinois sixth in the nation for identity theft and fraud in 2021, but noted that the state tied for first in identity theft per capita, along with Kansas and Rhode Island.

"It also found Illinois had the nation's worst identity-theft passport program," state Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) wrote on his website. "This is a program intended to help victims of identity theft regain control of their identities and help them avoid mistaken arrest as well as dispute fraudulent credit charges."

Syverson highlighted the issue in a recent "Senate Week in Review" where he also added the state's unemployment system has had its fair share of problems since the start of the pandemic, including what he called a "botched attempt" to upgrade the outdated computer system at the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) that exposed personal information for about 32,500 people.

"While IDES has not yet released full figures on the impact of unemployment fraud since the beginning of the pandemic, an audit of just the first seven weeks of the federal government's unemployment pandemic-related programs revealed that IDES gave more than $155 million to fraudulent claims," Syverson said. 

In August, Syverson spoke out about IDES and the identity theft and fraud issue, according to the Rockford Sun. 

"When the governor and state health people chose to shut down thousands of businesses, putting tens of thousands of people into unemployment, we knew there was going to be a problem,” Syverson said in a video posted to Facebook.  “At the same time, the governor chose to close all of the unemployment offices and we warned back then that this was going to be a disaster for laid-off workers trying to get help and trying to get benefits. The  results of this audit do not surprise me."

Illinois Policy reported in July that IDES lost $14.8 million to fraud during the pandemic, but many say the price tag is much higher.

Other issues highlighted by Syverson included the reopening of the state's rental payment program, the new household water assistance program for low-income families, and the impending court decision on the state's politically drawn redistricting maps. 

Syverson said he's "hopeful" the court will also find the Democratic lawmakers' second draft for the maps unconstitutional as well.