Real ID scams surge as deadline nears, Better Business Bureau warns
With the
deadline to obtain a Real ID just weeks away
, the Better Business Bureau is warning about a surge in scams designed to steal your identity.
The BBB said scammers are using a variety of tactics to deceive individuals into giving up sensitive information that can then be used to steal their identity, including calls, texts, emails offering to "help" you get a Real ID, or fake websites.
"No government agency will contact you out of the blue regarding a Read ID," warned BB President and CEO Steve Bernas.
Bernas said he expects thieves will rely on the increase chaos and urgency in the finally days before the Real ID becomes required to fly domestically to exploit people who may overlook suspicious URLs or misspelled texts and comply with demands for immediate actions.
Beyond stealing sensitive information, these scams can also expose your devices to malware.
Illinois officials have been working hard to make the Real ID accessible and easy to obtain before the May 7 deadline. A new
Real ID-only supercenter opened in downtown Chicago
at 191 N. Clark Street, which takes walk-ins from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Illinois Secretary of State has also been opening
new DMV facilities
that integrate multiple DMV and administrative services into one location with larger staff in hopes of expediting a number of services, including getting a Real ID.
Real IDs will be required to fly domestically starting on May 7, but that does not mean your driver's license or other official government-issued identification is rendered invalid. Regular IDs are still valid for driving, voting, general identification purposes, entering some state or federal properties and receiving state or federal services.
You will need a Real ID or a valid U.S. Passport or passport card to fly domestically or visit a military base or secure federal facility. If your current ID is not expiring and you have a valid alternative form of identification like a passport or passport card, the state of Illinois recommends you wait to get your Real ID until your current ID expires or the initial crush of Real ID appointments eases.
A U.S. Passport is still required for international travel. To see what you need to bring to get a Real ID,
click here to visit the Illinois Secretary of State website
.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
BBB: thousands of dollars lost due to scams targeting vacationers
HONOLULU (KHON2) – A warning to travelers — as summer adventures heat up, so do scams targeting vacationers. The Better Business Bureau is warning travelers about a fake website and call center posing as Expedia that has already cost consumers thousands of dollars. Tips for families traveling with loved one with Alzheimer's According to BBB's Cameron Nakashima, the BBB has received reports of travelers mistakenly modifying existing Expedia bookings through a lookalike site that closely resembles Expedia. The site — often found through online search ads — claims to offer flight and hotel reservations. Several travelers reported booking flights or calling to modify tickets they thought were purchased through Expedia. But after payment, victims are left with fake confirmation numbers, no real bookings and no way to recover their money. Reported losses range from $1,500 to $4,000. So here are Nakashima's tips to avoid these types of travel scams: When you need to make a reservation or edit a booking, start by going directly to official websites, not through search ads. Type the web address manually whenever possible. Or use the company's official app. Or if you're not sure, you can go to the company's listing on to find their official contact information. Keep your money safe. Whenever possible, make an online payment with a credit card so that it is easier to dispute charges if fraud occurs. If ordering tickets through a third-party booking service or an airline you are not familiar with, always research the company at to see ratings and complaints before making a purchase. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Instead of relying on translators, teach yourself a new language with Rosetta Stone
Discover startups, services, products and more from our partner StackCommerce. New York Post edits this content, and may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links. TL;DR: Travel with confidence when you study any of 25 new languages with lifetime access to Rosetta Stone, now only $179.99. When you're traveling overseas, there's a certain pride in being able to handle things yourself. Whether you're navigating a busy street market in Madrid or figuring out directions in Rome, nothing beats the confidence that comes from speaking the local language. Relying on translation apps and hand gestures might work in a pinch, but it's not exactly the self-reliant approach. That's why it's worth it to do things the right way with help from Rosetta Stone. Rosetta Stone is a language-learning tool that gives you access to lessons in 25 different languages. It takes work to learn any of them, but you'll have the chance to work toward fluency or just master a few phrases in Spanish, French, Italian, German, and more. Lifetime access is now $179.99 (reg. $399). What sets Rosetta Stone apart is how it teaches. Instead of memorizing vocabulary lists, you learn by doing. You'll see images, hear native speakers, and practice your pronunciation with real-time feedback from speech recognition technology. It's built to mimic how you learned your first language, making it feel intuitive instead of like a school assignment. You'll start with useful conversations like asking for directions or ordering food, the kind of thing you can use right away if you don't want to become fluent. Then, you'll build toward more complex topics. And since it's all self-paced, you can study whenever it fits your schedule, whether that's on a plane, at home, or in line at the DMV. If you value your independence, then don't rely on a flimsy translator or hope other people will happen to know English. Learn a new language with Rosetta Stone while it's only $179.99. No coupon needed. StackSocial prices subject to change.
Axios
2 days ago
- Axios
Nearly half of Texans don't have passports
About 45% of Texans who are U.S. citizens don't have a valid passport as of 2024, per estimates from the think tank Center for American Progress. Why it matters: A valid passport is one of the few forms of accepted identification for international travel — and it's also required for domestic air travel if you don't have a Real ID. By the numbers: Of the roughly 27 million U.S. citizens living in Texas, 12 million are currently without a valid passport — a gap that could create headaches for domestic travelers and limit mobility abroad.
