Beware of Debt Collection Scam Phone Calls
March 22nd, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
There has been a lot of news and complaints about fake debt collectors scamming unwary consumers or non-existent debts. Any time a debt collector calls you and demands money over the phone, tell them to put the demand in writing. No matter how many times they call, tell them the same thing, be adamant. If they are scammers they’ll eventually give up. If they are abusive real collectors eventually they’ll get the message that their tactics aren’t going to work. Often the scammers will tell you that unless you pay them you will be put in jail and then require you to use Western Union or other wire service to pay them. Never pay a debt whether real or imagined using a money transfer service. Never give financial any financial information over the phone to any sort of collections company, no matter what. Especially cold callers that demand money. If in doubt just hang up. Block the number if possible or let it go to voice mail. You aren’t required by law to talk to a debt collector, and that goes double for scammers. Hopefully they’ll leave threats on your answering machine that can be used as evidence. Be savvy, don’t give in and tell them to put it in writing.
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Beware of Debt Collection Scam Phone Calls