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4 Ways To Detect A Fake Debt Collector

Ms. Bels
Business & Finance, Feature, The Receipt

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Are you tired of annoying telemarketers calling your phone? Or numerous debt collectors trying to get money out of you?  While a few of those calls may be legit, many are not.

 

Over the past few years, there has been an influx of fake debt collectors collecting money from innocent people. According to the Federal Trade Commission, collectors call and pretend that they are federal or state agents, investigators, members of the government, and even law firms. One Georgia-based firm threatened consumers with lose of drivers license and/or jail time if they didn’t pay off their debt. This is a violation of the law. The firm was able to locate these consumers through an online payday loan service.  The case is currently pending in federal court in Atlanta.

 

To prevent this from happening to you, the FTC recommends the following:

 

  • Ask the caller for his name, company, street address, and telephone number. Tell the caller you won’t discuss any debt until you get a written “validation notice.” If the caller refuses, don’t pay.
  • Put your request in writing. If you have the caller’s address, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) requires any debt collector to stop calling if you ask them to in writing.
  • Don’t give or confirm with the caller any personal, financial, or other sensitive information. Fake debt collectors, and other scammers, can use your information to commit identity theft and other crimes.
  • Contact your creditor. If a debt is legitimate – but you think the collector isn’t – contact your creditor. Tell them about the suspicious call and ask who, if anyone, the creditor has authorized to collect the debt.

 

If the issue continues, the FTC also suggests that you file a complaint and contact your state’s Attorney General’s office with information about the fake calls.

 

 

HAVE YOU BEEN A VICTIM OF A FAKE DEBT COLLECTOR? IF SO, TELL US YOUR STORY.

 

Photo Credit: Money.CNN.com