Fake Debt Collectors on the Rise
The Better Business Bureau issued a recent press release alerting the public to an increase in fake-debt-collector activity.
According to the BBB records, fake debt collection scams are on the rise. From September 2011-2012, there were 782 complaints. From September 2012-2013, there were 926, an 18% increase from the previous year.
While I have no statistics or research concerning fake debt collectors operating in Kentucky, I’ve recently been contacted by several people who’ve been contacted by what appears to be out and out scammers. So be cautious with any contact from a debt collector. The BBB press release lists these red flags to look out for:
- Calls seeking payment on a debt for a loan you don’t recognize.
- Refusal by the caller to give you their own contact information.
- Persistent request for personal financial or sensitive information.
- High pressure tactics designed to scare you, by saying that you could get into legal trouble by not paying immediately.
Another red flag I’ve found is when there’s very little info about the debt collector on the web. If a Google search turns up few hits and no website for the debt collector, this could be an indication that you’ve been contacted by a fake debt collector.
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