Beware of Phony Debt Collectors
This week the Better Business Bureau (BBB) released an emergency alert warning consumers of a scam involving phony debt collectors. These phony debt collectors have obtained confidential information about their victims and are using it to collect money.
According to reports received by the BBB, the debt collectors accuse their victims of defaulting on a loan and tell them they are about to be sued. The scammer then offers them the option to wire money or provide bank account information where they can draft the account in order to pay the debt and avoid going to court.
In many instances, the victims receive dozens of abusive phone calls from the phony debt collectors. These scammers are also posing as lawyers with the “Financial Accountability Association” or the “Federal Legislation of Unsecured Loans”. These debt collectors have obtained information including social security numbers, home addresses, information about employers and sometimes even old bank account numbers.
Even though they have real information, they are not real debt collectors. If you received these phone calls, DO NOT provide any verifying information. Instead either hang up or demand they send a verification of the debt in writing.
If you have been the victim of harassing phone calls from debt collectors or have been contact by debt collectors posing as lawyers, this is against the law and you should contact an attorney today to see if you have a case.
