Being in debt can be stressful, especially when you are being targeted by debt collectors. But, more upsetting is that some collectors are actually scam artists. The good news is that there are ways to protect yourself:

  • You should not be threatened to be arrested.
  • Demands to give immediate payment.
  • Being asked to send payment by wire or prepaid card.

Things to Avoid

  • Do not give any personal information to someone who claims to be a debt collector. 
  • Do not discuss a debt with a collector you have never heard from. Demand the legally required written notice be sent to you first.
  • Do not make a payment if you are not sure you owe. So, be sure to verify the debt claim first.

What Can You Do?

So, if you are contacted by a debt collector, take action. While there are chances of mistaken identity, there is still a chance that someone is trying to scam you.

  • Ask for identification. Make sure that you get the caller’s name, company, address, and phone number. Also, ask for the caller’s professional license number, which your state may require.
  • Request more informationFederal law requires that you are provided with written notice detailing how much you owe. You should also be provided with the name of the original creditor and how to challenge the claim.
  • Check your credit report. First, review your credit report after you hear from a suspicious collector. If you do not see the debt, the call could be a scam. Remember, you are allowed one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three major reporting agencies.
  • Look up the phone number. By doing a simple Internet search, you may be able to find complaints that the number belongs to a scam collector.

Need More Information?

At the Law Office of Daniela Romero, we believe in relationships that are based on trust. Before we work together, we would like to get to know you. Also, we would like you to get to know us. We want you to be sure you are the right fit for us and that we are the perfect fit for you. This will allow you to be completely comfortable sharing intimate and difficult details of your case, so we can offer you representation to the fullest extent of the law. Call us today to set up a free consultation.