How to Expose Fake Debt Collectors

Perhaps many of us have received a suspicious “debt-collection” call, often from a phone number we do not recognize. We may answer anyway, only for a robot or unfamiliar voice to claim that we owe an unpaid debt of hundreds of even thousands of dollars, and that there will be consequences if it is not paid. Before even considering a response, we may wonder – rightfully so – whether the call is legitimate or a scam.Debt-collection scams may be more common than we think; even the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) now actively warns American consumers of individuals and entities which falsely impersonate debt-collectors. Some even threaten individuals with jail time and other legal action for phony debts, while others have posed as large debt-collection firms to extort millions of dollars from consumers nationwide.Such scammers are often caught and rarely maintain their practices for long, but this should not suggest that they are not skilled at what they do. They are searching for the valuable bits and pieces of your information, such as bank/credit card information or digits of your Social Security number, to steal your identity and access your finances.Under the Fair Debt Collections Practice Act (FDCPA), legitimate debt-collectors may not call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., so calls beyond these hours are immediate indicators of suspicious activity. If you have reasonable suspicion that supposed debt-collectors are fake, here are three key questions to expose them:1) What are the name, address, and phone number of the company you are calling from?Any legitimate debt-collector will be more than willing to provide this information, and this should be the first question you ask. Fake collectors, of course, cannot answer adequately without revealing their own identity, which would immediately invite its own legal consequences. Even if they do answer, you should request that they send a “validation notice,” which is required to be sent to you within the first five days of initial communication.2) What are the name and address of the debtor you are trying to reach?Real debt-collectors know exactly who they are trying to reach. If a supposed debt-collector cannot tell you (the supposed debtor) your own name an address, this is an immediate red flag. They are also obligated to inform you of the amount of a debt and the creditor to which it is owed, so they are not real collectors if they lack this information.3) What are the final four digits of the debtor’s Social Security Number?This is something of a trick-question to throw off scammers. Real debt-collectors cannot legally answer this question, as it violates the FDCPA. Fake collectors, however, may attempt to answer it or provide an excuse for why they do not have the number.Ultimately, there is one key thing to remember: legitimate debt-collectors are required by federal law to truthfully answer any questions you may have. Asking these questions clearly, but also politely, will easily separate the legitimate businesses from the scammers and catch off-guard anyone who may attempt to steal your personal information.If you continue to receive calls from someone you have deemed to be a fake debt-collector, it is best to ignore them. Under the FDCPA, real debt-collectors may be required to cease attempts to contact you if you request in writing that they do so, and most will oblige; fake collectors, on the other hand, likely will not even have an address to provide for such a request!Ongoing suspicious debt-collection calls may be reported to the Federal Trade Commission for further investigation and potential legal action in the future.If you are being harassed over a debt, you may be entitled to money damages. Get up to $1,000 for harassment, and $500 – $1,500 for illegal robocalls. Under various state and federal laws, we will help you based on a fee-shift provision and/or a contingency fee. This means the collector pays your attorney’s fees and costs and you won’t pay us a penny. We have settled thousands of debt-collection harassment cases; let us help you today. Contact Mike Agruss Law at (888)-572-0176 to stop the harassment once and for all.