Tag: scam

The Creditor Scam

SCAM

Every Creditor is not the same, and some aren’t even creditors at all, they’re scams. We live in unprecedented times.  By virtue of that, we also have an unprecedented number of money hungry creditors looking to scrape up every cent they think they can get their hands on.  

Frequently, debtors will find themselves in a situation where they are continuously being hounded by any number of creditors.

The debts they supposedly owe have been sold and resold so many times that the creditor isn’t really sure that the person they’re pursuing even owes the debt.

Frequently, debtors are not even sure who they owe funds to anymore either.

The problem is that this can make unsuspecting debtors vulnerable to scams. If a debtor receives communication from an aggressive creditor demanding payment, the debtor may not even take the time to figure out if they actually owe the debt.  

The Scam

This type of debt collection is what we like to call a scam.  Unscrupulous creditors (potentially even criminal organizations) will call people they think owe the debt.  Since they paid pennies on the dollar, if they recover anything, it’s a profit.  They’ll offer to settle the debt at a substantial discount if you pay right now.  You’re tired of being harassed and so without any investigation, you pay them.  

Now you’re out whatever you paid and it may not have even been a debt you owed.  

In these difficult times when debt changes hands so frequently, it’s best to be skeptical of debt collectors, even legitimate ones.  

With debt collectors calling you, mailing you nasty letters and even sliding up in your DMs, you need to be wary of everyone. Yes, creditors can contact you on social media.  The government allows it. 

The best way to combat this is to get a copy of your credit report.  The overwhelming majority of legitimate creditors will list things on your report.  

Additionally, if you’re skeptical (remember, you should be) ask the creditor for their contact information and use that to verify that they’re legit.  Call them back at the number they give you and do a little searching on the internet to make sure they’re legit.

Finally, under the fair debt collections act, you have the right to request proof that the debt is actually yours and that you owe it.  If they can’t provide this proof, tell them to go pound sand.  

How to stop it

Legitimate creditors will reach out to you in a variety of ways, but always be skeptical unless you’re absolutely sure you owe the money.  Do your research BEFORE you send money or else you could fall victim to a scam.  

This is especially true if the creditor is overly aggressive, abusive or hostile. Always remember your rights under the fair debt collections act.  

In the end, the only surefire way to eliminate debt that’s suspect is through the bankruptcy process. The full weight of the United States government and the federal court system is behind you.  It’s why it was created.  

If you have any questions about the bankruptcy process, call us.  We’ve helped thousands of people eliminate more than 1 billion dollars worth of debt.