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(877) 382-4357 about the consumers they contact, including their name, address, the last four digits of their Paying a fake debt Note: When you get your credit report, review it carefully for false, outdated, or inaccurate entries. Questions or comments regarding the DLLR website may be directed to webmaster@dllr.state.md.us. First, if the collector initially calls you by phone, demand that they contact you in writing. The fraudulent operators may use illegal threats of legal action, arrest, or contacting a persons place of employment to try to bully the victim into immediately disclosing their credit card number or banking information. Verifying the debt will ensure that you do not pay money to a scammer and can clarify the origin of the debt. Never attempt to "scam the scammer." (651) 296-3353 (Twin Cities Calling Area) (800) 657-3787 (Outside the Twin Cities) Contact the Department of Commerce immediately to determine if the company is a licensed debt collector, and contact the company in writing to dispute debts that you dont owe or cant be verified. So, some debt collectors are real, and they're acting on behalf of the company to whom you owe money. The caller is seeking payment on a debt for a loan you do not recognize; The caller refuses to give you a mailing address or phone number; The caller asks you for personal financial or sensitive information; or. These scammers can be very convincing, which is why you need to spot the signs of a fake debt collection: Real debt collectors already know much of your information e.g., how much you owe, your address, social security number, birthday, etc. Consumer Service Unit Phone Number: 410-230-6077

If they insist you pay your debt in the form of gift cards or by wire transfer, its a scam. National Foundation for Credit Counseling, As Inflation Rises Renters Face Unique Challenges. Attention: Consumer Services Unit To protect yourself from a creditor collecting something they dont deserve to receivesomething you dont oweyou will need to take an important, and time-sensitive step: verify the debts legitimacy. Spot check Do your research to double check that the debt collector is who they say they are. Don't ever send a debt payment by wire transfer, especially overseas. These fraudulent debt collectors threaten consumers with legal action unless they make Finally, contact a major credit reporting agency. The more we know about current scams, the more likely it is we'll be able to identify or prevent similar scams in the future. And you have rights as a consumer. In fact, acco How to Set Yourself Up for Financial Success as a Newlywed. Commissioner of Financial Regulation. Other means of verification Social Security number and bank account information. notice." In that written correspondence, the collector must inform you what action you can take if you dispute owing the money. Before you pay any debt to any collector, confirm that the debt is real and valid. If a company that calls you is not registered, that likely means it is a scam or acting illegally! fraudulent debt collectors are employing a variety of tactics in an attempt to commit theft. Washington, DC 20580 Asking you to provide personal information, such as your Social Security number or bank account information in order to process your payment. and the Commissioner joins in advising consumers to be on guard. Possible Scenarios Dont send Scammers will try to steal your money by rushing you into paying with unconventional payment methods like gift cards or wire transfers. There are generally no tax implications for full balance DMPs. Download this You may be upset, but trying to get revenge will not work. should not hesitate to report any instances of debt-related fraud to the Office of the If you are contacted by a collector about a debt that does not sound familiar to you, then you should probably dispute the debt, in accordance with your rights under the FDCPA. Your letter essentially just needs be dated and needs to say I dont owe this debt unless you can prove it, so prove it. To make the letter a bit more formal than that one-liner, consider using the free template from the CFPB. Scammers like to use intimidation and fear to get payments. On the other hand, the collection attempt may not be legitimate. How to Validate and Verify the Debt Whats worse is that sometimes collectors may contact consumers about debts that are not legitimate. A few months later you get a call from a collector demanding $1,000.

Contact the Department of Commerce, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Minnesota Attorney Generals Office at the first sign of a violation of your rights. Real debt collectors will often try to get payment quickly, but if your collector is being very pushy, you should be suspicious. Heres how. You dont remember the debt. You also cant be sued in any county other than where you lived when you signed the contract or at the time the lawsuit was filed. In some cases, the scammer will threaten legal action or wage garnishment if the debt is not paid. Pressuring you into paying immediately often by gift cards or wire transfer by threatening to damage your credit rating or report you to a credit agency. Fax number: 410-333-3866, Walk in Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm There have been reports across the country involving consumers receiving It was a credit card bill for $500. Keep all documentation related to the scam, including any emails, letters, or receipts. In either case, you will be glad you did not pay something you did not owe. Heres How to Tell if the Debt is Legitimate, [1] The Debt Settlement Process often negatively impacts a consumers credit score. (Investopedia), [2] According to a study by the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), Debt Settlement companies often charge high fees (CRL). Take action to improve your digital posture by following these steps: Credit repair scams prey on people who struggle with their credit. This is your right according to bullet #4 above. Some reports indicate that calls come from a variety of area codes, which is Congratulations! and your rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Baltimore, Maryland 21202, You can also fax to: You have nothing to lose in taking this protective measure. They also sometimes use new technology to copy logos to impersonate real companies or the government. Validation You could be the target of a scam or an error. The information provided by the collector is called the validation notice. The CFPB gives two important warnings about this. Specifically, they cannot imply that nonpayment will lead to your arrest or garnishment, imply that they are government representatives, misrepresent the amount you owe, make a letter look as though it is from the government or the court, or threaten to disclose false information about you to the credit bureaus. Along with making sure you follow the three golden rules to spot a scam, its important to strengthen your online security to help avoid all types of online scams. These types of scams can be very difficult to spot, as the scammers often use fake names and contact information. One of the surest ways to avoid a debt collection scam is to know all of your real or valid debt.

Without Fightcybercrime.org, I don't know if I would have been able to react as quickly to protect my personal information. collector will not always make them go away. They are required to tell the other two agencies about your fraud alert.

Demands that you give your credit card number or banking information immediately to avoid arrest or to capitalize on a settlement offer. You won't go to jail for your debt, so if the collector says that you will, they're lying. The debt may be completely fake, canceled, discharged, forgiven or beyond the period for collection. Scammers often utilize tactics to encourage you to act quickly and will use false information to persuade you to send money or personally identifiable information (PII). Youve found your person and now youre starting a new life together. The process may just reveal that you owe the debt, but at least you will have peace of mind from knowing who to pay and how much to pay. Remember, you have debt collection rights. Verifying the debt will help you sort this out. Within five days after the debt collectors initial contact, the collector must send you a statement of the total amount owed to the creditor. When a debt collector contacts you about a debt, there are several pieces of information that they must provide. Scammers don't want to be found, so they often insist you make a payment by Visa gift card, iTunes gift card, wire transferor some other untraceable method. For those of us seeking affordable access to housing or the promise of a maintenance-free lifestyle, renting is an option that many people choose. Online Unemployment Insurance applications may be unavailable. Second, you can contact the alleged original creditor to inquire about the debt. It is never a pleasant experience to receive phone calls or other communications from a debt collector. The collector refuses to give you their contact information. 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 1400 Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation have you arrested or to report you to a law enforcement agency. Do not be taken in by a phony collection scam simply because the fraudster provides some accurate personal information about you. Ask an Expert: How Frequently Can I Open New Credit Cards without Hurting my Credit Score? as "officers". Contacting you out of the blue, claiming to be from a debt collection agency. Contact the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation at the

Scammers survive by getting people to pay fake debts before they have a chance to realize they're being scammed. Repeatedly calls you over the phone and wont provide anything in writing. 2019 Legislative Session Update for Victims and Service Providers, 2021 Legislative Session Open Government Update. Stop! may be directed to DLFRFinReg-DLLR@maryland.gov. This can help ensure that the original creditor did in fact sell the debt to the collector as the collector claimed. The caller exerts high pressure to try to scare you into paying, such as threatening to For additional information, or to file a complaint, please contact the Minnesota Attorney Generals Office as follows: Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison Discover the warning signs and how to recover. Federal Trade Commission 500 North Calvert Street, Suite 402

Consumers 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW They may be pushy, aggressive or use threatening language to force you to act quickly. Real debt collectors will accept normal, trackable payments (e.g., check, traditional credit card, etc.). When faced with a questionable situation online, always follow the three golden rules to spot a scam: Slow it down Debt collection scammers often create a sense of urgency. Verifying the debt can ensure that you do not fall for one of their tricks and restart the statute of limitations. Important: You technically must submit the dispute/verification request within 30 days of when you received the required information (the validation) from the collector. They may say that you owe money to a creditor and threaten legal action if you dont pay up. A payday loan is a short-term, high-interest loan, targeted at borrowers who need money between paychecks. Ask the caller for his or her name, company, street address, and telephone number. Debt collection scams typically involve someone posing as a debt collector who contacts you by phone, text message, mail or email trying to collect on a debt that doesnt exist, or for an amount that is much higher than what is actually owed. advisory (Word document, 61KB, Being Bothered by a Debt Collector? If they don't seem to know enough about you, there's a good chance they're a scammer. Take your time to avoid being rushed into a bad situation. A collector could contact you about a debt you have never heard of and do not recall ever owing. Heres How to Tell if the Debt is Legitimate, Tips for First-Time Veterans and Military Homebuyers, Your right to dispute the debt within 30 days and their right to assume the debt is valid if you do not, Your right to dispute the debt within 30 days, and that they will provide verification if you do, Your right to request the name and address of the original creditor within 30 days, and that they will provide the information if you do. Maryland law affords consumers protections against fraudulent debt collectors. (800) 627-3529 (Minnesota Relay). After receiving the validation notice, you can dispute the debt, which means you will submit a letter to the collector, demanding that they verify the debt.

loans they received but for amounts they do not owe. The Official Website of the Minnesota Attorney General, 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 1400, St. Paul, MN 55101 Debt collection companies operating in Minnesota must obtain a license with the Department of Commerce. Your rights to clarify the legitimacy of a collected debt come primarily from the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

Do your homework. If you provided personal information, like your Social Security number, you may be at risk for.

The Federal Trade Commission enforces the federal debt collection laws. You should report violations to the FTC as follows: Federal Trade Commission The collector demands payment using an unusual method, such as wire transfer, gift cards or prepaid debit cards. Learn more: How to Request an Attorney General Opinion, Learn more about your debts by getting your. Under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and other state laws: The following conduct by a debt collector may be red flags that you are being targeted by a phony collection scam: In this age of technology, scam artists are sometimes able to obtain detailed personal information about a person, including banking information and even the last four digits of a Social Security number. www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov. They may also use intimidation tactics to try and get you to pay. There are several common tactics that debt collection scammers use to trick people into giving them money or personal information, such as: If you are contacted by someone about debt that you owe, there are some red flags to look for that may indicate that you are being scammed, such as: If you think you are the victim of a debt collection scam, it is important to take action right away to protect yourself and your finances. If you cannot obtain an address by which to contact the collection agency in writing, you may be the target of a scam. company names. As a society, the more people that report online scams and fraud, the more national reporting data that is collected, and the better chance law enforcement has to catch the criminals and decrease cybercrime. callers to collect from them. Write them down. They insist that you pay the full amount of your debt immediately. First of all, the law prohibits debt collectors from lying, threatening you with things they can't do or posing as government officials. Verification The FTC recently announced an enforcement action in this area They may be able to help you cancel the transaction or get your money back. Many of these lenders are not licensed to do business in Minnesota and providing your personal information to such entities over the internet could lead to unauthorized withdrawals from your bank account, identity theft, or phony collection scams perpetuated by international crime rings. St. Paul, MN 55101 You should act quickly to ensure your compliance during this timeframe. Verification is Worth It The fraudsters typically contact the citizen over the telephone, but may also send an official-looking letter. Lets say you knew that one of your debts would be sent to collections. Then file a complaint with us. Consumers should beware of the costs and fees associated with such loans. The debt collector cannot collect for any debt that cannot be verified. However, a collector can (and most probably would) provide the information even if you request verification after the 30-day deadline has passed. other threats of immediate legal action. Maybe you are a co-signor and simply forgot about taking responsibility to cover the debt, or maybe there is a genuine error. The fraudsters resort to threatening tactics and use a variety of generic and government-sounding Break off contact with them and file a complaint. If they refuse to answer all of your questions, there's a good chance you're in the middle of a scam. File a Complaint about a Charity or Nonprofit, Registration and Reporting - Charities and Charitable Trusts, Registration and Reporting - Professional Fundraisers, Forms and Instructions for Registration and Reporting, Request an Extension of a Filing Deadline, Biography of Attorney General Keith Ellison, Know Your Rights to Abortion and Reproductive Healthcare in Minnesota, Fighting the Opioid Epidemic in Minnesota, Advisory Task Force on Expanding the Economic Security of Women, Advisory Task Force on Lowering Pharmaceutical Drug Prices, Information for Minnesota School of Business and Globe University Students. They try to intimidate you by threatening you with jail time, fines or garnished wages. The collector may simply have gotten the wrong information or you could be targeted by a fake collection scam. Learn how to recognize, report and recover from this type of scam. If someone contacts you about a debt you owe, you can quickly identify whether it's real or fake. Send the agency a letter by mail asking them to confirm their debt in writing. The collector refuses to provide proof that you owe the debt. The FDCPA also restricts debt collectors from trying to collect any debt in dispute. It's very simple: Someone contacts you often by phone, but also by text message, fax, mail or email and claims that you owe a debt. download Word viewer for free). Scammers pose as debt collectors to steal your money or personal information. In addition to your rights under the FDCPA, described above, you can try a few other tactics to verify a debt. In todays age of technology, fraudsters use throw-away cell phones to evade detection and make it difficult to track the phone number to a location. Do not be intimidated into paying money you dont owe or disclosing your personal financial information in the face of such scare tacticsthese types of threats are illegal. : If you owe money, the lender will sometimes hire a debt collection agency to try and get you to pay. telephone calls from people trying to collect on loans the consumers never received or on St. Paul, MN 55101 Second, do not give any personal or financial information until you confirm that you are dealing with a real debt collector. Internet lenders may offer easy credit, but this credit comes with a hefty price tag and often leaves a rash of problems in its wake. If you send a letter within 30 days disputing that you owe the money, the debt collector cannot make further collection efforts until you receive proof of the debt. References a supposed debt that is not on any of your credit reports. Then, search for the collection agency on the internet, and send them a letter by mail asking them to confirm your debts. The amount looks wrong to you. money from you.

Ask them to provide their full name and the companys name, address, phone number, website address and email. immediate payment of the debts, fake or otherwise. And be on the lookout for the signs of a debt collection scam.

Main Telephone Number: 410-230-6100 or 888-784-0136, Return to the Commissioner of Financial Regulation home page. However, if you make a payment, the statute of limitations could reset, which would refresh the collectors right to sue you. So if a debt collector pushes you to pay immediately, be very cautious. Remember, scam operators do not think twice about violating the law, so if you send such a letter and the organization continues to call you, it is likely a phony collection scam. Here are some steps to take if you think you have been scammed: Reporting any type of cybercrime, including debt collection scams, is imperative to help others avoid being scammed. However, real debt collectors still have to obey the law. Make sure that what the collector told you lines up with what your credit report indicates. Blog / Consumer Protection / Being Bothered by a Debt Collector? The callers have basic personal information The notice must include the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor you owe, This federal law controls what debt collectors can do in their collection efforts. (800) 627-3529 (Minnesota Relay), Debt Collection When You Don't Owe the Money. Phony collection scammers can be extremely aggressive and sometimes threaten to send the sheriff to have a person arrested if the person does not pay immediately. Refuses to give you the accurate name of its agency or mailing address, or gives you inaccurate or non-functioning telephone numbers. or or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Minnesota Attorney Generals Office values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.

Others are receiving calls from people Attention: Consumer Services Unit If you provided financial information, like your credit card number or bank account information, contact your bank or credit card company right away.

Recognize, report and recover from cybercrime. These Consumer Response Center Threatens to have you arrested or to send law This occurs for several reasons: the original creditor may have made an accounting error, you may be a victim of identity theft, or the creditor may have found the wrong person with a similar name. This will be helpful if you need to file a police report or take legal action against the scammer. Ask them to place a fraud alert on your credit report. Questions or comments regarding the Commissioner of Financial Regulation You are contacted by a collector about a debt you dont recognize. If the collector is referencing a debt you have no recollection of and that debt isnt even on your credit report, that should raise a red flag.

Q: Is it wise to apply for a credit card within three months of applying for one even if I already have seven other open credit cards? sometimes indicative of the calls originating from overseas. They may make up another debt to try to get more Search for the company name on the internet, review their website, call their number, etc. Find their contact information by visiting their legitimate website. (651) 539-1500 This means that the collector cannot legally sue you. Specifically, they can not swear at you, threaten to harm you, call you repeatedly in an attempt to annoy you, call you without disclosing their identity, or publicize your name as someone who refuses to pay debts. Consumers should also be wary of who they are borrowing from, as some payday lenders do not follow Minnesota law and charge rates of interest far greater than those allowed in Minnesota. Consumers need to be on the alert for scam artists posing as debt collectors. Report the call. As the CFPB explains, these are: A collector must provide this information during the first contact with you or via a written notice within five days after initially contacting you. In other cases, the scammer may promise to help you repay what you owe. [3] DMPs are legal agreements between you and your creditors. The fraudsters have also threatened to garnish a persons pay check or bank account, submit affidavits to the court against the person, or send an official to serve the person with a summons.