Q: How does a consumer report a phony debt collector?
A: Consumers who owe money or are behind on their bills may be legitimately contacted by debt collectors to pay off debts. The BBB warns consumers, however, that phony debt collectors are lurking and active in the marketplace. In a recent release of the top complaints reported to the Better Business Bureau, collection agencies ranked fifth in number of complaints received.
With more than 15,000 complaints submitted, consumers need to be aware of the best practices for when it comes to handling debt collectors.
Debt collectors seek to reclaim funds on past-due accounts on behalf of creditors, businesses or individuals. But sometimes the “debt collector” calling turns out to be an identity thief who is trying to get you to divulge personal or financial information, such as your Social Security, bank and credit card numbers.
Oftentimes, scammers will impersonate legitimate debt collectors to illegitimately obtain financial information. These fraudulent calls can be harassing and threatening.