A lot of friends and families are being inundated with scam callers – there are a lot of scams going around! (Quick tip: if they are calling your cell phone, once you have identified that it is a scam, block their number after you’ve hung up!)
Some of these calls sound pretty legitimate. There are a few warning signs to keep your ears open to in order to identify a scam call. (The obvious is out there – if you do not owe anyone money, it is most definitely a scam.) But like we mentioned last week, about 80% of people are in some kind of debt.
To start with, when a true debt collector is calling you, they must identify themselves and the amount of money they claim you owe. They must also send you written notice within five days of the phone call if they do not provide you with the information from the start.
You probably already know this but some people fall for it…a debt collector will not threaten you! There are some circumstances that may result in arrest if you owe fines for a criminal matter, though. A true debt collector will also not threaten to tell your employer, family, or friends. They cannot tell anyone without your permission.
Debt collectors also will not call you before 8am or after 9pm. If it is before or after these hours, they are likely trying to scam you.
When in doubt, ask them for a call back number and call them back! There is nothing wrong with being overly cautious.
Are there any other tips you would like to add to this list?