Informing people about the threat of unfair or fraudulent debt collection practices is one of the themes of this blog. In our February 15 post we wrote about a recent Texas case in which the Federal Trade Commission took against a debt-collection company for egregious violations.
The problem is so big, however, that fake debt collection scams continue to happen. People in San Antonio in need of debt relief, as well as many others across the country, are potentially affected and must stay on their guard.
One of the ways to do this is to have a bankruptcy attorney on your side. Attorneys are regulated by state Supreme Courts or bar organizations in each state. And this regulation includes meeting ethical standards.
It’s also important to be careful about giving out your personal information. This is because one of the most common scenarios by which fake debt collectors target people is to get hold of things like online applications for payday loans.
Once fake debt collectors have got that information, they may do things like calling and posing as someone of authority, such as a law enforcement agent. The scammers may claim to a police officer who is about to arrest someone who doesn’t pay a debt. Or they may pretend to be attorneys and threaten a lawsuit.
It’s inevitably stressful to receive calls like this. Sometimes people pay even if they aren’t sure whether the debt is even valid.
Our goal is to keep you informed about debt relief options so that you don’t make debt repayment decisions out of fear. Instead, such decisions should be based on your own interest in obtaining meaningful debt relief.
Source: “Fake Debt Collectors Target Texas Consumers,” Houston Public Radio, Andrew Schneider, 3-4-13
Our firm handles situations similar to those discussed in this post in the San Antonio area. To learn more about our practice, please visit our main bankruptcy page.