Verify before paying or sharing information
A caller or email sender claiming to collect a debt should be able to identify the creditor and provide required collection information when federal rules apply. Do not give bank credentials, passwords, or sensitive identity information to an unverified caller.
Warning signs worth checking
- Threats of arrest simply for not paying an ordinary consumer debt.
- Pressure to pay immediately through an unusual or hard-to-reverse method.
- Refusal to identify the collector, creditor, mailing address, or debt information.
- Contact about an account you cannot connect to your records.
- A “court” threat that is not matched by actual court papers or a verifiable court docket.
Court papers are a different problem
If you receive a real summons or complaint, do not treat it as a scam merely because you do not recognize the plaintiff. Debt buyers can sue under a name different from the original creditor. Verify the case through the court and respond by the applicable deadline.
Common Questions
Can a collector threaten to have me arrested for ordinary unpaid debt?
Federal consumer guidance warns that debt collectors cannot falsely threaten arrest for simply failing to pay a consumer debt.
What if I do not recognize the company suing me?
A debt buyer may use a different name from the original creditor. Check the court case, original account history, and ownership records.