More people than
ever are being harassed by collection calls at home and work about
payday loans they either never received or already repaid. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center recently released a new alert about the disturbing rise in these scams.
How the Scam Works:
You answer the phone.
The person the other end claims you are delinquent on a payday loan and
must pay up to avoid legal consequences. You think the caller must be
mistaken. You've either never taken out a loan or you've already repaid
it. You hang up and probably think that's the end of the trouble.
But the phone calls don't stop. You start receiving more calls at work and home. Callers make threats and/or claim to be representatives of government agencies and law firms. The scammers also have your personal information, such as your Social Security/Social Insurance number, date of birth and address. They may even contact your friends, relatives and employer.
In a new twist on the scam, you may also begin receiving emails. These messages are official-looking and purport to be from a federal agency. They accuse you of violating banking regulations and reference law enforcement agencies like the FBI. To fight the charges, the emails say, you need to contact the sender within 48 hours.
I'm a Victim of This Scam. What Should I Do?
- Contact the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) and request an alert be put on your file
- If you have received a legitimate loan, verify that you do not have any outstanding payments by contacting the loan company directly
- File a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center
- If you feel you are in immediate danger, do not hesitate to contact local law enforcement
For More Information
Check out the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center's Public Service Announcement for more information about the scam.
To find out more about scams, check out the new BBB Scam Stopper.
