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Debt collection: latest reports

Calls about a debt, including calls for someone else who may have had your number before.

Common signs

  • A caller asks for a person by name, or says you owe money.
  • Threats of arrest, lawsuits or wage garnishment over the phone with no written notice.
  • Pressure to pay immediately by an unusual method.

What to do

  • Say whether it is you, without confirming personal details. If it is not your debt, say so and ask them to stop calling you.
  • Ask for written details of the debt. Debt collectors in the US generally must send a written validation notice, and you have a limited time to dispute it.
  • Keep notes of dates and what was said.

What to avoid

  • Do not give bank or card details to an unverified caller.
  • Do not acknowledge a debt you do not recognise.

Questions people ask

The caller wants someone who is not me. What should I do?

Tell them it is the wrong number and ask them to remove it. If the calls continue, you can put your request in writing and report the calls to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or the FTC.

How can I tell a real collector from a scam?

Ask for the company name and a mailing address, then look it up yourself. A real collector can send written details. A scam will push you to pay right away.

Official resources (external sites, we are not affiliated): Consumer Financial Protection Bureau · Report fraud to the FTC

General safety information, not legal advice. Reports on this site are unverified experiences.

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