CashWise Blog

While nobody likes a call from a debt collector, receiving a call from a fake is even worse. In an emerging trend, scammers are posing as payday loan debt collectors and frightening individuals into paying “debts” they never owed.

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray has offered some great advice on how to ensure you don’t get caught in the same trap, while putting those scammers back on their heels:

Some red flags in identifying this scam include:

• Refusal to provide the consumer with supporting documentation of debt allegedly owed.
• Callers claim to be representatives from “U.S. Cash.”
• Repayment required through wiring or wire transfer of payments.
• Threats of retaliation if the debt is not immediately repaid.

Cordray advises [individuals] to know their rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which requires debt collectors to send consumers a written “validation notice” listing the amount of debt a consumer owes within five days of first contact. In turn, consumers have the right to request validation of a debt by sending the collector a letter.

The FDCPA can be reviewed in full here.