INDIANAPOLIS — Getting a call or text from a supposed debt collector can be alarming.
That is why scammers might pretend to be these people, but real debt collectors are supposed to follow certain rules while scammers do whatever they want.
Here are some signs of phony debt collectors, according to Bankrate.
One sign: the time of day they call.
Typically, real debt collectors can only call between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in your time zone.
Another sign? Scammers threaten to tell extended family or coworkers about your debt. Debt collectors are generally not allowed to disclose your debts with third parties without your consent.
A third sign: the scammer withholds information.
Real debt collectors need to provide certain details when they contact you. The creditor, amount owed and procedure to dispute.
Ted Rossman with Bankrate said there are also some things you can do on your own to sleuth around a little bit.
"You could look on your credit report. You can pull those at annualcreditreport.com. You can actually do it every week even though the name is annual," Rossman said.
Rossman added that unconventional payment methods are another scam sign.
"If they ask for payment in cryptocurrency, or buy a gift card, or Zelle or Venmo — these things are all popular among scammers because they're hard to trace and hard to reverse," Rossman said.
It is also important not to offer the person on the phone any information. For example, that you bank with a certain group or have debt that you have already paid off.