Avoid Getting Scammed By a Fake Government Debt Collector

Have you received a phone call from someone claiming to be from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) who says you owe an unpaid debt? You are not alone. According to a recent article from the Federal Trade Commission’s blog, government imposter scams occur more often than you might think, and because the debt collectors claim to be calling from federal government offices, consumers tend to be more willing to pay up. What else should you know about government imposter scams, and how can you ensure that your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) are not violated?
Learning More About Government Imposter Scams
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), scam artists frequently make telephone calls to consumers and pretend that they are from government offices, such as the SEC, FTC, or IRS. Typically, these scammers will tell consumers that they will be arrested or will be sued if they do not pay a government debt owed. For example, a scammer might claim to be from the IRS and will threaten a lawsuit if the consumer does not wire money to pay off a tax debt. For many consumers who owe significant debts and are considering bankruptcy, a call like this might seem legitimate.
What should you do if you receive a phone call from someone who says she or he is calling from the FTC or the IRS? In short, do not send money to anyone who calls over the phone. As the FTC explains, “federal government agencies and federal employees don’t ask people to send money for prizes or unpaid loans,” and those same federal agencies and their employees are not allowed to “ask you to wire money or to add money to a prepaid debit card to pay for anything.”
Scams Surrounding IRS Collection of Back Taxes
One of the most common government debt collection scams involves a person calling and claiming to be from the IRS. That scammer will tell you that you owe unpaid back taxes and will threaten you with a lawsuit—and in some cases even jail time—if you do not make immediate payment. As a press release from the IRS explains, these scammers often will know the last four digits of your Social Security number, and they will have faked badge numbers from the IRS. In some cases, they can even fake a caller ID label so that it looks like you are actually getting a call from the IRS.
Even if you do owe back taxes, you should know that the IRS simply does not attempt to collect debts in this manner. Rather, the IRS typically contacts people first by mail about back taxes. At the same time, no matter what debts you owe, you should always remember that you have rights under the FDCPA, and debt collectors cannot threaten you in order to collect money.
Contact an Oak Park Consumer Protection Lawyer
If you have been treated unfairly by a debt collector, you should seek help from an experienced Oak Park consumer protection lawyer. An advocate at our firm can speak with you today. Contact the Emerson Law Firm for more information.
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