In fake debt collection scams, family and co-workers of victim likely to be contacted

Fraudsters running debt collection scams appear to be broadening their tactics for extracting money from victims. Specifically, of the hundreds of complaints about fake debt collection scams received by Fraud.org so far this year, many mention that the scammers call and harass co-workers and family members of the intended victim as well as the victims themselves. Fraud.org is warning consumers who have been contacted by one of these scammers to alert co-workers and family members that they may also receive calls.

Complaints to Fraud.org have noted that callers posing as debt collectors will call the victim’s workplace to put pressure on the victim to pay. The scammers then count on the victims’ fear of losing their job to prompt them to pay the fictitious debt. Similarly, we’ve received reports that fraudsters have called family members of the victim, using social pressure to get the victim to pay. The average financial loss reported by victims of debt collection scams for the period October 2013 to June 2014 was $1,748.39.

Scammers may be acquiring contact information for a victim’s employer or family members through bogus online payday loan applications. Information about consumers who have previously been defrauded are also sold and traded among scammers. These so-called “sucker lists” can contain information such as a consumers’ home and work address, phone number, occupation, and information about how much money a consumer has spent on previous fake offers.

In fake debt collection scams, family and co-workers of victim likely to be contacted