What if Debt Scam Calls Won't Stop?

You should be aware that there are people trying to scam you out of money.

Consumer scams happen on the phone; through the mail, email, or the Internet; and they can occur in person, at home, or at a business. If you are receiving a lot of scam calls from debt collectors or others, see the box below called, "Take Action: Report Bad Actors!" and report them. In addition to reporting them, here are some other tips: 

• Put your number on the National Do Not Call Registry. Go to donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222.
• Don’t share numbers or passwords for accounts, credit cards, or Social Security, unless you know the person you’re dealing with and why they need the information.
• Ask for more information.  If you do not recognize who is calling and what debt they are referring to, make sure they give you more information, including the validation notice, which they are required to send.
• Record everything and keep any records.  Keeping records and recording calls can help you determine whether the calls are real.  It might be hard to keep everything straight when the call is happening.

Take Action: Report Bad Actors!

It is important that you know your rights so debt collectors cannot take advantage of you.

Federal and state laws prohibit collectors from harassing people. That means they can’t lie, curse, insult you, or use offensive language. Keep records of harassing calls you receive, and make sure to keep any letters or emails you may receive. You even may want to record harassing calls from the debt collectors. Know your rights!

If you are being harassed by a debt collector, you can report them at the links below. For more information, see the Resources page.

• Texas Attorney General  
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• Federal Trade Commission
• Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (if the debt is payday loan, auto title loan, finance company loan or other loan regulated by the office, generally loans that are not from banks or credit unions)