FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
October 26, 2015
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
AG STRANGE WARNS OF FAKE DEBT COLLECTOR CALLS
TARGETING BANKRUPTCY FILERS
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange warns of a scam targeting
bankruptcy filers around the country in which the scammers use Caller ID “spoofing”
and victims’ personal information to collect bogus debts.
Scammers armed with publicly available documents about bankruptcy filers are
using that information to pose as attorneys demanding immediate wire payment of a
debt. Perpetrators “spoof” the Caller ID system to make it appear they are calling from
a bankruptcy attorney’s office, often times phoning after business hours to make it
difficult to verify they are not legitimate.
In most cases, the scammers inform their victims they must wire a debt payment
immediately or face arrest. Attorney General Strange warns that such calls are
fraudulent and anyone receiving them should report them to law enforcement.
According to the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys,
“Under no circumstances would a bankruptcy attorney or a staff member telephone a
client and ask for a wire transfer to immediately satisfy a debt. Nor would the
bankruptcy attorney and staff ever threaten arrest if a debt isn’t paid.”
Attorney General Strange urges consumers to be on alert to such scams. “You
should be suspicious of any call you receive demanding you make immediate payment
of a debt or face arrest. Debt collectors cannot arrest you. Frequently debt collection
scams also claim to be calling on behalf of the IRS, law enforcement, the courts and even
the Attorney General’s Office demanding immediate payments. Consumers should
never give out personal information over the telephone and should verify the identity
of any caller seeking payments.”
For more information on ways to protect yourself from consumer fraud, visit the
Attorney General’s Consumer Protection web site: http://www.ago.state.al.us/Page-
Consumer-Protection, or call 1-800-392-5658.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
