Fake debt collection scams reported

NEWS-LEDGER — FEB 1, 2012 –

From the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office

Several alert older adults in Yolo County recently contacted the Yolo County District Attorney’s Elder Protection Unit to report phone calls from people pretending to be from a collection agency. In one instance the caller claimed to be an attorney and that over $800 dollars was owed for magazine subscriptions. Crooks can disguise the numbers they are really calling from using computers.

The scammers are hoping that you may be intimidated into providing personal information like a Social Security or Credit Card number to take care of the outstanding bill.  They then can use this information to commit Identity Theft and purchase items with your card.

  The District Attorney’s Office suggests that you always be suspicious when a call comes out of the blue asking for any of your personal information.  If someone claims to be calling from a collection agency about an old unpaid bill ask that they send you written confirmation with a copy of the original invoice for you to review and check against your records.  If it turns out to be a legitimate debt follow up to resolve the matter.

One of the main reasons to be alert when you receive a call from a debt collector is that it may be an indication that your identity was already stolen.  Scammers sometimes purchase items using your stolen account information.

For more information, contact Dave Edwards at (530) 666-8416.