Recently, a fraudulent debt collecting ring was arrested for trying to collect on legitimate past due consumer accounts as well as non-existent debts.

This faux-debt collection agency operated in at least four different locations in western New York using several different company names, including Central Resource Man, Interchange Payment Solutions, Next Step Services, Silverbay Services, Teleport, Final Claims Asset Locators and Final Control Asset Locators.

The ringleader, a convicted felon, along with three other individuals used scare tactics and exaggerated amounts due to in order to frighten consumers to pay up.

How do you handle a caller identifying him/herself as a debt collector, attempting to collect on a past debt – or perhaps a debt you were not aware you had or that you were sure you paid off in full? You’ll stay calm by using these five ways to see right through a fraudulent debt collector’s scam.

The caller identifies him/herself as a lawyer or accuses you of a crime. Several of the fraudulent collectors in this case posed as law enforcement officers to add to the intimidation. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits any debt collection company to pose as an attorney or a member of law enforcement, threaten a lawsuit, accuse debt holders of a crime, or threaten arrest.

Record the information on said debt. Just write it all down as if you’re taking a message for a family member. Also, make sure you get first and last names of the caller, the company they represent, and a returning phone number – by law they must give you this information. And they also do not have the right to ever call you again on said debt, so tell them.

The call is made before 8AM or after 9PM. By law, a debt collector must follow the bylines outlined in the collection practices act. That means not calling too early or too late. A rookie or false debt collector won’t be too hip on the rules since they are essentially out to break them. This is an easy one and helps you remember the fourth piece of advice.

Make note of the dates and times you were contacted. Turn the tables on the fraudulent collectors by asking for their information so you can do a background check. Never disclose personal information on your behalf, such as checking account or social security numbers unless you are completely sure the company is legitimate. Then call your local consumer protection office in order to conduct an investigation on the company. Give them all the information you were able to record.

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