MAGNOLIA

CLIPPING SERVICE
(6(11) 856·0S11 I (2051758.8610
RICHTON DISPATCH

RICHTON, MS

Circulation = 1739

WEEKLY
08/1312009

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BBB Warning: Widespread

harassment from phony
debt collectors raises
concerns of mass data breach
The '; ~~tterBusiness credit card numbers, he or
Bureau issuec:ra-national she will be arrested and
alert about phony debt col­ extradited to California
lectors who are calling within the hour to stand
consumers nationwide and triaL The scammers often
claiming that they have have the victim's Social
defaulted on a payday loan Security, old bank account
and will be arrested if they numbers or driver's license
don't pay immediately. numbers as well as home
Claiming to be lawyers, addresses, employer infor­
the scammers say they are mati on and even the
with the "Financial names of personal friends
A c c 0 u n tab iii t y and professional refer­
Association" or the ences.
"Federal Legislation of The BBB offers the fol­
Unse()llJi!l~;'and ~?'I 1. .;~)i:J,jIIIIA~'h
. equipped with a discon­ sumers i they receive a
certing amount of personal suspicious telephone call
information about their about an outstanding debt:
potential victims. - Ask the debt collector
"Because the scammers to provide official docu­
have so much information mentation which substan­
about potential victims, tiates the debt.
BBB is concerned that this -Do not provide or con­
may be the result of a data firm any bank account,
breach," said Bill Moak, credit card or other per­
President/CEO of the BBB sonal information over the
Serving Mississippi. phone until you have con­
"Thousands of people may firmed the legitimacy of
have had their personal the calL
information compromised, -File a complaint with
and given the scammers' the Federal Trade
tactics, it appears that Commission online if the
those who have previously caller is abusive, uses
used payday loan services threats or otherwise vio­
could be particularly at lates federal telemarket­
risk." ing laws.
According to reports -File a complaint with
received by the BBB and BBB online if you believe a
posted online, the scam­ debt collector is trying to
mers accuse the victim of scam you.
defaulting on a payday According to complaints
loan and claim they are online, phone numbers
being sued. The phony that the scammers are
debt collector threatens calling from include: 949­
that, if the victim doesn't 468-5107, 415-200-0274,
pay as much as $1,000 415-200-0274, 213-784­
immediately via wire or by 5745, 408-715-1614 and
providing bank account or many others.