Since the inception of telecommunication, phones have been used for various purposes. They started off as landlines in everyone’s home to cell phones that occupy the pockets and purses of almost every American today. These same phones have recently been the target of numerous phone scams. Americans in general have been the target of phone and email scams for a long while. These phone calls have a history of coming in from Indian and West African call centers, but also involve American conspirators. This was evident in a recent IRS scam which resulted in over $300 million being extorted from Americans.
With this in mind, it is vital that you stay up-to-date on phone scams plaguing American phone lines. This can help you clearly identify such calls and take the necessary legal action following the incident. We’ve highlighted the top three phone scams to look out for in 2017.
Warrant scams can be horrifying for an unsuspecting caller and can be difficult to identify. You will receive a call from an individual claiming there is a warrant out for your arrest as a result of overdue payments or missed jury duty. They will instruct you to make a payment over the phone or to send a money order. For individuals managing their debt closely, disregarding the false statements and hanging up the phone immediately will likely be the immediate reaction. For those who may have debt owed to various entities, it is likely you may believe these claims to an extent and be sent into a panic. In either case, you should not be worried.
Warrants are never issued via phone call and only through physical papers. If you find yourself on the receiving end of one of these calls, call their bluff. Ask that they give you the name of the court that issued the warrant and that you will call them back after you have cross-referenced the claims. They will likely be unable to provide you with a court name and if they do, there will be no record of the claims.
Millions of Americans are in debt, making debt collection calls extremely common. Debt collection calls continue to be increasingly popular among phone scammers. They will call stating that you owe “x” amount of debt and that you can wire or electronically pay a sum. Scammers will likely give you an extremely high debt amount and tell you to pay a portion of it to make it all go away.
Such scams are most popular during tax season, as scammers are aware that millions of Americans are receiving large lump sums of disposable funds at one time. You have the right as a consumer to receive proof of your debt. Request to have the details of your debt sent to you and remember to never provide sensitive information to unfamiliar debt collectors.
These scams are simple yet highly deceptive. You’ll receive a call and the scammer will act as if they cannot hear you. They will repeatedly ask you, “Can you hear me?” Their goal is to get a recording of you saying “Yes.” They will use this affirmation to confirm purchases made to your credit card. Such phone calls can lead to a seemingly unbeatable legal case as your voice is on record affirming whatever purchases the scammers decided to make. This is when you should seek the legal counsel of the experienced attorneys at the Law Offices of Jibrael S. Hindi.
At The Law Offices of Jibrael S. Hindi, we have produced many successful outcomes for our clients receiving unwanted phone calls and the unwelcome harassment these calls usually entail. We have recovered millions for consumers like you. Call (844)-JIBRAEL to speak with our team of Florida FDCPA attorneys. We do not get a dime until you get paid!