Monthly Archives: November 2015

Scammers targeting bankruptcy filers – BEWARE!

 

A sophisticated phone scam is targeting bankruptcy filers in several states, using personal information from filings and posing as attorneys to coerce intended victims to wire money
to the scammers immediately to satisfy a debt. We have seen scammers targeting folks who owe the IRS, but this is a new twist.
Please, please don’t fall for this. If you get such a call, do not give out any personal info and do not send these folks money!
An article published October 20, 2015, has been placed on the internet uscourts.gov website, under Judiciary News, which reads, as follows:
Phone scammers are targeting bankruptcy filers in several states, using personal information from filings and posing as attorneys to get intended victims to immediately wire money to satisfy a debt.
The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys issued a warning that “Under no circumstances would a bankruptcy attorney or staff member telephone a client and ask for a wire transfer immediately to satisfy a debt. Nor would the bankruptcy attorney and staff ever threaten arrest if a debt isn’t paid.”
Bankruptcy filers in Vermont and Virginia reportedly have received calls. Vermont’s Attorney General says scammers use software to “spoof” the Caller ID system so the call appears to be originating from the phone line of the consumer’s bankruptcy attorney. Typically the calls come late in the evening or during non-business hours to make it difficult for intended victims to verify the call by contacting their attorney.
Consumers receiving this kind of call are advised to hang up and contact their bankruptcy attorney as soon as possible. Do not give any personal or financial account information to the caller.
If you are one of our clients and you get such a call, please call us the next morning or email so we can report the activity. If possible, record the time and return phone call number so we can help track down this illegal activity.
– Malissa Giles