Ohio AG Cautions Consumers Against Racket Targeting Payday Loan Customers For Debt Collection Ambush

From the Office of the Ohio Attorney General:

• In a new twist on an old scam, con artists are now targeting recipients of payday loans using debt collection tactics. Attorney General Richard Cordray [] warned Ohioans to verify callers and money owed before paying out to debt collectors.

• “My office recently received notice that con artists are posing as debt collectors attempting to collect on payday loans in Ohio,” said Cordray. “The ploy is dangerous because scammers aim to catch consumers off-guard by calling out of the blue and demanding repayment. Even if the consumer has not borrowed money, the natural instinct for some will be to respond to this ambush by paying a debt that they do not owe. In this situation it is absolutely imperative that consumers ask for a letter stating the debt owed and then verify the source. Under no circumstance should consumers rush to make payment or give out any personal information including banking and credit card information.”

For the entire Ohio AG's press release, see Legitimate Debt Collector or Con Artist?