Connecticut Attorney General's Office
Press Release
Attorney General Warns Consumers To Ignore Collection Agency Scam
February 11, 2009
Blumenthal said that Black Collection Services of Houston, Texas is not registered with the state and appears to be a bogus company. Blumenthal said that his office has received numerous complaints about the attempted swindle.
The company's letters are a "phishing" scam in which con men send thousands of letters and other communications trying trick consumers into sending money.
"Black Collection Services is a blatantly bogus company seeking to swindle consumers," Blumenthal said. "Consumers should ignore letters from Black Collection claiming they owe money. This 'phishing' scam aims to hook consumers with phony fears of unpaid bills, tricking them into paying non-existent debts. I urge consumers to consign this communication to its proper place: the trash."
Blumenthal reminded consumers to never provide their Social Security numbers, bank account numbers or other personal financial information to anyone they don't know.
The attorney general also recommended that consumers periodically obtain their credit reports to check for red flags that may indicate identity theft. Under Connecticut law, consumers have the right to one free credit report a year from each of the three credit reporting agencies.