In today’s world, scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, preying on people’s vulnerabilities and financial hardships. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), debt collectors generate more fraud reports than any other industry. Debt collection scams involve fake debt collectors who pressure you, threaten you, or demand payment before you can confirm you owe the debt. To better understand where this fraud is happening and identify the debt collection scam hotspots across the country, we analyzed government data and asked millennials and Gen Zers about their experiences with sDebt Collection Scam Hotspots by State
Other states topping the list include Nevada, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland, and North Carolina.
The top four states with the fewest debt collection scam reports per 100,000 include:
- Wyoming
- Montana
- Vermont
- Minnesota
U.S. Cities Reporting the Most Debt Collection Scams
Atlanta, Georgia ranks first among the U.S. cities most impacted by debt collection scams. In Atlanta, 102.9 reports per 100,000 residents were recorded in 2023. Following behind Atlanta is Columbia, South Carolina; Miami; Jacksonville, Florida; and Memphis, Tennessee.
How to Identify a Debt Collection Scam
While debt collection is legal, there are important rights Americans have under the law and tips to help you identify a legitimate debt collector from a scam. According to the FTC, debt collectors can call you, message you on social media, or send letters, emails, or text messages. However, a collector has to give you validation information about the debt within five days of their first contact. They must tell you their name and mailing address, the name of the creditor you owe, how much money you owe, what to do if you don’t think it’s your debt, and your debt collection rights. To read more click here.