Tips for spotting three different scams
The Bibb County Sheriff's Office is sharing tips from the Better Business Bureau that could help you spot scams before it's too late.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is sharing tips from the Better Business Bureau that could help you spot scams before it’s too late.
Debt Collection Scams
The BBB says this can be one of the most frightening and persistent scam types.
The scammer will call or text saying that they work for a loan company, law firm, or even a government agency and you or a relative are late on a payment.
If you deny owing money, the scammer may threaten to sue, garnish wages, have you arrested, or arrange for a court appearance thousands of miles from where you live.
Alternatively, the scammer could play nice. They may tell you that they want to help you avoid those penalties and offer to let you pay in smaller installments over time.
If you get a call like this, the BBB says to stay calm and hang up.
Not sure if it’s a scam? Ask for an official validation notice of the debt. Debt collectors are required by law to provide one in writing. It must include the amount owed, the name of the creditor, and a statement of your rights.
You can also ask for the caller’s name, company, street address, and phone number.
If you’re worried the call might be related to an actual debt you have, it’s still okay to hang up. Just reach out to your loan provider directly through their customer service number, not the number provided by a potential scammer.
Advanced Loan Fee Scam
For this scam, victims receive a call or voicemail from someone who claims to work for a loan processing team. The caller often uses a common name. The BBB uses ‘Jessica’ as an example.
Jessica will say they’ve been trying to contact you to verify some final details and complete your loan approval. She’ll provide a contact number and an application ID to make the call seem more legit, along with a deadline to make it feel more urgent.
If you get a call like this, hang up and try to find the company’s website. From there, you can find their contact information and reach out directly. Never use contact information provided by a potential scammer.
The BBB says it received more than 500 reports of this scam across the United States between November of 2024 and January of 2025.
Road Toll Collection Service Scams
Scammers are also impersonating road toll collection services, like the Georgia Peach Pass.
They’ll send a text saying you owe a small fee, usually around $12, but to avoid a $50 late fee, you need to click the link provided to pay now.
Even if the URL looks legit, don’t click on it. That’s how scammers are hoping to steal your personal information.
The BBB says you should report the incident to the FBI via ic3.gov and the BBB website. Then block the number and delete their message.
To see if you really owe money for using a toll road, search for the toll service’s actual website online. You can log into your account or call their customer service line.
