Scam and fake debt-collection letters, calls, and texts pressure you into paying debts you may not even owe. Paste what you received and get an instant read: legitimate, questionable, or likely scam — with the missing legal elements, red flags, and what to do next.
A real collector has to give you specific things. Scam and abusive ones skip them and add pressure a lawful collector wouldn't.
Under the FDCPA (15 U.S.C. §1692g) and the CFPB's Regulation F validation notice, a real collector must state the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor you owe, information identifying the debt, and a clear statement of your right to dispute it within 30 days and request verification — plus the collector's real identity and contact info. Paste yours above to see which of these are missing.
Demands to pay by gift card, wire, crypto, or prepaid card; threats of arrest, jail, or lawsuits they can't bring; posing as a court or government agency; "final notice / pay in 24 hours" pressure; refusing to send written validation or name the original creditor; and a debt you don't recognize. Any of these means slow down and verify.
Don't pay or share SSN/bank details under pressure. Send a written debt-validation request within 30 days — the collector must then prove the debt and pause collection until they do. Verify the collector independently, and report scams to the CFPB and FTC.
No — not for ordinary consumer debt (credit cards, medical bills, loans). There are no debtors' prisons for these. A collector threatening arrest is breaking the FDCPA and is very likely a scam.