3 Tips to avoid bankruptcy

 If you are considering bankruptcy, you are already stressed, frightened and confused as to what your next steps should be. The last thing you want to do is to become a victim of a scam. By following these three tips, you can avoid bankruptcy scams and get the fresh financial start you need.

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3 Tips to Avoid Bankruptcy Scams

REQUESTS FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION OVER THE PHONE

Any company claiming to specialize in bankruptcy will not ask for your personal information over the phone. In fact, most attorneys require a meeting in person before they will begin the process for filing bankruptcy. If you are asked for a credit card or social security number over the phone, there is a chance that it may be a scam. The best way to be sure that you are not being scammed is to talk to your attorney at your initial interview about how you wish to be contacted and how you wish to relay personal information. By doing this, if someone does attempt to get information from you in a way that was not agreed upon, you can be sure it was a scam.

PHONE CALLS AFTER BUSINESS HOURS

Although some attorneys may contact clients in the evening, the majority reach out to them during regular business hours when their office is open. According to the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, one of the biggest red flags is a phone call after hours demanding payment when it is difficult for you to reach your attorney. Never provide payment information to someone who calls after hours. Instead, inform them that you will need to speak to the attorney during regular business hours. Again, by speaking to your attorney about when they will contact you, it is less likely you will fall victim to fraud.

ARREST THREATS

In the United States, you cannot be arrested for past due debt. Therefore, a legitimate attorney will never threaten you with arrest if you don’t file for bankruptcy. They will also never ask for immediate payment over the phone to help you file bankruptcy. If you get a call threatening you with arrest or demanding immediate payment for your bankruptcy filing, hang up immediately.

It is important to understand that today’s con artists are more convincing than ever due to technology, so it is important to avoid falling victim to someone who sounds as if they are legitimate. Because bankruptcy is a federal court proceeding, you need an attorney to file the documents and make sure they are in order. If you are considering bankruptcy, contact us today to arrange for an initial consultation to review your case. You can reach us by phone or through our simple website form.