Thursday, June 21, 2018
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina is warning of scam telephone calls that rely on a familiar tactic: fear. Like phony IRS callers and Jury Duty scam callers, these scammers say you have to pay the money they claim you owe, quickly, in order to avoid arrest.
Bankruptcy court officials say if you’ve received a call from someone who says you’re in trouble because you failed to appear at a bankruptcy hearing, don’t take the bait. The caller may demand that you make an immediate payment to avoid arrest, but officials urge you to reach out to the court before taking any action.
People who have received this scam call are asked to contact the court at 919-856-4752, press zero for assistance, and be prepared to share details of the telephone call they received.
Scammers are always ready to scare you into a bad decision, like paying them money you don’t owe. Keep your guard up.
If you are contacted by a scammer, report it to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by calling 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or by filing a complaint online.