Was you ID compromised?. What can you do about unfamiliar debt?

When you get notice about debt you don’t recognize, you may instinctively assume you’re a victim of ID theft. While this is possible, most often it is possible the debt belongs to someone else or it may be debt collection scam. There are some tips to help you sort it out. 
 
Get as much Information as possible
When a debt collector contacts you about a debt you don’t recall, you should first gather information. Don’t make a mistake and pay out of concern or fear. You have time to verify debts before making a payment. 

Few things to ask for during your initial contact:
Information About the Collector 
Legitimate debt collectors will be ale to provide you with basic information like the name of the debt collector, the company’s name, address, and phone number. If they refuse to provide this information, assume the call is a scam.

Information About the supposed Debt 
Make sure the debt is in your name and not someone else’s. 
Find out the amount of the debt, who the original creditor is, etc.

Validation Notice 
Ask for a written validation notice stating the original creditor, the amount owed, and what are your options to dispute the debt. If the collector doesn’t already have your address, or has an incorrect one that you’ve never used, don’t volunteer any information.
If the collector trys to verify your personal information do not correct any errors in their information such as wrong name, address, etc. since this can make disputing an illegitimate debt more difficult later. Do not provide any additional personal information the debt collector does not have.

Verify legitimacy
If the debt is legitimate, the collector would send you a validation notice upon request. When you receive the notice, do some investigative work to verify if it is your debt. 

A few things you can check if you suspect ID Theft or a scam.
Check Out the Debt Collector– Verify the debt collection company by doing an internet search. 

Look for sign of scams. Verify Information with the Original Creditor 
Contact the original creditor and ask for any additional information about the debt. Often they will help you determine if the debt is real and if the debt collector is an authorized collector on their behalf.

Check Your Credit 
Check if the debt appear on your credit report by pooling a credit report and seeing if the debt shows up.
With this information you should be able to determine if the debt is legitimate or not and be able to make a decision on your next move.

Good luck! 

This information is provided for educational purposes only. Always verify your credit issues with credit beauros.