Debt Collectors Are Using Social Media To Collect
I sue Debt Collectors for harassing and abusive conduct in collecting debts. One thing that I have to say is that some of the debt collectors are very creative.
We’ve heard to be cautious with social media for purposes of employment and crime, but it appears there is another predator that preys upon the posts and friends on person’s social media sites – debt collectors. The ABA Journal Law News has recently reported on a lawsuit against a debt collection company out of Jacksonville, Florida where the allegations assert very normal, yet illegal, tactics of contacting friends and family over another person’s debt by the debt collection company. The twist in the case comes from the method of contact; not by phone or mail but rather, Facebook. While the debt collection company did not comment on the suit, it did acknowledge that the company will use social networking sites to contact individuals when contact cannot otherwise be made.
With today’s online social media frenzy, I’m not surprised the debt collection company’s have decided to capitalize on it. Twenty, maybe even only ten, years ago, debt collection companies had to rely on expensive industry-wide skip tracing and search providers to find debtors who have “fallen off the grid.” Today, with the emergence of Google and numerous other search mechanisms, it is easy to open up your browser and find almost anyone in the world and many things about them; why would debt collectors not seize upon this gravy train? Well they have and it opens the door for abusive debt collectors to prey upon people in the real world and the virtual world.
So how can you protect yourself? Like your home, make sure your social networking sites are locked tight and do not open the door for people you don’t know. Set all your privacy settings to the maximum and do not accept friends who you’ve never met. Doing so will at least make you a harder target to hit for the abusive debt collectors.
If you are having trouble with abusive debt collectors, do not hesitate to contact a consumer rights attorney as you have rights against abusive practices.
This Blog was written by Attorney David Fineman, Esq. of The Dellutri Law Group, P.A. Mr. Fineman practices Bankruptcy Law, Fair Credit Reporting Act Law, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Law and in other areas of Consumer Law.
