BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The Better Business Bureau has received several reports of fraudulent and aggressive collection calls targeting area consumers. In some cases, consumers have been threatened with arrest if they don’t pay off alleged debts immediately.

The BBB urges the public not to be intimidated by debt collectors or people claiming to be debt collectors, and to keep in mind they have rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Under that Act, debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse debtors or any third parties they contact, nor can they state that anyone will be arrested if they don’t pay their debt.

Consumers who have reported these calls to the BBB have all either received or applied for a payday loan. However, all have stated that when they received these collection calls they were either not behind on their loans or had decided not to receive a payday loan. They also stated that when they contacted the payday loan companies they worked with, they were told these companies were not aware of or affiliated with any collection efforts. Some consumers have said the people making these collection calls had heavy foreign accents.

The fraudulent debt collectors, who have claimed to be both the Law Group of California and the Cyber Crime Unit of California, seem to have sensitive personal information of the people they’re calling. In one case, they had the last four digits of the consumer’s bank account and Social Security number. It’s unclear how this information was obtained. The Law Group of California (DBA United Attorney Services) has an F rating with the BBB of Los Angeles. http://los-angeles.bbb.org/Business-Report/United-Attorney-Services-100096503. A company with the same name has done business in the Central Valley using the same street address (1365 Chula Vista Ave.) in Bear Creek, as in Southern California, but mail sent to that address was returned as "return to sender, no such street, unable to forward."

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has also received numerous reports of suspicious telephone calls where the caller claims to represent the FDIC and is calling regarding the collection of an outstanding debt. To date, the callers have alleged that the call recipient is delinquent in payment of a loan that was applied for over the Internet or made through a payday lender.

Consumers who receive aggressive calls like this are advised to remain calm. Don’t be bullied or pressured into sending the company a payment. Check the company’s Reliability Report with the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org and also check to make sure the company has the proper state licensing.

In addition, consumers should keep the following in mind: Within five days after you are first contacted by a debt collector, the collector must send you a written notice telling you the amount of money you owe, the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money and what action to take if you believe you do not owe the money.

If you send a letter to the collection agency disputing that you owe the money within 30 days of receiving a collection notice, the debt collector cannot make further collection efforts until you receive proof of the debt. If you cannot obtain an address by which to contact the collection agency in writing, you may be the target of a scam.

You can file a complaint with the BBB, the FTC (www.ftc.gov) or with your state’s Attorney General’s Office. For more information on collection agencies and your rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, go to: http://www.bbb.org/us/article/4732.

Information Provided By The Better Business Bureau