Calling all nurses, do not get scammed by this phone call.

Nurses General Nursing

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  • by Julie
    Specializes in Sm Bus Mgmt, Operations, Planning, HR, Coaching.

You are reading page 2 of Calling all nurses, do not get scammed by this phone call.

Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.
On 3/5/2020 at 9:43 AM, ihavealltheice said:

Every once in a while, I get in a mood to just mess with them. I kept "Apple support" on the phone for 15 minutes the last time. Even after that 15 minute conversation, they couldn't tell me what type of apple I was eating nor where my apple tree was ?

My husband played stupid when they called about windows (We are an all Mac family). He had the phone on speaker and it was all I could do to not laugh. THe caller was getting more and more frustrated and my husband keeps asking them what type of windows, are they energy efficient, etc. The guy finally cussed out my husband and hung up. We were both laughing hysterically.

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

2 hours ago, kbrn2002 said:

That's unfortunate and I think a little rare. Seems like it's not as common for the younger generation to get fooled by a debt scam. Hopefully she does listen to you and Mom instead of calling this person back. After all, if it is a legitimate debt she should have something in writing and if she really wants to contact the real debtor there would be contact information in the letter.

I think it is either a straight up scam or a very slim chance at a situation where a collection agency is using "tactics" to fool her into sending money. She is dealing with a collection agency that refuses to communicate with her regarding her request for financial assistance regarding medical debts arising from hospital visits where the hospital has already written off her charges according to their charity system. If the agency would say, in writing, too bad that the hospital wrote off your debt, we own the doctor debt and we demand you pay it, that is one answer. Or they could also forgive the debt. But to send absolutely nothing by mail and this mysterious voice mail talking about "my client" "this matter", WTH? Dave Ramsay, from what I can tell, gives an approach to deal with collectors who won't cooperate. Ultimately, if there is a refusal to even communicate, then don't pay anything. If it shows up on credit report, dispute it with the credit bureau. My daughter is in a hurry to send money to anybody who demands it. She has not noticed that none of the creditors she has already paid have removed anything from her credit report as a reward for finally paying IN FULL. I don't know what she thinks this stranger, who refuses to even identify the "client" is going to do for her, besides to cash the money order! Grandma advises, so must do the opposite. Kind of like talking to some baby nurses: experienced nurse gives solid experienced-based advice, insult them on a public website. So why did you ask? Same general idea.

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VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN

22 Articles; 9,987 Posts

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I'm another person who doesn't answer the phone when I don't recognize the number. I don't even hit the "decline" button--I let it go through to voicemail. I figure if it's really important, or if it's a real call, they'll leave a message. Naturally, this is hardly ever the case. I also block repeat callers. It doesn't solve the whole robo-call problem, but I don't get a lot of these calls anymore.

jobellestarr

352 Posts

On 3/5/2020 at 10:59 PM, Kooky Korky said:

There likely are some people that age who still have student debt.

That would be very sad

kbrn2002, ADN, RN

3,822 Posts

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
16 hours ago, caliotter3 said:

I think it is either a straight up scam or a very slim chance at a situation where a collection agency is using "tactics" to fool her into sending money. She is dealing with a collection agency that refuses to communicate with her regarding her request for financial assistance regarding medical debts arising from hospital visits where the hospital has already written off her charges according to their charity system. If the agency would say, in writing, too bad that the hospital wrote off your debt, we own the doctor debt and we demand you pay it, that is one answer. Or they could also forgive the debt. But to send absolutely nothing by mail and this mysterious voice mail talking about "my client" "this matter", WTH? Dave Ramsay, from what I can tell, gives an approach to deal with collectors who won't cooperate. Ultimately, if there is a refusal to even communicate, then don't pay anything. If it shows up on credit report, dispute it with the credit bureau. My daughter is in a hurry to send money to anybody who demands it. She has not noticed that none of the creditors she has already paid have removed anything from her credit report as a reward for finally paying IN FULL. I don't know what she thinks this stranger, who refuses to even identify the "client" is going to do for her, besides to cash the money order! Grandma advises, so must do the opposite. Kind of like talking to some baby nurses: experienced nurse gives solid experienced-based advice, insult them on a public website. So why did you ask? Same general idea.

I kind of hated to "like" that because it's such a frustrating situation I am sure. The hospital might very well have sold the debt to a third party collector. There's a difference in writing off the debt and forgiving the debt. Written off debt can be passed off to a collection agency.

Even if it stems from a legitimate debt though the collection agency that bought it doesn't sound at all legitimate by the way they are contacting her. A collection agency is required to identify themselves every call and inform that any information they receive is an attempt to collect a debt. They have to provide their name, identification number and company contact information as well as the name of the original creditor on request. They also have to stop calling and communicate only by mail if they are told to .

Sadly I am afraid if she gives this outfit any money it'll probably be gone with the wind. If she won't take Grandma's advice as least ask her to do a little research on how legal debt collection works so she can make a more informed decision before she sends these people money. If she still decides to pay them at that point if it does turn out to be a collection scam at least she's young enough to financially recover and she will learn a very valuable lesson. I doubt she'd fall for that a second time and there probably will be another try. Those fake debt collectors live in a small world too, once they hook a fish they will probably go back and try for more.

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

You know it is really very sad. Nobody taught me one thing about financial literacy. I had to learn on my own. Both her mom and I gave her the rundown on credit cards and such when she opened the accounts. So what did she do anyway? Yet who does she come to for money, and help? But it has to be on her terms. I got more thanks and respect from young soldiers coming to me for advice when they found themselves out in the world confronting adulthood. Family lets it go in one ear and out the other. Time to send to the curb as they say.

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

BTW in her situation, some of her debts were forgiven (of her), but some weren’t handled quickly enough before being sold to collection agencies. I warned her that the entities’ statements that just because this hospital bill is forgiven does not mean the next one will be, are very true. She won’t be getting any help from me if she allows this to get out of hand again.

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