Household debt in the United States hit a record $18.2 trillion during the first quarter of 2025 amid a steep rise in mortgage balances, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Are you getting more unknown calls than usual? It might be a debt collector. In the first quarter of 2025, Americans filed more than 112,000 complaints with the Federal Trade Commission, or FTC.

Debt collection scams can be one of the most frightening and persistent scam types. Victims often report that scammers harass them or their family members for weeks or even months, both at home and at ...

HOUSTON, Texas -- The Federal Trade Commission reports it is already seeing an increase in debt-related complaints, either from abusive collection tactics or from scammers. We've seen fake debt ...

Debt collection calls in the U.S. more than doubled in early 2025, soaring to over 112,000 reports. Nearly half of complaints involved abusive or harassing tactics, raising consumer protection ...

You pick up the phone and hear a stern voice claiming you owe money. Maybe it's for a credit card you don't recognize, a loan you never took out or some old bill you thought was long gone. Panic sets ...

Consumer complaints about debt collection calls have surged by 150% nationally, according to recent data from the Federal Trade Commission. RELATED: Money Saving Monday: Simple steps to refocus your ...

Debt collectors rarely disappear on their own. Old balances can be sold, resold, and pursued in different ways for years, ...