We just received a call for my aunt from CBE Group. She is in a nursing home, and I am her DPOA. I have no idea why they would be calling since she has no debt. She sold her condo which had no mortgage remaining, and her car was sold and the loan paid off. I closed her credit card, and the small credit balance was paid back to her in a check. That is all she has, aside a from her current expenses at the nursing home which are paid upon receipt. I have received no notices from any entity claiming she owes a debt. Has anyone else run into this?
What is said may or may not be recorded and used as you've said it. I.e., I've read that some debt collectors record and "alter" the conversation, to alter/modify it so that the individual called appears to have admitted to owing the debt.
I'm not sophisticated enough to know how to record and alter calls, but the articles I've read indicate this can and has been done.
And even if you take notes, which I do, it's hard to take the whole conversation, even in shorthand.
This is the time to document, document, and document, and all in writing.
Internet search on "CBE Group telephone phishing scam" turns up several hits.
If you decide to respond, I think you should look up the published phone number for CBE Group yourself, instead of returning calls to an unverified number in caller ID or left on a voice mail. Tell them you want the information in writing, by US Mail.
Hopefully, you monitor your calls. Don't pick up and don't talk to them. If they are legitimate, THEY actually shouldn't even talk to YOU unless you prove your POA, and that's already giving them MORE information than they should have.
There CAN be OLD debts that have fallen through the cracks. But for most debts, there is a 3-year statute of limitations. But sadly, the SoL is only what's called an "affirmative defense", which means it can only used if you end up in court.
The worst thing is if they can catch you inadvertently "confirming the debt", that cancels the SoL time period, and starts the clock ticking from zero-point again.
If they are completely legitimate, you will receive something in the mail and you would then be asking a different set of questions at that point. In the meantime, ignore them and their calls !!!
Never offer any info at all. If they know your phone number and ever had an acct with her, they know where to mail a letter. Hang up.
DO NOT.
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