If you have received an email from ACS Legal Department or any other entity claiming that you owe a debt and threatening legal action, you should be very careful. This email scam is designed to scare you into paying money that you do not owe, and it may also expose you to identity theft and fraud.
What is ACS Legal Department Email Scam?
ACS Legal Department email scam is a type of phishing scam that targets consumers who may have applied for or obtained a payday loan or other online loan in the past. The scammers use various names, such as ACS Incorporation, ACS Legal Group, ACS Legal & Collection Department, ACS Inc. Payday Loans, ACS Incorp., American Cash Services, American Cash Services USA, Advance Cash Services, Ace Cash Services, American Credit Solutions, Inc., ACE Incorporation, etc.
The scammers send emails that look like official notices from a law firm or a debt collection agency. The emails claim that the recipients owe a debt to a company with “ACS” in its name or the initials “ACS”, and that they have been given a chance to settle the debt outside of court. The emails also threaten legal action, such as a lawsuit, an arrest warrant, a wage garnishment, a credit report damage, etc., if the recipients do not pay immediately.
The emails typically look something like this:
Subject: Final Notification_Lawsuit Case File# PL01001084
FINAL NOTICE COLLECTIONS
Dear Customer,
To date, we have received no correspondence pertaining to your $550.00 debt to ACS. This, following numerous attempts to collect, will be your final notification prior to our referring your debt to an outside legal firm.
Your balance is currently months past due. We intend to close this matter within more than next three to seven business days. Your full payment or the negotiated payment once in touch with the department shall be received to avoid the legal charges under the FDCP Act on this case file for the payment due.
If you fail to respond to this notice you will be contacted by the legal department with the CREDIT BUREAU and can no longer be assisted by our company in preventing this potential credit affecting legal charges to take place.
If you wish to resolve this matter before court dated February 16th, 2018, Make payment arrangement and pay the amount to close your case file.
Dispute this matter represent yourself at the courthouse on February 16th, 2018 with legal charges and Lawsuit amount of $2865.36.
At this time the choice is yours and I sincerely hope you choose to resolve this matter before legal action is commenced.
Do revert back ASAP to update the case file so that we can restrain legal charges on the case file.
Thank you
Chris Harris
Investigation Officer
Collections
ACS LEGAL DEPARTMENT
The emails often contain personal information of the recipients, such as their name, address, phone number, social security number, bank account number, etc., which may have been obtained from online loan applications or other sources. The emails also provide a phone number or an email address for the recipients to contact the scammers and arrange the payment.
The scammers may also call the recipients or their relatives, friends, employers, etc., using spoofed phone numbers or fake caller IDs. The callers may impersonate lawyers, law enforcement officers, court officials, etc., and repeat the same threats and demands as in the emails.
The scammers may ask the recipients to pay the debt using prepaid cards, gift cards, wire transfers, money orders, or other untraceable methods. The scammers may also ask the recipients to provide more personal or financial information, such as their credit card number, online banking credentials, etc., which can be used for further fraud.
Why is ACS Legal Department Email Scam Dangerous?
ACS Legal Department email scam is dangerous for several reasons:
- It can cause financial loss: If you pay the scammers, you will lose your money and you will not get rid of the debt or the legal threats. The scammers may also keep contacting you and demand more money or information.
- It can cause emotional distress: If you receive these emails or calls, you may feel scared, stressed, anxious, angry, embarrassed, etc. The scammers may also harass you or your loved ones with repeated calls or messages.
- It can cause identity theft: If you provide your personal or financial information to the scammers, they may use it to open new accounts in your name, make fraudulent transactions with your existing accounts, file fake tax returns in your name, etc.
How to Avoid ACS Legal Department Email Scam?
To avoid falling victim to ACS Legal Department email scam or any similar scam, you should follow these tips:
- Do not respond to any email or call that claims that you owe a debt and threatens legal action. Delete the email or hang up the phone immediately.
- Do not click on any link or attachment in such emails. They may contain malware that can infect your device and steal your information.
- Do not pay any money or provide any information to anyone who contacts you about a debt that you do not recognize or that you have already paid. Verify the legitimacy of the debt and the collector by contacting the original creditor directly using a reliable source of contact information.
- Do not trust any email or call that uses personal information to convince you that they are legitimate. Scammers can obtain such information from various sources and use it to manipulate you.
- Do not use any prepaid cards, gift cards, wire transfers, money orders, or other untraceable methods to pay anyone who claims to be a debt collector or a lawyer. These methods are favored by scammers because they are hard to trace and recover.
- Report any suspicious email or call to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), your state attorney general’s office, and your local police department. You can also file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), which is a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center.
Check if you’re device is infected with malware
The ACS Legal Department Debt Collection Lawsuit Email Scam can contain malware within the attachments or links that appear in the body of the email. By interacting with the malware — for example, opening or downloading an attachment that contains a malicious payload — the user may unknowingly infect their device or network, enabling attackers to gain access to protected applications and data.
To check your computer or phone for Trojans, browser hijackers, or other malware and remove them for free, you run a scan with Malwarebytes Free.
Malwarebytes runs on Windows, Mac, and Android. Click the tab below for the device you want to scan, then follow the steps to remove any malware it finds.
Scan Your Computer with Malwarebytes for Windows
Malwarebytes is one of the most popular and trusted anti-malware tools for Windows — and it’s completely free for removing infections. It catches threats that many antivirus programs miss, including adware, browser hijackers, and trojans. Follow the steps below to scan your PC and remove what Malwarebytes finds.
Download Malwarebytes
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows from the official source. The free version is all you need — it will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software at no cost.
Download MalwarebytesOfficial installer for Windows 11 and 10. Your download starts right away.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium
Malwarebytes Free for WindowsScans and removes malware at no cost-
Install Malwarebytes
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the MBSetup file. If Windows shows a User Account Control pop-up, click “Yes” to allow the installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The setup wizard will walk you through a few quick screens:
-
Choose where you’re installing the program — “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” — then click Next.
-
Malwarebytes will now install on your device. This usually takes under a minute.
-
When installation is complete, the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen will open automatically.
-
On the final screen, click Open Malwarebytes to launch the program.
-
Optional: Check for rootkits with a Custom Scan
You don’t need to change any settings for a normal scan. The standard Threat Scan in the next step is enough for most problems, so you can go straight to it.
If you also want to check for rootkits, use a Custom Scan. In current versions of Malwarebytes, rootkit scanning is only available there:
- On the Scanner tile, click the three-dot menu and select Advanced Scan.
- Choose Custom Scan. In its options, check Scan for rootkits.
- Select your system drive (usually C:\) as the location to scan, then start the scan. It takes longer than a Threat Scan.
- When it finishes, review and quarantine the results as described in the steps below.
Rootkit scanning isn’t available on Windows devices with ARM processors.
Start the Scan
Click the blue Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its virus database and start checking your computer for malware.
-
Wait for the Scan to Finish
The scan checks your entire system for browser hijackers and other malicious programs, so it can take 5 to 20 minutes depending on your computer. Feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
-
Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found — malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all of them at once.
Malwarebytes will now remove the malicious files and registry entries and move them safely into quarantine.
-
Restart Your Computer
Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot. If Malwarebytes asks you to restart, click Yes. Once you’re logged back in, Malwarebytes has finished removing the threats it found.
When the scan is done, check whether the problems you noticed have stopped. If they continue, see the options below.
If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
- Run a computer scan with ESET Online Scanner
- Ask for help in our Windows Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Scan Your Mac with Malwarebytes for Mac
Malwarebytes for Mac is a free on-demand scanner that removes the malware other security software tends to miss — adware, browser hijackers, and unwanted programs included. Cleaning an infected Mac with Malwarebytes has always been completely free, and it’s our go-to recommendation. Follow the steps below to scan your Mac and remove what Malwarebytes finds.
-
Download Malwarebytes for Mac
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Mac.
Download MalwarebytesOfficial installer for macOS. Your download starts right away.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes PremiumMalwarebytes Free for MacScans and removes malware at no cost -
Open the Malwarebytes setup file
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the setup file to begin the installation.
-
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The Malwarebytes for Mac Installer will guide you through a few quick screens. Click “Continue” and keep following the prompts until the installation completes.
When the installation is complete, Malwarebytes opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click “Get started“.
Malwarebytes needs Full Disk Access to check your whole Mac. When it asks, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access, turn on Malwarebytes (it may be listed as Malwarebytes Protection), and confirm with your password or Touch ID. Then return to Malwarebytes. On macOS Monterey and earlier, this setting is in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy.
-
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”
Malwarebytes will ask what type of computer you’re installing it on. Click either Personal Computer or Work Computer, whichever applies.
-
Start the Scan
Click the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its detection database and begin checking your Mac for malware.
-
Wait for the Scan to Finish
Malwarebytes will scan your Mac for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This can take a few minutes, so feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
-
Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all the threats at once.
-
Restart Your Mac
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files it found. Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot — if Malwarebytes asks you to restart, allow it. Once you’re logged back in, check whether the problems you noticed have stopped. If they come back, save the scan report and ask for help in our forum.
If the problems you noticed continue after the scan, see the options below.
If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Scan Your Phone with Malwarebytes for Android
Malwarebytes for Android scans your phone or tablet for malware, adware, and potentially unwanted apps. The free version scans only when you start a scan. Real-time protection, which checks apps automatically, is part of the paid Premium version.
-
Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
Get Malwarebytes for AndroidOpens Google Play in a new tab.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium for AndroidMalwarebytes for AndroidScans your phone and removes malware at no cost -
Install Malwarebytes for Android on your phone.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
-
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes opens, it walks you through a short setup. Tap Get started and follow the prompts. If you see an offer for a trial or a paid plan, read it before you accept. You can skip it and keep using the free scanner.
Malwarebytes will ask for permission to access the files on your phone so it can scan them. Tap Allow, or turn on the permission in the Android screen that opens, then return to Malwarebytes.
-
Run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
On the main screen, tap Scan now. In some versions, you open the menu, tap Scanner, and then tap Run a scan.
-
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
-
Remove the detected apps.
When the scan has been completed, you will see a list of the threats that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. Next to each detected item, tap the menu icon (three dots), then choose to uninstall the app or delete the file. Android then asks you to confirm. Tap OK or Uninstall to remove the app.
-
Restart your phone.
When the detected apps are removed, restart your phone if Malwarebytes asks you to. Then check whether the problems you noticed have stopped.
If the problems you noticed continue after the scan, see the options below.
If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
- Ask for help in our Mobile Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
- Only as a last resort, reset your phone to factory settings. Read the warning below first.
- Back up your photos, videos, files, and messages, for example to your Google account or a computer.
- Make sure you know your Google account email and password. The phone asks for them after the reset. If you changed the password recently, Google recommends waiting 24 hours before you reset.
- On a Samsung phone, also make sure you know your Samsung account password.
- If you use an authenticator app for two-step verification, move your accounts to another device or save your backup codes first.
Join the discussion
0 commentsShare your experience or ask a question about this article.
Discussion
Start the conversation
Have a question or something useful to share? Add the first comment.