Have you gotten an ominous voicemail from someone claiming to be from Assurance Wealth Group and saying you have unpaid government bills that could lead to liens or frozen bank accounts? You’re not alone, and it’s most likely a scam.
This emerging phone scam has been targeting Americans across the country with alarming calls about non-existent unpaid bills and liens. The calls instruct recipients to take immediate action to avoid asset seizures by pressing 1 to connect with the collections agency.
However, Assurance Wealth Group appears to be a fictitious company name used by scammers to collect personal information from unsuspecting victims. Read on to learn more about how this “unpaid bills” scam works and how to protect yourself.
An Overview of the Fake Unpaid Bills Calls
For several weeks, robocalls have flooded phones with prerecorded messages alleging the recipient has outstanding government bills that have gone unpaid and are scheduled for aggressive collection action.
The calls claim to be from a collections agency called Assurance Wealth Group. A professional-sounding voicemail states they have been trying to contact the recipient about “potential governmental unpaid bills and invoices.”
The message warns these unpaid debts can lead to “asset liens and banking restrictions” but claims they may be dismissed by pressing 1 and taking action under a so-called “federal Economic Recovery Policy.”
Of course, the menacing calls are completely fabricated. The Assurance Wealth Group does not exist, and there are no overdue government bills set for collection. The calls are an attempt to scare and manipulate people into providing their personal information.
Breaking Down the Fake Debt Collector Voicemail
Although there are some slight variations, most of the “you have unpaid bills” voicemails follow this basic script:
“This is Violet from Assurance Wealth Group calling about potential governmental unpaid bills and invoices. By pressing 1, overdue bills may qualify to be dismissed under the federal Economic Recovery Policy. If you don’t act now, you may face asset liens or frozen bank accounts. Press 1 now to speak with a specialist about resolving your debt, or press 2 to discontinue notices.”
The urgent threats of legal action and frozen accounts are high-pressure tactics meant to frighten recipients into immediately calling back. And “Violet” is not even a real person – the voicemails are pre-recorded robocalls spoofs a debt collector.
Why Scammers Pretend to Collect Fake Government Debt
Claiming the unpaid bills are from the government adds legitimacy in the minds of victims. People know the IRS and other agencies have the authority to seize assets or garnish bank accounts over unresolved debt, so this lends credence to the scammers’ threats.
Fears over government collections action persuade many victims to press 1 out of panic. And supposed “government debt” provides scammers cover for not having any actual account specifics like real invoice numbers or dates.
How the Fake Debt Collector Scam Works
Now that you know the ominous calls are bogus, here is a step-by-step look at exactly how the “unpaid bills” scam unfolds:
1. Robocalls With Dire Warnings Go Out to Random Numbers
The first stage involves using autodialing technology to blast out the alarming pre-recorded voicemail messages to phones across the country. The debt collector scam robocalls ring mobile phones and landlines alike.
2. Threatening Message Instructs Recipients to Press 1 to Resolve “Unpaid Bills”
The voicemail specifically tells people to “press 1” to supposedly stop asset seizures and resolve their debt. This is done intentionally to identify active numbers where a real person heard the message and might be tricked into calling back.
3. Scammers Use Caller ID Spoofing to Falsify Numbers
Thanks to caller ID spoofing, the incoming scam calls are disguised as local numbers to boost credibility. Recipients see “Assurance Wealth Group” on their phones with area codes matching their location. But it’s all manipulated – the calls originate from VoIP networks and overseas scam call centers.
4. Fake Debt Collectors Answer When Victims Call Back
When people press 1 or call back out of fear, the scam collectors posing as Assurance Wealth Group answer the phone ready to execute their criminal schemes. The supposed agency is actually off-shore fraudsters eager to steal personal information and money.
5. Scammers Request Sensitive Personal Information
Once a victim calls back thinking they are resolving government debt, the scammers on the phone start eliciting sensitive details like Social Security numbers, bank accounts, etc., claiming they need this info to look up your “unpaid bills.”
6. Criminals Use Phished Data for Identity Theft
Armed with SSNs, dates of birth, account numbers and more, the offshore criminals sell the stolen data online or use it themselves to commit tax fraud, open fake accounts, take out loans, and charge purchases in the victim’s name.
7. Scammers May Demand Payment via Gift Cards or Cryptocurrency
In addition to stealing personal data, some scammers demand immediate payment to clear “unpaid bills” using untraceable gift cards or cryptocurrency, allowing them to directly profit off frightened victims.
8. Fraudsters Try Getting Remote Access to Devices
Once a victim is on the hook, scammers may use manipulative tricks to gain remote access to their computer and mobile devices. This allows them to install spyware, steal data, lock systems for ransom, and commit further fraud.
Warning Signs of the Fake Collections Agency Calls
While the threatening calls sound intimidating, there are a number of red flags that indicate it’s just a scam:
- No Official Documentation is Ever Provided – Real debt collectors send written notices and provide documentation of the debt. Scammers never actually mail or email anything about the supposed bills.
- Inconsistent Names and Numbers – The same call uses different agent names and caller IDs. One time it’s “Violet from Assurance Wealth Group,” the next it’s “Eleanor” with a different spoofed number.
- Lack of Specifics – There are never any details like the agency, account number, specific unpaid invoice amounts, or dates provided. Just vague references to “government bills.”
- Threats and High-Pressure Tactics – Baseless threats of imminent legal action, liens, and frozen accounts are bullying techniques no legitimate collections agency would use.
- Unverifiable Agencies – Searching for “Assurance Wealth Group” turns up no legitimate organizations by that name related to debt collection or finance. The “agency” does not exist outside of the scam calls.
- Requests for Immediate Payment via Gift Cards – No real debt collector accepts iTunes cards, Google Play, or other gift cards as payment. This is always a huge red flag of a scam.
Who is Behind the Fake Collections Scam Calls?
While the individual scammers remain largely anonymous, researchers have tracked patterns indicating where these collections scam operations originate from:
- India – Call centers in major Indian cities like New Delhi and Mumbai are notorious sources of government imposter scams, thanks to cheap outbound calling capabilities.
- Pakistan – Fraudsters in Pakistan have been linked to robocall scams impersonating everyone from Microsoft to the Social Security Administration. Most use spoofing to mask their origins.
- Philippines – Manila and other urban call center hubs in the Philippines provide cover for scammers pretending to collect fake government and tax debts from U.S. residents.
How to Protect Yourself from Fake Debt Collection Call Scams
Here are some tips to avoid being manipulated by threatening calls from phony debt collectors:
- Don’t Press Buttons or Call Back – Never press 1 or call back random numbers that leave scary voicemails. This just signals scammers have a live target.
- Never Provide Personal Information – Don’t give out your SSN, account details, etc. to any unsolicited caller claiming you owe money. A real collector already has your information.
- Request Details In Writing – Insist on formal written notices from any supposed collections agency. A real agency will comply and provide documentation. Scammers won’t.
- Verify Agencies Thoroughly – Research any company that contacts you claiming to collect bills. Check with the Better Business Bureau, state regulators, and elsewhere to confirm they are legitimate.
- Report Scam Calls – Document details about threatening calls and report them to the FTC, FCC, and BBB to help authorities identify and stop illegal robocall operations.
What to Do if You Already Fell Victim to This Scam
If you unfortunately already pressed 1 or called back and were manipulated by these fake debt collectors, don’t panic. Here are the steps to take right away to minimize the potential damage:
Contact your bank and credit card companies. Alert them you were the victim of fraud and believe your account details may be compromised. Request that any potentially exposed accounts be closed, and new accounts opened with fresh numbers.
Review statements closely for signs of fraud. Carefully check all your financial statements and accounts even remotely implicated in the scam calls for unauthorized charges and suspicious activity. Report any found.
Place fraud alerts and credit freezes. To prevent identity theft, request fraud alerts from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can also freeze credit reports to block scammers from opening new accounts.
Change online account passwords. Immediately reset all passwords, security questions, and PINs for any important online accounts which may have been accessed or phished in the scam call. Enable two-factor authentication where possible.
Scan devices for malware. If you allowed remote access, malware may have been installed to harvest data or spy on you. Run security scans to find and remove anything suspicious.
File reports about the scam call. Submit scam details to the FTC at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov and the FCC at https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov to aid investigations into these fraudsters.
Contact other agencies if information was compromised. If Social Security, tax ID, or healthcare information was phished, report it respectively to the SSA, IRS, and OHSA as well.
Talk to your employer if work data was exposed. If any work accounts or systems may have been compromised, talk to your company’s IT department right away so they can take steps to protect corporate data.
Consult an attorney specialized in identity theft issues. For severe cases where significant financial fraud occurred, talk to a lawyer about legal options to recover losses and damages.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Assurance Wealth Group Scam Calls
1. What are the Assurance Wealth Group scam calls?
These are fraudulent robocalls warning recipients they owe unpaid government bills that could lead to asset liens or frozen bank accounts. The calls instruct people to press 1 to connect with Assurance Wealth Group, a fake collections agency.
2. What information is contained in the voicemail messages?
The pre-recorded voicemails claim to be from Assurance Wealth Group collecting overdue “governmental bills and invoices.” They threaten asset seizures and frozen accounts if people don’t immediately press 1 to resolve the alleged debt.
3. What government agencies are supposedly owed money?
The calls never specify actual agencies or provide invoice details. This allows scammers to generically claim you owe every government entity money, from federal to municipal departments and taxes.
4. How do scammers get your phone number?
Robocalls are placed automatically from overseas fraud call centers to random US phone numbers. Scammers don’t have your name or number before calling.
5. What should you do when you receive one of these calls?
Do not press 1 or call back. Ignore the threats, hang up, and independently research the supposed collections agency. No legitimate group would make such alarming threats over unpaid bills.
6. What happens if you call back or press 1?
Scammers will answer posing as Assurance Wealth Group debt collectors and request personal info to purportedly look up your “unpaid bills.” This information is then used for identity theft.
7. How can you avoid being scammed?
Never provide info or payments to any unsolicited caller. Carefully verify any supposed collections agency demanding money. Do not trust threatening calls from unknown numbers.
8. Who is behind the Assurance Wealth Group scam calls?
While individuals remain anonymous, researchers believe these scam calls originate from overseas fraudulent call centers, especially in India and the Philippines.
9. How can you stop these robocalls?
Hang up and block the numbers. Report scam calls to the FTC and FCC to aid investigations. Consider call-blocking solutions offered by phone carriers.
10. What if you already provided scammers with personal information?
Alert relevant institutions, place fraud alerts on your credit, change account passwords, monitor your statements, and scan devices used during the call.
Don’t Let Scam Calls About Fake Unpaid Bills Fool You
The bottom line is to stay vigilant of these demanding calls fraudulently claiming you owe money to the government. Do not let the high-pressure threats and scary warnings about asset seizures intimidate you into giving away personal information or payments.
Whenever a suspicious voicemail urges you to take immediate action to avoid legal consequences, recognize it as an obvious red flag of a scam. Stop and research the company before even considering calling back. If assurances can’t be found that the collections agency is real and regulates debt for a legitimate government entity, simply block the number and ignore the empty threats.
No matter how authentic the frightening calls may seem, don’t fall for the tricks meant to scare you into reckless decisions. With caution and common sense, we can turn the tables on these offshore scammers trying to terrorize Americans into compromising their own sensitive data and hard-earned money.
