Exposing the “Credit National Assist” Debt Relief Scam
Written by: Stelian Pilici
Published on:
Debt continues to weigh heavily on millions of American households. Total consumer debt has climbed to over $16 trillion, including credit cards, mortgages, student loans, and other liabilities. With rising interest rates and economic uncertainty ahead, it’s no wonder why many struggling consumers feel desperate for solutions.
Unfortunately, financial desperation makes people prime targets for predatory scams offering seemingly quick and easy ways out of debt. One such scam that has recently surged is the “Credit National Assist” debt relief scheme.
This detailed guide will uncover how the Credit National Assist scam works, help you detect signs you may be targeted, and provide advice to avoid becoming another victim.
This article contains:
An Overview of the Credit National Assist Debt Relief Scam
The Credit National Assist scam is a dangerous debt relief scheme that has robbed untold Americans through deception and outright theft. This fraudulent operation exploits those struggling financially by promising debt solutions that never materialize.
Scammers cold call victims while posing as representatives of Credit National Assist. They promise tempting but false offers such as:
Consolidating multiple debts into a single, lower monthly payment
Settling debts for a fraction of the total balance
Repairing credit scores
Having debts completely forgiven
It’s all lies designed to steal money and sensitive personal data. There is no real company called Credit National Assist.
These scammers cast an enormous net, robocalling tens of millions daily across the U.S. Experts estimate at least 2-3 million Americans fall victim to debt relief scams annually.
Losses are staggering. The Federal Trade Commission reported over $633 million stolen through debt relief and credit repair scams in 2021. And many victims never report it out of embarrassment or fear.
Make no mistake – Credit National Assist is a fraudulent criminal enterprise seeking to exploit those already in financial distress. Their false promises only plunge victims into further economic devastation through identity theft, damaged credit, and stolen funds.
Step-by-Step: How the Credit National Assist Debt Relief Scam Works
While the specifics may vary, the Credit National Assist scam typically follows a similar sequence of events:
Phase 1: The Unsolicited Call from “Credit National Assist”
The scam starts with an unexpected phone call from an unknown number. The caller identifies themselves as “Rebecca from Credit National Assist.” They explain that your name was provided to them as someone seeking help with debt relief services.
This is known as a “cold call”, and it’s one of the first red flags. Legitimate financial companies don’t make unsolicited sales calls out of the blue.
Phase 2: Request for Personal and Financial Information
Before Rebecca can discuss your debt solutions, she needs to “access your file” in their system. She’ll start asking questions to verify your identity and details about your financial situation:
Full legal name
Date of birth
Physical address
Full or partial Social Security Number
Rebecca may also ask you to provide login credentials or account numbers for all your lines of credit, including credit cards, bank accounts, mortgage, auto loans, and more.
Providing any of this information gives scammers the keys to commit identity theft or directly steal your money. But to trusting victims, it feels like standard procedure to get approved for debt relief.
Phase 3: Demand for Upfront Fees
After gathering your sensitive information, Rebecca will explain you need to pay a fee upfront before Credit National Assist can being services. Scammers often insist the fee be paid in a way that avoids protections and tracking:
Wire transfers
Prepaid debit/gift cards
Cryptocurrency payments
The scammers may even use high-pressure tactics like limited-time offers to get your money before you have time to think it through.
In reality, it is illegal for any debt relief company to charge upfront fees before providing services. This is a key indicator it’s a scam.
Phase 4: Cutting Off Communication
After obtaining your information and fees, the scammers don’t want you catching on that they aren’t providing any actual debt relief. Rebecca will instruct you to immediately cease communications with creditors, collection agencies, or other financial institutions regarding your debt accounts.
This prevents you from realizing that Credit National Assist isn’t contacting or making any payments on your behalf. Meanwhile, your accounts continue falling further behind, only worsening your financial troubles.
The Aftermath: Stolen Money and Identities
If you fall for the Credit National Assist scam, what happens next?
Your money is gone. Any upfront fees paid can’t be recovered. Scammers quickly liquidate them through online sales, gift cards, cryptocurrency transfers that provide anonymity. Victims rarely get money back.
Your accounts and credit are damaged. With your real creditors unaware, accounts go delinquent. This wrecks your credit and can even get you sent to collections. Fixing the mess can take months or years.
Your identity is compromised. Armed with your personal data, scammers can open fraudulent accounts or commit other identity theft leaving you vulnerable to more financial crimes.
As you can see, the Credit National Assist “debt relief” offer only plunges victims deeper into financial catastrophe. But there are steps you can take if you fear you’ve fallen for the scam.
What to Do If You Already Fell Victim to the Credit National Assist Scam
If you provided your information or paid fees to Credit National Assist, here are important steps to take right away:
#1. Contact banks/creditors to prevent fraud. Notify your bank, lenders, credit card companies, or anywhere else you shared your account numbers or login credentials. Request replacement numbers and freeze accounts to block fraudulent activity.
#2. Monitor your credit and accounts for suspicious activity. Order credit reports and check for any signs of new accounts or credit inquiries you don’t recognize. Enable fraud alerts and consider credit freezes to lock your credit down.
#3. Report the scam to authorities. File reports about the scam call with the Federal Trade Commission and FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. Provide all the details about how you were targeted.
#4. Avoid further “recovery” scams. Fraudsters often sell victims’ info to other scammers who approach you posing as investigators or lawyers offering to recover your lost money or identities…for an added fee. Any unsolicited call referencing Credit National Assist is likely another scam.
#5. Seek credit counseling to regain financial control. Reputable non-profit credit counseling services can help you address delinquent accounts and create an honest debt repayment plan without unrealistic promises or upfront fees.
With vigilance and time, the damage can be contained. But the best recourse is avoiding scams like Credit National Assist from the start.
How to Detect and Avoid Debt Relief Scams Like Credit National Assist
While scams offering easy debt relief may be tempting, there are ways to detect and stop them before they wreak havoc:
Look out for telltale signs of a scam:
Unsolicited sales calls out of the blue
Guarantees to make debt instantly disappear
Threats that this is your final chance for help
Refusal to provide written contract before taking fees
Requests to pay upfront fees with hard-to-trace methods
Research any company thoroughly first. Check official state licensing sites to verify a company is authorized to provide debt relief services in your area before sharing information or money.
Never pay upfront fees. Federal law prohibits debt relief providers from collecting any fees from clients before services are fully rendered. A demand for upfront fees is a clear scam indicator.
Exercise extreme caution sharing personal/financial details. Never give out sensitive info like SSNs, bank accounts or login credentials without verifying who is receiving it.
Don’t trust caller ID. Scammers spoof calls to display fake business names or numbers. Don’t make any decisions based solely on what you see on your caller ID screen.
Get guidance from reputable credit counseling services. Non-profit credit counseling providers offer unbiased guidance on managing debt without unrealistic promises or demands for upfront fees.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Credit National Assist Scam
Q: Who is Credit National Assist?
A: Credit National Assist is a fraudulent company name used by scammers to pose as a debt relief service. There is no real company by this name. The scammers use the name to convince victims they will negotiate with creditors for debt consolidation or settlement.
Q: How do Credit National Assist scammers contact people?
A: Most victims report being first contacted through an unsolicited phone call. The scammers cold call victims claiming they can help lower debt payments or repair credit. Caller ID is often spoofed to display the name “Credit National Assist.”
Q: What information do Credit National Assist scammers ask for?
A: Scammers will request personal info like your full name, birthdate, Social Security number, and financial account details. This allows them to steal identities and commit financial fraud. Never share such info with unsolicited callers.
Q: Do Credit National Assist scammers ask for money upfront?
A: Yes, a key sign this is a scam is they require upfront fees before providing services. They may insist fees be paid by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency. Legitimate debt relief services cannot legally charge upfront fees.
Q: What are some other signs of the Credit National Assist scam?
A: Other indicators include pressure to act fast, claims your debt can be eliminated, requests to cut off contact with creditors, refusal to provide written contract, use of high-pressure sales tactics.
Q: What should I do if Credit National Assist contacts me?
A: Do not provide any personal information. Hang up immediately and report the call to authorities. Look up the company name online along with words like “scam” or “complaints” to find scam reports.
Q: Can Credit National Assist help lower my debt?
A: No, Credit National Assist is a fraudulent operation. They will take your money and disappear without providing any services. Seek assistance from reputable non-profit credit counseling agencies instead.
Q: How can I recover losses from the Credit National Assist scam?
A: Unfortunately, money paid to scammers is difficult to recover. File reports with the FTC and FBI IC3. Be wary of any further calls referencing Credit National Assist, as scammers sell victim data. Avoid paying anyone else associated with the scam.
Is Your Device Infected? Check for Malware
If your device is running slowly or acting suspicious, it may be infected with malware. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is a great option for scanning your device and detecting potential malware or viruses. The free version can efficiently check for and remove many common infections.
Malwarebytes can run on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Depending on which operating system is installed on the device you’re trying to run a Malwarebytes scan, please click on the tab below and follow the displayed steps.
Malwarebytes For WindowsMalwarebytes For MacMalwarebytes For Android
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Windows to remove malware
Malwarebytes stands out as one of the leading and widely-used anti-malware solutions for Windows, and for good reason. It effectively eradicates various types of malware that other programs often overlook, all at no cost to you. When it comes to disinfecting an infected device, Malwarebytes has consistently been a free and indispensable tool in the battle against malware. We highly recommend it for maintaining a clean and secure system.
Download Malwarebytes for Windows
You can download Malwarebytes by clicking the link below.
After the download is complete, locate the MBSetup file, typically found in your Downloads folder. Double-click on the MBSetup file to begin the installation of Malwarebytes on your computer. If a User Account Control pop-up appears, click “Yes” to continue the Malwarebytes installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, the setup wizard will guide you through the process.
You’ll first be prompted to choose the type of computer you’re installing the program on—select either “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” as appropriate, then click on Next.
Malwarebytes will now begin the installation process on your device.
When the Malwarebytes installation is complete, the program will automatically open to the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen.
On the final screen, simply click on the Open Malwarebytes option to start the program.
Enable “Rootkit scanning”.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start, and you will see the main screen as shown below. To maximize Malwarebytes’ ability to detect malware and unwanted programs, we need to enable rootkit scanning. Click on the “Settings” gear icon located on the left of the screen to access the general settings section.
In the settings menu, enable the “Scan for rootkits” option by clicking the toggle switch until it turns blue.
Now that you have enabled rootkit scanning, click on the “Dashboard” button in the left pane to get back to the main screen.
Perform a Scan with Malwarebytes.
To start a scan, click the Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its antivirus database and begin scanning your computer for malicious programs.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now scan your computer for browser hijackers and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Quarantine detected malware
Once the Malwarebytes scan is complete, it will display a list of detected malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. To effectively remove these threats, click the “Quarantine” button.
Malwarebytes will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the program’s quarantine.
Restart your computer.
When removing files, Malwarebytes may require a reboot to fully eliminate some threats. If you see a message indicating that a reboot is needed, please allow it. Once your computer has restarted and you are logged back in, you can continue with the remaining steps.
Your computer should now be free of trojans, adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Scan your computer with Malwarebytes for Mac to remove malware
Malwarebytes for Mac is an on-demand scanner that can destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss without costing you absolutely anything. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free, and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.
Download Malwarebytes for Mac.
You can download Malwarebytes for Mac by clicking the link below.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes for Mac Installer which will guide you through the installation process. Click “Continue“, then keep following the prompts to continue with the installation process.
When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”.
The Malwarebytes Welcome screen will first ask you what type of computer are you installing this program, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer.
Click on “Scan”.
To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes for Mac will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for malware.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will scan your computer for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. 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.
Click on “Quarantine”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the malware that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
Your Mac should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious program on your computer, you might want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future. 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 to remove malware
Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.
Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
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 will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options. This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue. Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step. Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue. Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system 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.
Click on “Remove Selected”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.
Your phone should now be free of adware, browser hijackers, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious app on your phone, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
Don’t Become Another Victim of the Credit National Assist Scam
When facing difficult financial times, it’s understandable to hope for a quick fix. But falling for debt relief scams only makes situations worse. Predatory schemes like Credit National Assist seek to exploit those already in turmoil to steal identities, money, and peace of mind.
There are ethical ways to regain control of your finances. But it starts with awareness – understanding common tactics scammers use, signs of a scam, and your rights in dealing with debt. Don’t allow scammers to fool you and further derail your stability. Use this knowledge to detect the Credit National Assist scheme, report them to help warn others, and seek legitimate guidance on solving debt.
How to Stay Safe Online
Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:
Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.
It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.
Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.
Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.
Be careful when installing programs and apps.
Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."
Install an ad blocker.
Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.
Be careful what you download.
A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.
Be alert for people trying to trick you.
Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.
Back up your data.
Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.
Choose strong passwords.
Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.
Be careful where you click.
Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.
Don't use pirated software.
Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.
To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.
Meet Stelian Pilici
Stelian leverages over a decade of cybersecurity expertise to lead malware analysis and removal, uncover scams, and educate people. His experience provides insightful analysis and valuable perspective.
