Advance fee scams
Scammers demand payment before providing any services. Under the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule, debt relief companies cannot charge fees until they’ve settled or reduced your debt.
How to identify scams
Financial scammers often target people who are struggling with debt. Watch out for these red flags.
Upfront fees
Legitimate debt relief companies cannot charge fees before they settle or reduce your debt.
Guaranteed results
No one can guarantee specific outcomes like debt forgiveness or credit score improvements.
Pressure tactics
Scammers create urgency to prevent you from thinking clearly or doing research.
Unusual payments
Be wary of requests for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
Unsolicited contact
Be cautious of unexpected calls, texts, or emails claiming you qualify for special programs.
Missing information
Legitimate companies are transparent about their services, fees, and how they operate.
Worthy will never
These promises and requests are signs that you may be dealing with an impersonator.
- Ask you to pay upfront fees before providing services
- Guarantee specific debt reduction amounts or credit score improvements
- Ask for your full Social Security number via unsolicited calls or texts
- Request payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency
- Pressure you to make immediate decisions
- Tell you to stop communicating with your creditors without explanation
- Ask you to provide your bank login credentials directly to us
Common debt relief scams
Fake government programs
Scammers claim to represent government agencies or say you qualify for special government debt forgiveness programs. The government does not offer widespread debt forgiveness programs for consumer debt.
Credit repair scams
Companies promise to remove accurate negative information from your credit report. Only inaccurate information can legally be removed, and you can dispute errors yourself for free.
Impersonation scams
Scammers pretend to be from legitimate companies, including Worthy. Always verify you’re communicating with us through our official channels.
What to do if you’ve been scammed
If you believe you’ve been the victim of a scam, take these steps immediately.
Stop all contact
Cut off communication with the scammer and do not send any more money.
Document everything
Save emails, texts, call records, receipts, and any other evidence.
Contact your bank
Report the fraud to your bank or credit card company and ask whether charges can be reversed.
Place a fraud alert
Contact the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Report the scam
Notify the appropriate authorities using the official resources below.
Report a scam
Help protect others by reporting scams to these agencies. You can also search for your state attorney general’s consumer protection division.
Verify it’s Worthy
If you’re unsure whether a communication came from Worthy, contact us directly. We’re happy to check it for you.