Debt Collectors Can Text You Now — Here's How to Tell What's Real

Real debt collectors can text and email you now. Which means scammers just got a whole lot more convincing.

You don't need to be behind on anything to get hit. One leaked data list, one old address mix-up, and suddenly you're staring at "URGENT — pay $3,200 today" in your text messages. The problem? It looks exactly like what a real collector might send.

The old days of collections meant certified mail and phone calls during business hours. Now collectors can slide into your DMs like they're selling you crypto. But here's the thing — legitimate collectors still have to follow rules that scammers ignore completely.

The Real vs. Fake Collector Test

Real collectors have to provide validation information — what the debt is, who it's originally from, and how to dispute it. They can do this in their first message, or they have to send it within five days of contact. Scammers push urgency because they know verification kills their game.

The easiest test? Reply with one line: "Send validation information in writing." If they dodge that request or get pushy about immediate payment, you're dealing with a scammer.

Your 24-Hour Game Plan

When you get any collection contact — text, email, call — you're on a clock. You typically have 30 days from first contact to dispute in writing. Here's your priority order:

If you're dealing with multiple collections, triage ruthlessly. Court papers and summons get handled immediately. Anything threatening your housing, utilities, or transportation comes next. Everything else gets the validation treatment first.

The Medical Debt Wildcard

Medical debt is the weirdest category because it often shows up in collections by accident — insurance delays, coding errors, surprise charges. The viral advice says "just don't pay medical bills," but that's oversimplified.

Yes, medical collections typically don't hit your credit for 12 months, and collections under $500 usually aren't reported by major bureaus. But if it's over $500 and goes to collections after that window, it can hurt your credit. And providers can still pursue collection, including lawsuits in many states.

Don't put medical bills on credit cards. Instead, get the itemized bill with CPT codes, match it to your insurance explanation of benefits, ask for financial assistance, and negotiate if it's valid. You've got time to fix errors before they become credit problems.

The goal isn't to avoid paying legitimate debts — it's to avoid paying for someone else's mistakes, getting scammed, or paying more than you actually owe. That text message might be real, but verification always comes before payment.