The United States Bankruptcy Court District of Maine has issued a warning regarding a scam targeting debtors and potentially others. According to the court, individuals have reported receiving fraudulent phone calls from people claiming to represent the bankruptcy court. These callers demand payment through platforms such as Zelle or Venmo.
The court emphasized that it does not request payments over the phone and only accepts payments via Pay.gov, bank check, or money order. “Please note that the Bankruptcy Court Clerk’s never calls for payment and does not accept payment via any method other than a Pay.gov, bank check, or money order,” the statement said.
Anyone uncertain about the legitimacy of a payment request is encouraged to contact the court directly at its Bangor office (207-945-0348) or Portland office (207-780-3482) for verification.
There have been increasing reports nationwide of scams involving fake court officials asking for immediate electronic payments, prompting courts to remind the public of official payment procedures.
