(RALEIGH) -- Debt collection fraud is on the rise, according to North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper. Dozens of North Carolinians are calling Cooper’s Consumer Protection Division to report calls from scammers posing as debt collectors.

“Don’t fall for these calls from crooks demanding that you pay phony debts,” said Cooper. “Never agree to share your personal information with someone you don’t know who calls you, no matter how convincing they sound.”

Cooper's office says consumers are describing the fraudulent calls as harassing and intimidating. The scammers often call repeatedly, even contacting people at work.

The callers often use phony names designed to sound like a law firm or government agency. The various scammers who are behind the calls appear to be located overseas.  This makes tracking them down and taking legal action against them very difficult.

Cooper urges consumers to never give out personal information, such as bank account and credit card information, to any unknown entity that initiates a call. The main point to remember is that legitimate debt collectors should be able to provide written proof of a debt.

Several people have reported receiving the calls after applying for credit online.