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These days, falling behind on some bills is no disgrace since so many people are juggling unemployment checks or part time salaries. While legitimate bills can be hard enough to keep up with, though, bogus ones can make things even tougher.

The Better Business Bureau is receiving regular complaints about imposter bill collectors.

“The complaints that we've received say that people keep calling me, these fake collectors keep calling time and time again, constantly using this harassing approach,” says Claire Rosenzweig of the BBB.

The complaints say the bogus collectors use official-sounding names similar to government agencies, and they often know a few pieces of information about the person they call.

“They might have your social security number, they might have your address, and they’re telling you that you owe money, and if you don’t pay what you owe, they will have you arrested, they will come and harass you,” says Rosenzweig.

Some callers have taken the bait and given credit card or bank account numbers to the fake collector.

Interestingly enough, the heavy-handed tactics used are also the giveaway that the bills are fake. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, bill collectors cannot threaten arrest, call repeatedly and at unreasonable times after 9 p.m., call an individual at work, contact neighbors, or tell others about the debt.

“If you get one of these calls, call your bank, call your credit card company, ask them to put a fraud alert on your account,” says Rosenzweig.

When it comes to legitimate debts, pay them. Find out about organizations that can help you establish a budget and stick to it by visiting BBB.org.