Beware. Don’t be misled.

Lately, the local Better Business Bureau has received numerous calls from people inquiring about ads that appear to insinuate that money from President Obama’s stimulus package can be used to pay off individual debts, said Steve Abel, president of Abilene’s BBB.

But Michelle Ozanus, spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, said there isn’t anything in the stimulus package — at least that her office is aware of — “directing funds to help people pay off their credit cards.”

“However,” Ozanus said, “there does seem to be an increased amount of Web sites and advertisements trying to take advantage of people by leading them to believe there is a bailout in store for them.”

The potentially misleading ads come at a time when worries about credit card and other debt — and how to cure it — now top all other concerns of the individuals contacting the BBB’s Abilene office.

One such advertisement urges radio listeners to call “debt-free stimulus” if they owe $10,000 or more in credit card debt.

“The government is bailing out the banks,” the ad exclaims. “Now it’s your turn.”

Although calls to the telephone number given in the advertisement — in an attempt to garner comment — weren’t returned Friday, Abel said his office takes steps to make it clear what’s at stake when consumers work with debt management firms or other companies to reduce debt.

According to Abel, businesses such as Consumer Credit Counseling traditionally have worked on behalf of debt-troubled individuals by negotiating lower interest rates and then setting up a plan for them to pay back credit card companies.