Panzeralla was an ignorant scam/con artist calling with the same ordeal as the previous guest posted. She called looking for someone which she wasn't quite sure of who they were. She said it was a civil matter over a magazine company from 2013 and she "just wanted to verify that I was the person she needed to speak with". However when I began to ask for more information about why she called my phone (at this point I haven't confirmed that I was or wasn't the person she was looking for) and she became argumentative (not typical of a professional). She spoke in a rather fast manner so that I wouldn't catch everything she said. Once she became argumentative I began to try to talk back with her so she could take a breath and hear me but at this point it became an " I'm louder than you" match. She then hung up on me. She called back several hours later and left a voicemail. I called back and she was very cordial at this point. I told her that someone was very rude who called me previously and she said that would've been her because she's the only person who works at her office. She asked me how she was rude and I began to explain about how she talked over me and how she hung up while I was trying to speak. Furthermore I told her that I googled her number and she began to laugh and said wait while I check this out. I informed her that I have other things to do in my life rather than waiting for her (someone I do not know or care to) to do something. I finally was able to tell her I wasn't the person she was looking for and told her not to call my phone again. She seemed adamant about getting this individuals personal info, which is suspect over the phone ESPECIALLY from an unknown individual. It has scam written all over it!!!!
Panzeralla was an ignorant scam/con artist calling with the same ordeal as the previous guest posted. She called looking for someone which she wasn't quite sure of who they were. She said it was a civil matter over a magazine company from 2013 and she "just wanted to verify that I was the person she needed to speak with". However when I began to ask for more information about why she called my phone (at this point I haven't confirmed that I was or wasn't the person she was looking for) and she became argumentative (not typical of a professional). She spoke in a rather fast manner so that I wouldn't catch everything she said. Once she became argumentative I began to try to talk back with her so she could take a breath and hear me but at this point it became an " I'm louder than you" match. She then hung up on me. She called back several hours later and left a voicemail. I called back and she was very cordial at this point. I told her that someone was very rude who called me previously and she said that would've been her because she's the only person who works at her office. She asked me how she was rude and I began to explain about how she talked over me and how she hung up while I was trying to speak. Furthermore I told her that I googled her number and she began to laugh and said wait while I check this out. I informed her that I have other things to do in my life rather than waiting for her (someone I do not know or care to) to do something. I finally was able to tell her I wasn't the person she was looking for and told her not to call my phone again. She seemed adamant about getting this individuals personal info, which is suspect over the phone ESPECIALLY from an unknown individual. It has scam written all over it!!!!
These people just scammed my son, scared him into thinking he owed money. He gave them his bank account information over the phone, but then he called me and I told him to go close that account immediately, that it was a scam.
That's what these people count on, that people will be scared and give them the info over the phone.
Do not ever give any personal information over the phone. Real debt collectors are required by law to do everything in writing, and will not request bank account information over the phone.
They are not required to do everything in writing, but they are required to do certain things in writing. You are right though, do not ever pay a debt collector until they have followed the letter of the law and have properly validated the debt.
Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) within 5 days of their first contact that contains their name, physical address, the creditor’s name, and the amount of the alleged debt. It also must contains “mini-Miranda” telling you that it is an attempt to collect a debt and that all information will be used for those purposes. The one other important thing that this letter must also have in it is that you have a right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receipt of the letter and if you do so, all collection activity must be stopped until the debt is verified.
Read up on your rights here, get template letters to send and also make a complaint at this government site: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/
Also file a complaint with your State Attorney General's office.
List of State AG’s offices: http://consumerfraudreporting.org/stateattorneygenerallist.php