Private Number shows up on caller id. I let it go to vm. Music plays, then "This is Michelle Williams contacting you in regards to an ongoing investigation naming you as a person of interest. A verbal statement is needed to resolve this matter prior to court proceedings. Press 1 to speak to an arbitrator or contact ESA at 571-281-1724". She never says the name of who she is calling for. If I break down the wording, I could say that I am a "person of interest", because they are looking (investigating) for someone to scam. So my "verbal statement" is just whatever they can get me to tell them (credit card info?). Whose court proceedings? Could be anyone. Doesn't have to apply to me, but it's meant to scare. Absolutely ridiculous what these people will do to take someone's identity or money. I did not call back, since I figure that they have caller id, and I don't want them thinking I have any interest in engaging their wrong behavior, hence they will keep calling because they have gotten my attention. Thank you to those of you who have called them back because it lets me know what happens if you do.
This is a common ploy by criminals attempting to extort money from people by scaring you into believing that you will be criminally charged, go to jail, lose your driver’s license, have wages garnished, be sued, and a variety of other variations on this, all for an alleged or nonexistent debt. One of the tricks they use is to call your work place repeatedly in an attempt to shame you into paying. They also use the “process server” who calls and claims he is going to serve you, but then says you could avoid it by calling another number.
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
Interesting that the same number and same VM message went to both my spouse's phone and my phone within a short period of time. We have dissimilar phone numbers so number sequencing was not in play.
Music plays, then "This is Michelle Williams contacting you in regards to an ongoing investigation naming you as a person of interest. A verbal statement is needed to resolve this matter prior to court proceedings. Press 1 to speak to an arbitrator or contact TSA at 571-281-1724".