Exactly! See my latest post above. Unfortunately, this is what happens when you're stupid enough to take out online payday loans - even if the transaction goes smoothly with no issues, your SSN# is out there in cyberspace for scammers. I get so many of these calls - thanks! I also contacted the NY Attorney General's office because this is a NY phone #.
My call block app says this phone # is Power Credit. I got a vm saying "your vm identifies you as [name] this is Legal Mediation Services. My name is Greg Blake. I am calling regarding legal documents I have on my desk with your name and social security number. Please call ASAP to take care of this voluntarily (291) 979-4679 ext. 3102." 291 is not a valid area code, and on other websites there are reports that this area code is outside the U.S. and often linked to call centers overseas bilking people, particularly India. The person sounded American, did not have an Indian accent. My sense is SCAM...
UPDATE: This is a definite scam. Received 3 more vm's ("this is your final notice before legal proceedings...") I called back and talked to Greg Blake (if that's even his real name). He claimed they represent QC Holdings, a payday loan parent co. of many payday loan co.s and that this was supposedly for an outstanding loan from 2011. I asked for validation of debt in writing under the FDCPA. He said "we're not a collection agency - this is a courtesy call for you to voluntarily take care of this before further legal proceedings..." Yeah, right. I told him I want to see what the debt is for. So I contacted QC Holdings - no record of me anywhere, searching by name and SSN#. Interestingly, the calls have stopped.
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
Exactly! See my latest post above. Unfortunately, this is what happens when you're stupid enough to take out online payday loans - even if the transaction goes smoothly with no issues, your SSN# is out there in cyberspace for scammers. I get so many of these calls - thanks! I also contacted the NY Attorney General's office because this is a NY phone #.
Amazing how often PDL thugs are never debt collectors, yet they are happy to accept your money for a debt to supposedly appease lawyers and halt process servers. This ruse has never worked on the FTC and it creates FDCPA liability even before we get to the false threats and flimsy claims.