MY HUSBAND RECEIVED A CALL STATING SOMETHING ABOUT FRAUD. IT WAS A WOMAN AND SHE EVEN GAVE HIM A CASE NUMBER. I GOOGLED THE NUMBER AND SAW ALL THESE OTHER COMPLAINTS. WHEN YOU ARE IN DOUBT...GOOGLE.
Same thing with me. They want me to validate my email address, name and telephone number so they can proceed with legal action against my social security number. I am getting harassed at work!!!! How can I get this to stop. I know it's a scam but explain it to my employer.
Take action against your Social Security number? How do they do that? Does your SS card have to go to court? Will they put it on the stand? The language these scammers use is hilarious!
Okay, here's a suggestion that just might end the calls at work, although it's no guarantee:
I assume your phone system is capable of making conference calls. Most cell phones and landline phones, likewise, are capable of three-way calling. Look up the number of your state AG's Consumer Protection Division and write it down. Next time they call, play along and get as much information from them as you can, including the name of their "company", the name of the supposed creditor, andtheir instructions for paying whatever they claim you owe. Don't give them ANY of your personal information or acknowledge any phony debt. Say something like "IF I were to pay you, how would I go about that?", etc. Then say "I'm sorry, my pen isn't working....can you hold on while I grab a new one?". Put them on hold, dial the AG's number and then conference the call. Chances are they'll hang up as soon as they hear the AG's recorded greeting on the line, but if they don't, just say "I'm terribly sorry to take up more of your time, but I just want to check this out quickly....nothing personal, but there are a lot of scams out there these days, and you just can't be too careful these days, don't you agree?. Oh, and when the nice person comes on the line, would you mind telling them what you just told me? Thank you so much! It would really be a great help!" If they weren't gone long before this point, they sure will be now! Also, it sends a message that you're not screwing around, and they're basically wasting their time on you. Now they couldn't give two hoots about the law, but in the world of the scammer, time is money. They might just flag your number as "unproductive" and give up. Then, when the rep from the AG's office picks up, give them all the info and tell them you want to file a complaint.
Another alternative is to record the calls. If you live in a one-party state, you don't have to tell them they're being recorded until the end of the call (in a two-party state, you have to disclose it up front - check your state laws). Again, play along, get as much information as you can, then say "Thank you so much for your help, but I'd like to check this out with my state Attorney General's office first. I've recorded our call....you don't mind if I forward this to them for their advice, do you?". They'll probably blow up and try to threaten you at that point, saying something like "You can't record me....blah, blah, blah!". Just say "I appreciate your concern, and I'm sure the Attorney General's office will inform me if this recording is indeed illegal". If they don't hang up at that point, they're a moron!
The key is to remain perfectly calm throughout the entire call. They're trying to rattle you, so they'll use their intimidation methods....yelling, threats, talking over you, etc. Just be calm and nice as pie. They don't know what to do with that.
Phone calls are not legal notifications of anything. This is a total scam. Ignore the calls. Block them. Do not return the call and do not give them any information.
If they continue to bother you, tell them that you know this is a debt scam and that you are making a complaint to the police for extortion. Once you get a copy of the police report and they call you again , just read out the file number and the name of the PD or Sheriff’s office involved. Tell them you’ll be glad to send a copy to them at whatever address the jack***es are working out of now.