Calls and always leaves a message that they are trying to Locate me... wants me to call back at another number 1/800/286/5247 but I was advised not to answer numbers I don't know or call back numbers on my caller id or left in messages...... I took out an online loan years ago and their information got hacked.....now I'm getting bogus crap in the mail and calls. The mail I send a request for the details and never get anything back but then another 'collection agency' tries to get the same thing with no details. One of these scammers got through to the CFO of my company now that was embarrassing..... now every time we get a new receptionist I have to explain to them to just put the calls to my extension no matter what the caller says. And if they are rude tell them they are not permitted to call employees at 'this number' for personal business....... it has been such a headache. but again I was advised not to answer the calls or call back cause then they know it is a valid number and they will keep calling and share it with other scammers.... that is why it sucks that they go to my voicemail at work..... we don't have an answering machine at the house so those calls have lessen...... and I never put my cell on anything so they don't have that number to harass.
I was dumb enough to pay one scammer who got through to my CFO and you are right imbarassing! Then I got a Legal notice that I have been included in a Legal action against that company I paid.... I'm not sure if it is for real or not!
That is their game plan. Embarrass you into paying their extortion money. Like all extortion plots, they will keep trying to collect now that they know you paid so easily the first time. Not only that but they have now sold your name to all their criminal buddies for them to call also.. Never ever pay a debt collector unless they follow the letter of the law.
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