Just got a call/voicemail from them stating that they were going to persue legal action against someone who isn't me by visiting their home and place of employment. Just blocked the number.
Oooh allegations against me. They're coming to my employer to get me. I'm so scared. NOT. This was left on my voice mail. Block this garbage and call it a day.
My phone has been blowing up from these people leaving the same voicemail. This isn't for me but is for someone I know. These people have been calling family members as well. Anyone else have anymore info from these people as to who they are? I blocked them but now it's freaking the grandparents out now that they are calling them and other family members. Any other info would be of help.
You and this person they are calling about as well as anyone else they are contacting need to read the following:
Criminals masquerading as debt collectors attempt to extort money from people by scaring you into believing that you will be criminally charged (they use the bad check or hot check claim a lot) and go to jail, lose your driver’s license, have wages garnished without actually being sued or going to court, 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 family, friends, neighbors and/or places of employment (past or present or both) to create panic and embarrassment so that their intended victim calls them and they can scare that person into paying their extortion money. They will use the words “Mediator”, “Arbitrator”, or “Law Office” to make you believe that they are something other than a debt collector want-a-be and that they don’t have to follow Federal and State collection laws. They do have to follow those laws, but they won’t. They mention that they have received a Fax document, to create the sense of urgency. They also tell you that if you fail to call them back you are "waiving your right to council", which is pretty much nothing but hogwash. They also use the “process server” ruse who calls and claims he is going to serve you, but then says you could avoid it by calling another number where they will ask for money to “make it go away” (this is actually the same place, they work in teams, one pretending to be the server, and the other usually pretends to be a lawyer). Process servers do not ever call ahead so that you can dodge them. Process servers get paid to serve papers, nothing else.
If you feel you SSN has been compromised, in addition to putting a fraud alert at the 3 credit bureaus, you may want to notify the IRS. Here is the link, fill out the proper form (probably 14039). Also file a report at the FTC Identity Theft web site as well as learn what else you need to do:
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/How-Do-You-Rep ... aud-Activity%3F
https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/report-identity-theft
It is incumbent upon them under the law to prove that the debt exists and that you owe it, and that they have the legal right to collect it. You are not obligated under the law to prove that you don’t owe or that it is paid.
Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) postmarked 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 and also make a complaint at this government site: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/
Once of my family members got a call and they listed this number as a call back number. Here is my transcript of the voicemail that they left:
...may be filed immediately with the County Clerk's Office.
This department will be actively pursuing you at your place of employment and your place of residence.
You do have a legal right to resolve the case with the plaintiff outside of court.
Please understand when you are located you do forfeit that right.
You can contact our legal department at (866)237-1175 and refer to your case number 1240482.
You can reach us directly at (202) 836-8580 or you may press zero to talk to a live agent. Thank you.
The information they give is kinda vague and sounds like they are just fishing for a response. Just in case though I checked my local county records and there was no case filed.