Do not pay them because this is highly likely a scam.
Legit collectors per section 809 of the FDCPA http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf *must* tell you at initial contact, or send you paperwork within 5 days of initial contact, the following:
1. $amount of debt,
2. name of the current creditor (which may differ from the original creditor who might have sold your debt),
3. that debt will be assumed to be valid unless you dispute in writing within 30 days,
4. that if you do dispute in writing within 30 days, the collector must mail you written verification of the debt,
5. that if you ask the collector in writing within 30 days, the collector must send you the name and address of the original creditor if it's different from the current creditor.
If you don't get the 5 disclosures, orally or in writing (you do not have to ask for it, the FDCPA requires it), treat the collector like you would any SCAMMER. Scammers are using bought/hacked loan application data to extort payments for fictitious debts from victims and victims' families and friends.
The FBI warns about payday loan extortion scams here http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/paydayloanscam_120710
The BBB has issued several alerts on this scam, just google "bbb.org alert phony debt collector"
Report to the Internet Crime Complaint Center http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx , the Federal Communications Commission http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm , the Federal Trade Commission https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ and your state AG, as appropriate.
I KEEP GETTING CALLS FROM THESE PEOPLE, BUT I HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE SCAM, SO I NEVER CALL BACK. BUT NOW THEY ARE CALLING MY WORK NUMBER. ITS VERY IRRATATING AND EMBARRASSING WHEN SOMEONE ELSE ANSWERS THE PHONE. I DO NOT OWE ANYONE ANY MONEY! I WISH THESE PHONE CALLS WILL STOP. DON'T KNOW WHAT COMPANY IT IS AS IT IS VERY HARD TO UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR ACCENT.
It's an obvious scam, someone with a middle eastern accent but an American name (Scott Williams/Matthew Anderson). I knew it was a scam I told him to stop calling & that I would call local law enforcement and have him and his agency report for scamming people & he began to yell and swear. What kind of Attorney yells and sears at people? None, so it's a scam. These people need to go somewhere and get a life. It's no wonder all of those countries are under civil unrest, they spend their days scamming, lying and making trouble for other people.
I just received a call from that same number he told me he was Senior Attorney Sean Woods and that I was being sued by a cash advance company. Apparently I didn't pay back a loan I received but I know I did! The part that freaked me out was that he had all of my information my social,bank acct #, routing #, address etc.! I'm scared to death because I don't know what is going on and on top of that I have to wait until Monday to speak to this company!!! So I'm changing my bank numbers and contacting the federal authorities!!! Please be careful!!!
Do not pay them because this is highly likely a scam.
Legit collectors per section 809 of the FDCPA http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf *must* tell you at initial contact, or send you paperwork within 5 days of initial contact, the following:
1. $amount of debt,
2. name of the current creditor (which may differ from the original creditor who might have sold your debt),
3. that debt will be assumed to be valid unless you dispute in writing within 30 days,
4. that if you do dispute in writing within 30 days, the collector must mail you written verification of the debt,
5. that if you ask the collector in writing within 30 days, the collector must send you the name and address of the original creditor if it's different from the current creditor.
If you don't get the 5 disclosures, orally or in writing (you do not have to ask for it, the FDCPA requires it), treat the collector like you would any SCAMMER. Scammers are using bought/hacked loan application data to extort payments for fictitious debts from victims and victims' families and friends.
The FBI warns about payday loan extortion scams here http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/paydayloanscam_120710
The BBB has issued several alerts on this scam, just google "bbb.org alert phony debt collector"
Report to the Internet Crime Complaint Center http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx , the Federal Communications Commission http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm , the Federal Trade Commission https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ and your state AG, as appropriate.