call came in from division 1 care services and gave this number to call. then they said i had committed check fraud and was going to be served papers to go to court unless we paid them. next day our bank account had unauthorized purchases on it.
Really? Because they didn't send me anything. Investigator/Inspector Derek King wouldn't provide a badge number and he will harass to no end. After telling them to serve me he still called and started yelling and name-calling.
I received a call this morning -- saying that a bench warrant as being issued to me if I didn't pay what was owed? Anyone know if this real or not?? really scared...
Sounds like a phony debt collector to me. He or she is using illegal methods to collect a possible civil debt Being in debt is not a crime and you can't be arrested for ordinary civil debts. There are no warrants against you. Debt collectors do not issue warrants. Only judges issue warrants. Warrants are only issued to duly constituted law enforcement agencies and only after an investigation to show that the person named has probably committed the crime specified. Only duly constituted law enforcement agents serve warrants and they are served in hand. This is just an attempt to scare you into paying them something. Don't fall for it. This is a scam. Do not return the call, do not talk to them. Block their calls. If they call you, tell them that if they have a valid debt, they must send you a debt validation letter and it must be by US Mail. No letter, no payment. Of course they won't send you anything. This is basically a shake-down racket.
Fraudulent or Zombie Debt Collectors—Things to Know
If you have received a call stating:
1. You have defrauded a financial institution
2. You owe an unpaid payday loan
3. You have a warrant due to an unpaid loan
5. You will receive a court summons
6. Authorities are coming to arrest you
7. Anything similar to above,
a. Do not give them any information or verify any information for them
b. Tell them you know they are a scam operating illegally and that you are filing a complaint with the appropriate authorities
Call blocker is your best bet.
* File a complaint with the FBI on their Internet Crime webpage http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
* File a complaint with the Attorney General for the state you live in
The more information and complaints there are, the better the chance of getting these criminals to stop (or at least reduce the frequency).
They continue to bother you, tell them you are going to the police to make a complaint of extortion.
See also: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0149-debt-collection