I received a call on my cell phone today from a man claiming to be with a law firm - thick accent, who I couldn't understand - claiming that I owe money on a loan from 2010 and I would be arrested if I didn't pay $601. I never took out a loan in 2010--which is how I knew he was lying. Scarey part of the call was that he read off my SS # and my current address, etc.
He refused to tell me the name of this loan company he "represents", he refused to send me any paperwork. When I asked the name of his law firm, he first said LLC Law Firm, then said Orleans LLC Law Firm New York 12401 - neither of which I could find online.
He called from tel # 585-331-8619. I let him go on long enough to give me the Western Union info:
Name: Michael Wilson
Amount I "suppose to owe": $300.00
Settle amount out of court: $601.00
Western Union code name : CAFE FONE
City Code on Western Union: CAFEFONE NY
Account # 295687599
I have seen the same account # on some of your blogs. Thanks to all of you for your info. While I had him on the line, I started reading your messages to him. He acted so insulted and warned me that this is not a joke. He's full of it!
Yes it is a SCAM....do not send any money to this individual. He has a very heavy Indian accent and will tell you that if you don't send money you will be sued or arrested. He will get rude with you and keep calling you back to back. Don't fall for this it is a SCAM. It's a shame how people take up your time with craziness.
They have several bounce numbers. I've seen them on another website as well but I can't recall the website right now.
They leave a threatening message on my answering machine for my husband. They also called two uncles of his and threatened them and said he was at the center of a "fraud investigation" which is ABSOLUTELY NOT true. They told his uncles that their "brother" was being investigated so although they have a large amount of information it's not always accurate, they are probably getting it from Spokeo.com or one of those sites. Both uncles refused them any information and called me right away. My husband does not owe any money to these people whoever they are and it is definitely a scam.
I am posting here today because even though I realize it's a scam and have dealt with it in my husband's case, I work professionally in finance and wanted to give some information out with regards to the "Fair Credit Reporting Act".
Under the "Fair Credit Reporting Act" these collectors if that's what they are, are operating highly illegally.
1. They can NOT threaten to jail you. There is no such thing as debtor's prison anymore. If you owe on a bad check the company you wrote the check to can take you to small claims court and seek a judgement but you receive a notice from the court prior to that. If it's enough to be a felony in your state you would hear from local law enforcement when they showed up at your door to actually arrest you and NOT some heavily accented unknown person.
2. They are required by law to divulge in ANY communication that they are "attempting to collect a debt and any information gained will be used for that purpose". If they don't they can be sued. That includes the threatening messages left on your answering machine.
3. They can not release any information regarding your debt or you to ANYONE other than yourself without written authorization from YOU, that includes family members.
4. You have the right to request a copy of ANY debt you owe in writing and they are required to provide it within 30 days. If they refuse to do so they are again in violation of the law and can be sued.
5. If you actually owe a debt to a company the collection agency is required by law to send you notice via USPS telling you what you owe, what charges are being added and why, e.g. collection costs, and give you 30 days to dispute the validity of the debt.
If these people call you, write down everything they say word for word, call whoever you might owe money to and read the conversation back verbatim and then turn it over to your local law enforcement. The way this company or companies as the case may be are working is illegal in several different ways and could actually invalidate any actual debt owed by you. If you owe money, pay it to whoever you owe it to and be done with it, but do make sure they understand what the collection agency they hired is doing because I guarantee you if they get enough complaints they will realize they are at risk of their debt being invalidated and of a potential lawsuit and they'll stop using them.
I had a payday loan with a payday loan company a few months back. I didn't pay it off right away like I should have. I had someone call me stating that they would settle my payday loan with a certain amount of money. I thought I was talking to the payday loan company but all along I was talking to someone of fradulent use. I ended up giving these people my bank information thinking I was paying the payday loan company. I got ripped off with these people and had to get the bank involved. To make a long story short the payday loan company had no idea who was calling me. They said they have no one collecting on their behalf. I got taken. I ended up paying the payday loan in full but I will never take out another payday loan for as long as I live. Somehow these scam artist can hack into the payday loan companies and get your personal information. I went through a nightmare with these scam individuals calling me all the time saying I owe them money and are taking me to court.....SCAM! And the sad thing about it is the scam company sent me paperwork stating that the loan was paid in full (no such company existed) When I called the payday loan company this is when they told me that they have no such company working on their behalf in collecting money; at this time I knew I had be HAD!!!!! Do not send any money or give out banking information unless you know who you are actually speaking with. Do your homework.....DO NOT TAKE OUT ANY PAYDAY LOANS...IT'S NOT LIKE IT USE TO BE YEARS AGO.
I get the same calls all the time..very irritating. They started back calling me last week. I just started telliing them that they have the wrong number then they start asking are you sure maam? Im like hell yea dont know her and hang up. The last number that called me was 2132609139 and its scammers because i never took out any loans and i dont owe anything. They just keep trying me.