From everything I'm reading, this is pretty much looking like a scam. Bottom line, everything he said is breaking FDCPA laws. The scammers in foreign country's have not got a clue how our laws work really. Debt is a civil matter and you can not be arrested for owing a debt. Below are the laws, and other info in regards.Know your rights! Demand a legal address, demand a debt validation. With extortion scams, file reports with all agency's. You may want to consider a call blocking device or phone also. The T-lock Incoming PRO Call Blocker sells for under 60 bucks on Amazon and can block up to 1500 numbers.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=call+blockers
Please do file reports with the FBI, your state attorney general and Department Of Justice,FTC & FCC..
http://800notes.com/forum/ta-86217073a9c8dad/ ... 077595690349410
************
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors
************
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm
*********************
A Collection Agent May Not…
Here are the top 11 actions prohibited by the The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:
Misrepresent Him or Herself
A debt collector may not misrepresent himself as an attorney or law enforcement officer.
Use the Telephone to Annoy or Harass
A collection agent may not cause a telephone to ring or engage any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with an intent to annoy, abuse, or harass anyone at the called number.
Threaten Arrest or Lawsuit
A collection agent may not threaten a consumer with arrest. It may not threaten legal action that is either not permitted or not actually contemplated. In other words, a the threat of a lawsuit may be an empty one.
Use Abusive or Threatening Language
A debt collector may no use abusive or profane language in the course of communication related to the debt.
Publish a Bad Debt List
Publishing the consumer’s name or address on a "bad debt" list is prohibited.
Contact By Embarrassing Media
A debt collector may not communicate with a consumer by post card. It may not use any language or symbol, other than the debt collector’s address, on any envelope when communicating with a consumer by use of the mails or by telegram. A debt collector may use its business name if such name does not indicate it is in the debt collection business.
Contact a Consumer at Work
A collection agent may not communicate with consumers at their place of employment after being told this is unacceptable or prohibited by the employer.
Seek Unjustifiable Amounts
A debt collector may not demand any amounts not permitted under an applicable contract or as provided under law.
Contact a Consumer Represented by an Attorney
A collection agent may not contact a consumer after it learns the consumer is represented by a lawyer.
Communicate With a Consumer After Receiving a Validation Request
If a consumer sends a written §1692g response within 30 days, the collection agent may not communicate with the consumer until it mails the consumer the requested verification of original creditor's name and address.
Communicate With Third Parties
A debt collector may not reveal or discuss the nature of a consumer’s debts with third parties other than the consumer’s spouse or attorney. A collection agent may contact neighbors or co-workers only to obtain location information. It may contact a third party again if it has reason to believe the information the party provided previously is false.
Bills.com FDCPA FAQ
Below are questions Bills.com readers ask frequently:
Can a Collection Agent Call My Cell Phone?
Yes. However, if you tell the debt collector it may not use that number because it is a cell phone, it may not contact you again at that number.
I Keep Receiving Dozens of Calls From Collection Agents. Is That Legal?
No. Unscrupulous collection agents will use "block parties" or "office parties" where they contact a consumer, multiple neighbors, or co-workers telling them they need to reach the consumer on an urgent matter. This is not permitted under the FDCPA.
A Collector Says I Will Be Arrested if I Do Not Pay
This was a true statement before the US Civil War, but has not been true since. People may be arrested if an aggressive judge files a bench warrant for a person who does not appear at a hearing relating to a lawsuit regarding a debt. However, in that case, the offense is the failure to respond to a court order, and not the existence of the debt. As stated above, it is illegal under the FDCPA to threaten a consumer with arrest if the consumer does not pay the debt.
I called the FBI, then was switched to the Federal Trade Commission and then switched over to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (855)411.2372. They took my complaint down, I'm waiting on the form their sending. Once they receive it, they will begin investigating the scam related to number (313)436.6658. They guy goes by the name "Jack Harper" and claims to be the attorney for a firm called "Freedman", but their isn't any firm by that name or spelled the way he said its spelled in the area he is calling from. The number he "keeps" calling from is located out of Dearborn Detroit, MI, he has an Indian accent, and when I called him he answered with a hello, not a "Good morning, Freedman Law Firm, how may I help you." Then put me on hold to get this supposed attorney who sounded just like the original guy that answered. Seriously?! These people are hilarious! You can NOT arrest on account of a civil matter. By law you must notify someone via mail, not through emails or phone calls. People do not give into this, and do NOT send money. Good thing I'm a paralegal and know the law and personal rights, or else I wouldn't have been able to notify my husband sitting next to me on the phone with these [***] wanting 780/790 something dollars, that this is a scam. They actually had the nerve to illegally threaten my husband by saying they'll be at our house to arrest him....LMAO!
I recieve the same call at work twice this week so i finally called them back and they only said hello when he answer the phone and I asked what company this is and he said freedam law firm and I said if that true they would answer the phone freedam law firm and he proceed telling me that I have 1 hour to pay them $4500 or other wise the police will come to my work on saturday to arrest me and I told him I look forward seeing them because you are a scam and im filing a police report out on you for harrasment and thats when he hung up on me
Get several messages from this Indian guy who states he's from freedmen law offices nd he called my husband at work just now stating he was gonna have someone come nd arrest him within an hour or so...so I just called the guy back nd told him I already know this is a scam nd that we were reporting this number..he hung up on me so hopefully he'll stop calling!