This is 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. a statement that that debt will be assumed to be valid unless you dispute in writing within 30 days,
4. a statement that that if you do dispute in writing within 30 days, the collector must mail you written verification of the debt,
5. a statement 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 them, the FDCPA requires collectors to provide them), treat the collector like you would any SCAMMER.
Has the statute of limitations for your state http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/SOL-by-State.html expired on your debt? If expired, don't pay.
Collectors generally have to be licensed by your state to practise (collect debt) in your state and you can find out by calling your state Attorney Generals Office. Ask if a license is required and does this collector have one. If not licensed, don't pay and file a complaint.
Read useful debt-collection FAQs from the FTC here http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm
Be aware that scammers are using bought/hacked/phished 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 want to know who did number belongs to, a guy call Steve Williams call said I owe money to a company named Fast Cash otherwise they will sent my file to their lawyers and they will contact my employer and have me fire. I have read similar cases like this and they are scams. I want to know if this company is legit or not. Sound scary if they can do this to me I want to know.
I keep receiving calls from this number for some time now. Today, May 19, 2011, I received a call from some idiot who introduced himself as an employee of the United Nations regarding some "legal case". Then another guy (this time speaking understandable English) called on my home number and stated that I owed money to an outfit by the name of CashFastUSA (of which I had never heard), represented by "Attorney Mark Anderson". The guy went so far as to actually threaten me with an imminent arrest within two hours. Google shows that this number belongs to some schmuck from the Bronx, NY. BEWARE ! It's a scam.
I received this call and they used my daughter number.I called it back thinking he was
her and they are the same peple that called me about 3 weeks ago from calif.Useing the
same names and it is a scam.
This hard to understand gentleman has called me me 4 times in the past hour making legal threats and court issues,arrest issues. I have called the F.B.I.,our police station and filed a complaint. all they can tell me is let it ring and don't answer the phone. They just don't stop. It is nerve wrecking.