Yes - I got one 2 days ago. Claims to be an attorney named Mark Bishop. Says he is looking for people committing white collar crime. Called my cell but did not leave message. Left message on my home answering machine regarding a criminal case #. Apparently he is looking for a relative of mine that I do no have contact with for fraudulent activity. Called other family members as well. Asked him to never call again. Not sure he is legit.
Yes - I got one 2 days ago. Claims to be an attorney named Mark Bishop. Says he is looking for people committing white collar crime. Called my cell but did not leave message. Left message on my home answering machine regarding a criminal case #. Apparently he is looking for a relative of mine that I do no have contact with for fraudulent activity. Called other family members as well. Asked him to never call again. Not sure he is legit.
Nope he isn't He is calling family, friends and neighbors to create panic in the intended victim (your relative). He wants that person to call him back so that he can scare them into paying an extortion fee. Have your relative read this:
This is a common ploy by criminals masquerading as debt collectors who are attempting to extort money from people by scaring you into believing that you will be criminally charged, go to jail, lose your driver’s license, have wages garnished, be sued, and a variety of other variations on this, all for an alleged or nonexistent debt. One of the tricks they use is to call your work place, friends, or relatives repeatedly in an attempt to shame you into paying. They also use the “process server” ruse who calls and claims he is going to serve you, but then says you could avoid it by calling another number
Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) within 5 days of their first contact that contains their name, physical address, the creditor’s name, and the amount of the alleged debt. It also must contains “mini-Miranda” telling you that it is an attempt to collect a debt and that all information will be used for those purposes. The one other important thing that this letter must also have in it is that you have a right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receipt of the letter and if you do so, all collection activity must be stopped until the debt is verified.
Read up on your rights here, get template letters to send and also make a complaint at this government site: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/
Also file a complaint with your State Attorney General's office.
List of State AG’s offices: http://consumerfraudreporting.org/stateattorneygenerallist.php