Thank you so much for your feedback to my post. These type of people just make me very angry because of the one person that they don't scare successfully, there are about five more that they do. People need to understand that these people are viscious and will continue their verbal abuse and scare tactics until they find a victim who bites. Sadly, this is the way of the world. Hopefully with all of the posts on this site, it will help to deter anyone else from these mean, ugly, and awful people of the "You need to pay us now to avoid going to jail" world. LOL
This number called me today stating that they received my file and were wanting to speak with me regarding two outstanding payday loan debts in which the account the money was sent to was closed. The man then tells me that this is punishable by law and that he is going to give me a chance to "settle" this before he sends the case to the States Attorney in my state and jurisdiction because it is now a "felony" due to the amount of money I owed with the fees. ?????
He then asks me if I wrote these checks knowing that I wasn't going to pay them back? I stated no and then realized...... Wait a minute, I claimed bankruptcy. I don't need to have this conversation. I then stated to the man that I had claimed those debts in bankruptcy. When he started to talk over me, I HUNG UP THE PHONE and called my lawyer to let him know that I was being harassed.
Not sure what the so-called companies name was but I did call the number back and a lady was on the message (she was the same lady's voice that was this man's supposed "paralegal." He was supposedly a lawyer. ???? I did not leave a message, however, I thought that everyone should know about them, too.
Yes, what you describe is a very common form of fraud these days,
Legitimate law firms and collection agencies will contact you by mail, not phone: They want their statements to be in writing so you can't change/deny what their claims are. Frauds will contact you by phone precisely so you *can't* prove what they told you (because it could be used as evidence against them).
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning consumers to be on the alert for scam artists posing as debt collectors. A caller may be a fake debt collector if he:
• Is seeking payment on a debt for a loan (or check) you do not recognize;
• Refuses to give you his name and/or mailing address;
• Asks for personal financial or sensitive information (like Social Security Number);
• Uses scare tactics to pressure you into paying, such as threatening to have you served with legal papers (summons/warrant) or having you arrested;
• Insists that you pay on very short notice (within hours or minutes or immediately);
• Requires payment by unrefundable or untraceable means like Western Union wire transfer or by "Green Dot" money card or similar purchased money cards.
If you think that a caller may be a fake debt collector:
• Ask the caller for his name, company, street address, and telephone number. Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice." The notice must include the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor you owe, and your rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
If a caller refuses to give you all of this information, do not pay! Paying a fake debt collector will not always make them go away. They may make up another debt to try to get more money from you.
• Stop speaking with the caller. If you have the caller's address, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files. By law, real debt collectors must stop calling you if you ask them to in writing.
• Do not give the caller personal financial or other sensitive information. Never give out or confirm personal financial or other sensitive information like your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number unless you know whom you're dealing with. Scam artists, like fake debt collectors, can use your information to commit identity theft - charging your existing credit cards, opening new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, writing fraudulent checks, or taking out loans in your name.
• Report the call. Contact the FTC and your state Attorney General's office with information about suspicious callers. Many states have their own debt collection laws in addition to the federal FDCPA. Your Attorney General's office can help you determine your rights under your state's law.
Thank you so much for your feedback to my post. These type of people just make me very angry because of the one person that they don't scare successfully, there are about five more that they do. People need to understand that these people are viscious and will continue their verbal abuse and scare tactics until they find a victim who bites. Sadly, this is the way of the world. Hopefully with all of the posts on this site, it will help to deter anyone else from these mean, ugly, and awful people of the "You need to pay us now to avoid going to jail" world. LOL