The "good luck as this situation unfolds" line and the vanilla-sounding alias names for the reps strongly suggest a South Asian fake debt collector. If you really want to know how they've found you and Gramma and the neighbor's pet ferret, think back to when you or someone related gave away a pile of sensitive data to strangers through an online application form.
To be clear, this is extortion dressed as debt collection. The agents' horrid threats are empty and their conduct is illegal. As early as possible it's critical to determine if your collector is domestic or yet another South Asian faker. The former you can sue into submission; the latter tend to be out of reach.
My notes from October 2011 on payday loan and "hot check" collectors are linked below.
http://800notes.com/forum/ta-429fb24ec2162e3/ ... -numbers-here-2
See also this FTC alert: "Fake Debt Collectors"
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors
(former title: ''Who's Calling? That Debt Collector Could Be a Fake'')
The following will be useful if you have a US domestic collector calling, and will in general help you sniff out the frauds:
official FTC guidance and staff opinions on the FDCPA, PDF copy of the Act
http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm
CFPB Q&A on debt collection practices
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ... bt%20Collection
I got this phone call today. The voicemail was from some asian or indian woman and I only understood about 3 words that she said. I called back and was told the I have to pay this debt from a payday loan or I was going to be arrested at my job in 48 hours. They told me my company name and gave me other information about me that no one should know. I cussed her out like any southern girl would, and was promptly hung up on. Then I called back....30 times, since that is how many times they called me in a 2 hour period. Every time they hung up. So I called from another number and spoke with "Micheal Carter and Christina Hunt" They wanted me to pay over the phone with the. When I started asking questions they hung up and then never answered the phone again. Glad that my mother didnt raise a fool! BBB was informed about it today also.
I am so glade to know that I am not the only one that has had a problum with this person I just recived the same call saying that a company called cash advance was filling charges against me for like 640 dollars but I have never gotten any money of any kind from them I was contacted by cash advance by phone and denied them verbaly the right to pull any money from my account for " aplication prossesing fees" is what they called it . they sai I needed to pay them 30 dollars so that they could send me an app via email and i told them no i dont think so and a few days latter had 30 dollars taken out of my account any ways but no loan in return so now my bank account is frozzen cause of them and they are sapposidly the ones that are filling a lawsuit against me and the told me that on monday the cops would be at my house with an arrest warrent I am thinking about contacting a lawyer and filling a lawsuit against these people. If you are interested in filling with me I will poast an update monday or tuesday on weather or not there is a lawer that will help not only me but every one that is poasting on here about these people if i can find one that will help i will poast the name and number for them.
I went into work and I recieved a message saying to call John Stevens from the Department of Leagal Investigations at the number 415-952-5630 ASAP. I am embarrassed, this person called my place of employment. I work at a daycare and now they think I have legal problems. I need to know how to stop this person from calling my place of employment.
I just received a call from a man with a very heavy accent stating "it was urgent that he speaks to my attorney, that there has been a legal action filed against me." He then wanted me to verify my social security number. I laughed. I am a paralegal and have been one for 20 years, really don't think I am verifying anything over the phone with someone I cannot even understand. He left the number of 415-952-5630 to return the call and speak with the attorney that was handling my case since he could not tell me anything about. I tried back and was cut off after a few rings. Would love for him to call back.