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 received a call from these people on 10/18/2012 (foreign accents). Claiming that they were Cash Advance/Johnson and Johnson Legal department. He said his name was Sam Jones. He threatened to send the police to my work to arrest me on 10/19 at 11am and I will be in court on Tues at 11am. These same people called me beginning on Mon 10/15 from another number 917-775-5246 claiming the same thing, his name was John Matthews and his superviser was Steve Jones they wanted me to go to walmart and purchase a green dot pack and put $485 on the card and call them back with the scratched off number. They called again on 10/16 stating the same thing from a number 619-704-8331. 10/18 they called from the above number and when my boyfriend spoke to them to demand documentation, they got beligerant and started calling him a African MF. These folks have been a nightmare, they have my social security number and account number and they are very persistent to get money from you. If anyone gets info on how we can stop this, I am on board. We have to figure out a way to stop these fools. The only good thing is, they can't speak English as well as I could, so you are able to out talk them and they usually hang up but they never stop they just call from another number to harrass you.
They called me at work too. Luckily I answered and told them they had the wrong # - that there was no one with that name here.
I did the same on my cell phone.
They haven't called me since.
Best advice - if you don't already admit that it's you - just turn your personal voicemail off if you have one and tell them that they have the wrong #.
I just received 6 calls today from some foreign lady and wanted to speak with my attorney. She said a case has been filed against my social securty number. She said to call Michael Carter immediately at 415-952-5630. I tried several times to call and it sounds like a fax machine. This people are definately scammers don't fall for it!!! She threatened me too
I again started with calls to my work about a payday loan I never asked for. This has been going on for over a year. I have filed a complaints with several differant agencies. I guess I will have to update the records and add this number to my files. Also, everyone should file Identiy Theft with the Credit Bureaus and even with the Social Security Office. Don't agree to send them any money!!!
I keep getting these calls from Mr.Murphy he tells me that I have to have my lawyer call immediately or there will be cops coming to arrest me.He tells me that they are getting me on fraud!!! He sounds like he is from India as he surely can't say my name correct. I have changed all my bank info also. It is really getting annoying him calling constantly. Sometimes he is calling 3 and 4 times a day. Seems like there could be some type of legal action we can put against these people.