I received the same messages as the comments above from first a robocaller. The robocaller left a threatening message on my voice mail stating about i had 2 counts of fraud charges attached to my name and ss# and that charges would be filed in my county if i dont respond to the call within 48 hours.
A few days later a very intimidating man contacted a family member looking to speak with me and basically saying the same speil as the robocall left on my v-mail. This time it was a rude man leaving a message on my family members cell phone. This is really not cool!! i ran my credit report to make sure no one was using my information illegally and nothing came up. I contacted my local police department and they advised me to never give money over the phone, if this is legit, then you will be served with papers and able to respond accordingly.
These people deserve to live a very awful life for scarying innocent people. I dont know how to make the calls stop without changing my phone numbers.
Descriptions in this thread are of extortion dressed as debt collection. Consumer debts in America, including payday loans, are a *CIVIL* matter, not criminal! Debt collectors do not typically send their claims straight to a judge, and they don't take your ransom money to broker quick deals with so-called "process servers". Lawful debt collection is a process, not an ambush; you are due a chance at each stage to raise a dispute. The agents' horrid threats are empty and their conduct is illegal. Do not reward lawbreakers with your money. Challenge them always, sue them if you can.
FTC and CFPB material on US federal collection law:
http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ... debt-collection
The federal Do-Not-Call registry exists to help enforce the Telemarketing Sales Rule. Please note the operative term ''marketing''. A debt collector -- even the extortionist kind -- is not a sales person and is therefore not covered. Here are the DNC service terms you were supposed to review at registration time:
National Do Not Call Registry Q&A
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0108-national-do-not-call-registry
FTC and CFPB material on US federal collection law which *does* apply:
http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ... debt-collection
Cold calling someone and claiming there are "charges" against that person is the unmistakable signature of a debt scammer. Ignore the the calls and block them. Do not return the calls.
Just because a voice on the telephone claims you owe a debt does not mean you owe it
If a voice on the telephone claims you owe a debt:
1. Demand the person give you his or her name, company name, and address
2. Demand a debt validation letter by US mail. E-mail no good.
3. Do not pay the collection agent or anyone else a DIME until the debt is validated.
Of course they won’t do this, no scammer ever will, so simply block their calls and ignore them.
If they continue to bother you, and you know you do not owe any money, tell them that you know this is a debt scam and that you are making a complaint to the police for extortion. Once you get a copy of the police report and they call you again , just read out the file number and the name of the PD or Sheriff’s office involved. Tell them you’ll be glad to send a copy to them at whatever address the jack***es are working out of now. If you can find them.