This is a criminal extortion scam operating out of India. They are making the calls utilizing VOIP and the names of legitimate firms to make it appear the calls are originating from within the US. There is NO "company" or "debt" and you will NOT be arrested. They are harvesting and/or buying consumers' personal identifying information from unscrupulous websites like the one you may have filled out an application with, and you need to do whatever you can to protect yourself. This includes: Notifying the FTC: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/, placing fraud alerts with all three credit bureaus, notifying your bank and employer and letting these criminals know you are aware they are attempting to extort money for a non-existent debt and have alerted the authorities.
ABC News released an investigative report on this scam in June. The FTC has indicted one of its ringleaders for criminal fraud:
I started receiving harassing and threatening phone calls from this bill collector who calls himself Mark Davis. Calling from / Each time he called I told him that I am not the person he is asking for. Some days he called my line repeatedly for 20 or so times. Today he called repeatedly for hours. I told him that this was a business line and he had the wrong number to stop calling. My wife got on the phone and told him to stop. He just called more. I called they Sheriff's office and asked to report the problem.
In the mean time, I spoke to one of my workers and he told us that the same guy is calling him telling him he owes him money. He has been getting calls in the middle of the night and all hours.
The officer came out and he even answered the phone told the guy to stop calling. Immediately after the officer spoke to him the caller started calling from many different numbers.
After the Officer left, the caller left a message threatening that he's going call me until we no longer have a business.
I called my phone company to block the number.but he is calling from many numbers.
ere is some advise for anyone receiving phone calls demanding money:
DON"T ANSWER THE PHONE!
If you have caller ID and you don't recognize the number, don't answer it,and if you don't have caller ID get an answering machine and if someone is threatening you if you don't call them back and pay up,
DON"T CALL THEM BACK!
Any money you may owe will be a legitimate letter in the mail.If you do answer the phone;
DON"T EVER GIVE ANYONE YOUR INFORMATION OVER THE PHONE! NO BANK NUMBERS, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR CREDIT CARD NUMBERS. These scammers are never going to give up unless we get smart and stop giving them the what they want. If you get a call like this inform your family,friends and your boss that you are being scammed so if these people do call one of them, especially your boss,they will not be caught off guard.If they threaten you with court action, tell them "I'll see you in court" They won't show up.By law you must be served in PERSON for any court proceedings.Lets stop being victims people. Spread the word. Everyone is at risk to scammers.All debt is regulated by Federal Law. Look it up for you state.
ust got a call from someone claiming they are Phillip Arthur with the law offices of Russell miller. He said I would be arrested on Tuesday if I did not go get a preload card and pay them 500 dollars. Said it was illegal in california to take out a payday loan. I was crying and told him I had to call to borrow the money. He said I couldn't disconnect from him but let me for 15 min. I called the sherrifs department and they said it was not illegal and to NOT give these people money and to an alert on my credit report. These guys are scammers and the police department will not come arrest you for this! Be aware. There number is 9163043124 or 9166429390. They say they work for federal legislation and the Los Angeles superior court. Yeah on a Saturday. Idiots! They are of middle eastern decent. Don't give them money! Call FTC and sherrifs department
http://800notes.com/arts/Jb8EW-eDhQA/harassin ... ou-need-to-know
See Residents post here also:
http://800notes.com/forum/ta-34af6a034ba34b6/unending-collection-calls
Templates of Letters:
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-319-242-7350
Here are the top 11 actions prohibited by the The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:
Misrepresent Him or Herself
A debt collector may not misrepresent himself as an attorney or law enforcement officer.
Use the Telephone to Annoy or Harass
A collection agent may not cause a telephone to ring or engage any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with an intent to annoy, abuse, or harass anyone at the called number.
Threaten Arrest or Lawsuit
A collection agent may not threaten a consumer with arrest. It may not threaten legal action that is either not permitted or not actually contemplated. In other words, a the threat of a lawsuit may be an empty one.
Use Abusive or Threatening Language
A debt collector may no use abusive or profane language in the course of communication related to the debt.
Publish a Bad Debt List
Publishing the consumer’s name or address on a "bad debt" list is prohibited.
Contact By Embarrassing Media
A debt collector may not communicate with a consumer by post card. It may not use any language or symbol, other than the debt collector’s address, on any envelope when communicating with a consumer by use of the mails or by telegram. A debt collector may use its business name if such name does not indicate it is in the debt collection business.
Contact a Consumer at Work
A collection agent may not communicate with consumers at their place of employment after being told this is unacceptable or prohibited by the employer.
Seek Unjustifiable Amounts
A debt collector may not demand any amounts not permitted under an applicable contract or as provided under law.
Contact a Consumer Represented by an Attorney
A collection agent may not contact a consumer after it learns the consumer is represented by a lawyer.
Communicate With a Consumer After Receiving a Validation Request
If a consumer sends a written §1692g response within 30 days, the collection agent may not communicate with the consumer until it mails the consumer the requested verification of original creditor's name and address.
Communicate With Third Parties
A debt collector may not reveal or discuss the nature of a consumer’s debts with third parties other than the consumer’s spouse or attorney. A collection agent may contact neighbors or co-workers only to obtain location information. It may contact a third party again if it has reason to believe the information the party provided previously is false.
Bills.com FDCPA FAQ
Below are questions Bills.com readers ask frequently:
Can a Collection Agent Call My Cell Phone?
Yes. However, if you tell the debt collector it may not use that number because it is a cell phone, it may not contact you again at that number.
I Keep Receiving Dozens of Calls From Collection Agents. Is That Legal?
No. Unscrupulous collection agents will use "block parties" or "office parties" where they contact a consumer, multiple neighbors, or co-workers telling them they need to reach the consumer on an urgent matter. This is not permitted under the FDCPA.
A Collector Says I Will Be Arrested if I Do Not Pay
This was a true statement before the US Civil War, but has not been true since. People may be arrested if an aggressive judge files a bench warrant for a person who does not appear at a hearing relating to a lawsuit regarding a debt. However, in that case, the offense is the failure to respond to a court order, and not the existence of the debt. As stated above, it is illegal under the FDCPA to threaten a consumer with arrest if the consumer does not pay the debt.