A phone call, email or text message from a supposed debt collector is not legally sufficient evidence of debt.
Also, ordinary debt is NOT a felony!
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) includes statements such as this:
* Every collector must send you a written “validation notice” telling you how much money you owe within five days after they first contact you. This notice also must include the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money, and how to proceed if you don’t think you owe the money. ["Written" means snailmailed ... not emailed or texted]
Therefore, if that caller wants you to pay immediately, before you get the written validation notice via snailmail, or if the caller wants payment via green dot, Western Union, or other untraceable means, then the call is definitely not legitimate.
IF you wish to communicate with the supposed collector / creditor, visit the following page, for example "Action Letters" to snailmail:
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/blog/debtcollection/
If you KNOW you owe no money, or believe the call was from a fake debt collector, please take the time to read this:
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors
I have received about 6 calls from this number, each from a Marilyn Conrad with the Prelitigation department at Ellen B Mediation (she leaves a voicemail), and each stating that she needs to speak with my legal representative or myself by the end of the day, or she will begin to file charges against me. I called back the other day to see what was going on, and I was told that federal charges were being filed against me for a payday loan I took from Chase, and failed to pay back. I asked to see documentation about this case as I have never taken out a pay day loan, so I needed to see if my identity had been stollen, or what exactly was going on. They could not send me documentation because the file was sealed.
After being told that I needed to hire an attorney and have them contact them by end of the business day, I got a little aggrivated and told them that I would not be hiring an attorney until I had seen the documentation in the file that they had on me. I let them know that by the end of business, they could email me a copy of the file, being sure to include the collection agency that supposedly was trying to collect this past debt for the payday loan, including their contact information, as well as the company name and contact information for the original lender (which I already knew they had said it was JP Morgan Chase), and that all of this sounded like a scam. I told him if he could not email it, he could mail it to me. He hung up on me without getting my email or address.
I then called JP Morgan Chase, and according to their customer service line, they do not even offer payday loans, they have been receiving several phone calls regarding similar threats that others have received, and just encouraged me to watch all of my financial accounts with all institutions, and keep an eye on my credit report. I pulled my credit report, and everything is fine there, there is no mention of a payday loan.
This is some sort of a scam. I am not sure what they are after. The calls have not stopped though, I just simply am not answering them. I have also been told that if they truly were pressing any type of charges against me, they would have to present me with paperwork, and that it is usually hand delivered by a courier because they want a signature stating that you received it.
I just received a call saying there were two felonies against me one for bank wire fraud and one for theft by deception for a payday loan from netloan not sure what that is but loan for 1000 dollars and the amount to avoid being arrested is 1602.12
SCAM SCAM SCAM
I called the local police the attorney general and they all LAUGHED about this saying it was a SCAM
original phone call came from 913-701-3456
same message as listed above about ELLEN B MEDIATION the reps "name" was MISS PHILLIP ext 301
For Extortion Scam Operations, File reports with the FBI, your state attorney general and Department Of Justice,CFB,FTC & FCC..
http://www.nw3c.org/
http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
http://www.fbi.gov/
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1
https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form1088.action
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
http://www.fraud.org/
http://www.stopfraud.gov/report.html
Tip off FBI about this extortion attempt by filing form at: stips.fbi.gov/
Also see here:
http://800notes.com/arts/I2neMkbUAAo/where-to-report-phone-crime
Also read up on the laws and your rights:
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
Washington, D.C.
December 07, 2010 FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691
— filed under: Press Release
The Internet Crime Complaint Center has received many complaints from victims of payday loan telephone collection scams. Callers claim the victim is delinquent in a payday loan and must repay the loan to avoid legal consequences. The callers purport to be representatives of the FBI, Federal Legislative Department, various law firms, or other legitimate-sounding agencies. They claim to be collecting debts for companies such as United Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Net, and other Internet check-cashing services.
According to complaints received from the public, the callers have accurate data about victims, including Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, employer information, bank account numbers, and the names and telephone numbers of relatives and friends. How the fraudsters obtained the personal information varies, but in some cases victims have reported they completed online applications for other loans or credit cards before the calls started.
The fraudsters relentlessly call the victim’s home, cell phone, and place of employment. They refuse to provide any details about the alleged payday loans and become abusive when questioned. The callers have threatened victims with legal actions, arrests, and, in some cases, physical violence if they do not pay. In many cases, the callers harass victims’ relatives, friends, and employers.