Good job reporting this! If/when you do speak w an officer could you please post again to let us know what they said? I'd be very interested to hear, but if you'd rather not share I could understand that, thanks either way!
Debt such as this, even caused by an insufficient funds withdrawal attempt is mere debt and is civil and not criminal. The fact that they claimed it was criminal is a violation of Federal law, specifically the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. In addition, you do not have to prove innocence, they would have to prove guilt. They could sue you in court to collect but again, the burden is on them to prove you owe the debt and that they, if not representing the original creditor, have the legal right to collect. Since you claim you did not take out a payday loan in the past two years, this seems very much like an extortion attempt based upon old partial information obtained somewhere. When you talk to the police, see if you can report it as an extortion attempt. You should also obtain a copy of your credit report and see if their are any old debts listed there. If they call again, demand a debt validation notice sent via US Mail to your current address, do not accept any other form of validation.
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.
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To File complaints FDCPA/TCPA violations:
Your State Attorney General
Their State Attorney general
www.naag.org (you can find your state AG at this link).
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
http://www.rcfp.org/reporters-recording-guide/state-state-guide
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
After I talked to the officer and explained everything, she literally laughed. She said that if I had legal issues I would know. She said if this company calls again, to tell them to call my police dept because I've already reported the number to them. I said but they had my previous address and my work email address and she said those things are very easily obtained pretty much anywhere.
My experience was the same as reported above regarding the message left on my cell phone from Ms Long of Allen and Burke. I Googled Allen and Burke from Warsaw, MO and got a big fat zero. I called back and was instructed to leave a message with my name and number. Yeah, right. BTW, in the message they left on my cell, they did not address me by name. That was a big red flag.