This is a version of the you-have-committed-a-crime extortion scam and you are being...
1. summoned/investigated/charged/whatever with fraud/embezzlement/passing_bad_checks/whatever or
2. served with a court_summons/arrest_warrant/bench_warrant/whatever or
3. located in preparation to_being_served/for_a_lawsuit/to_be_arrested/whatever or
4. sued for cable TV usage that you've been stealing for years or
5. whatever stupid crap reasons they will think up next.
And you have to...
1. call back with your case number or
2. confirm your address/birthdate/SSN/whatever so you can be served or your papers processed or
3. pay $895 now to avoid paying $5,000 in court or
4. whatever stupid crap reasons they will think up next.
Beware extortion scams come in many flavors and they constantly evolve to stay one step ahead of the law.
The FBI warns about payday loan extortion scams here http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/paydayloanscam_120710
The BBB has issued several alerts on this scam, just google "bbb.org alert phony debt collector"
Never do what they tell you to do but report them to the Internet Crime Complaint Center http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx , the Federal Communications Commission http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm , the Federal Trade Commission https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ and your state AG, as appropriate.
A good friend of mine (whom I know to be very scrupulous about legitimate debts) was on the phone when I arrived at his house, and he was obviously in "Panic Mode", talking to someone (later they called their firm "Legal Processing Solutions") who was demanding IMMEDIATE payment arrangements be made to clear a ~$1000 debt to "Payday Loans & More", or be sued in court. They kept insisting that this "debt" was incurred in Jan. 2011, a year ago, and had his previous bank acct. #, asked for the FIRST 5 Digits of his SS# (sounds strange to me...), refused to give any details on the "loan", and demanded immediate payment.
My friend is disabled, and has been unemployed and suffering other "personal" setbacks in the last couple of years, and this was about to push him over the edge.
I advised him to call the BBB and promised to look up the phone # when I got home.
The BBB said it was a "scam" as soon as he gave the details, and I found this site when I Googled the #!!!
He probably would have "given it all up" if these sources of info weren't available. BRAVO!!!
I got the same call from a Shirley Sutton from Legal Processing Solutions and she gave me the same 704 number to call along with a case # to refer to. They said that I was going to be served with a law suit. I called the number and talked to some collection agency sounding dude and he said that I owed $1000 from Orchard Bank credit card account that was opened in 2007 and that I was going to be sued If I didn't make arrangements to pay the debt. While we were talking on the phone we got disconnected and I was eager to find out more details. These [***] called my Dad in Houston and said that I was involved in a "Domestic Dispute" I just called the number back and I have been on hold for 10 minutes. Call there bluff.
We have to shut these [***] down ASAP!!!!
I just got the same exact call from Cindy Williams and it toally freaked me out at work. I may change my cell number after that. What does legal action have to do with restraining orders, made no sense. They used my married name which I have not had for two years now. I did call and was left on hold for so long I hung up and decided to google the number, Scary stuff, they answer Legal Solutions.
Thank you everyone for the info, I can breathe now.
Wow.... I just received a call from these ppl today first stating it was for a restraing order. When i called them back, they said were going to freeze my accounts if i didnt pay 1000 dollars to them and i had 24 to 48 hours to respond. Stating it was for a payday loan. Ive never ever taken out a payday loan. So I pulled up the number online and here we are. thanks everyone for the info. I was crazed about this.