Thank you so much for the info, B-Edwards. They listed an address that my mom never lived at. She hasn't banked with Wells Fargo for 20 years and as to how they got the cell phone, she barely had this number for 3 years.
This number made my elderly mother burst into tears. They claimed they're the Police and are charging her $24,000 for a car that had been paid off 15 years ago. My mom didn't know what to do so I did some searching and that number doesn't register as a Police phone number (as far as I can tell). Then they tried to bargain with her, if she gave them just $20,000, they would drop the charge.
As soon as she got off the phone, (she has a cell phone which is unlisted, how they found that out, I don't know). I asked her what the charges were for, she was crying so much, she couldn't tell me. Then they left a VM stating that they were going to freeze her bank account until they get the money. Funny thing is, as I was listening, they said that her bank was Wells Fargo (which it's not anymore). She didn't give them any personal information. Also, we live in Arizona. So, I was wondering why a Police Officer would be calling an Arizona-based cell phone if they're in Georgia?
You are not being called by the police!
These are phony debt scammers and they are crooks. They want to scare and harass their victims into paying debts that do not exist. Here is what you need to know right away.
There is NO forgotten debt.
There is NO Warrant for her arrest.
No accounts have been frozen.
Remember, the police are not in the Debt Collection Business. They do not call to collect on automobile loans, mortgages or any other private debt. Also, a phone call is not a legal notice of a debt. I am attaching a link to some info that will give you some idea of what is going on.
It is save and legal to ignore the calls and block the number. Do NOT call back. They will only threaten and lie to your mom and to you. The worst think you can do is provide proof a loan was paid. They know it was paid. They are crooks and if they think they can scare even $100 out of you, they will keep calling.
Links follow. If you have more questions, you can post back here.
http://800notes.com/arts/harassing-calls-from ... ou-need-to-know
http://800notes.com/arts/16-ways-you-can-be-phone-scammed
ps - Getting a cell phone number or other personal info is not hard for criminals. That is a separate issue. Unlisted does not mean a number is not for sale, or can't be found. If they mentioned a Wells Fargo account, makes me wonder if Wells Fargo might have your mom's cell phone number. Wells Fargo uses cell and smart phone numbers as a way to send "alerts" to their clients.
pps - I have not yet found a name associated with this number, it is apt to be a spoofed (Faked) number. I am thinking the call is from outside the USA, since even sleezy debt collectors do not pretend to the the police. That is the sort of thing that real police will take time to look into. If in Georgia, that get ugly real fast.
Thank you so much for the info, B-Edwards. They listed an address that my mom never lived at. She hasn't banked with Wells Fargo for 20 years and as to how they got the cell phone, she barely had this number for 3 years.
Glad you checked back in time to put an end to this scam. Instead of you and mom having a bad weekend, some little creepy crook will take a loss. Good. And thank you for letting us know, good to get feedback!
I will keep an eye on this thread and see if more reports are made, if anyone got a even a fake name. The whole scam feels like it is someone who does not understand even basic laws and customs in the US.
If you check back here and someone writes a post to tell you that they ignored the call and was sent to jail, that will be the scammer trying to scare you again. Crooks do not like this site very much.
As to your mom's phone; cell phone carriers get hacked, they don't want to make a big deal about it, but it happens. Any place your mom might have called on her cell is a possible leak. Your information is everywhere, to be sold or stolen.
If you call that number, the robo-greeter IDs them as "Elite Services". The person on the line IDs herself as some kind of "investigator". They also say to call back and leave a message and state they are on the Eastern Time Zone. Person had US accent. I don't think this scam came from overseas. I left a message that will most likely upset them when they play it back.
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Most likely the Elite Services/Valentine Legal Mediation/Advanced Cash, Premier Process Services scam
Call from a variety of numbers, basically attempt to scare you by telling you that you will be arrested if you do not pay them. Basically extortion. Ignore and block the calls.
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Just because someone on the phone calling you says you owe a debt does not mean you actually 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 ignore them and block their calls.
If they are bothering you, report them:
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0149-debt-collection (Threatening civil proceedings with no intent to follow through, or threatening criminal process in order to collect a civil debt is a violation of the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.) The same goes for endless telephone harassment
Note that the US Supreme Court in the Case of HENSON ET AL. v. SANTANDER CONSUMER USA INC., has recently ruled that the provisions of the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act do not apply if the creditor owns the debt in question. As a practical matter this probably won't effect the kinds of scam debt collectors who often show up on 800notes. The scam collectors don't give you any information about themselves so it is impossible to know whether or not they in fact "own" the debt in question. Most do not send debt validation letters and many often say they are collecting for someone else. So, make the complaint anyway if they are bothering you. Let the FTC sort it out.
Also contact your local attorney general
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.
You'll probably have to yell at them and talk over them.
You have to get tuff with these people because, being akin to thugs, brute force is (metaphorically speaking). the only thing they understand.