These people are criminal scammers. It sounds like they've got enough personal information on you that it would warrant putting fraud alerts on your credit files with the 3 credit bureaus. No legit process server calls ahead - that is rather counterproductive if they really wanted to catch someone off guard to serve them. I doubt that they are going to show up at your house - they don't actually have any papers for you to sign. If you truly feel threatened by this I'd call your local police and describe the situation to them. You have rights under the FDCPA. If you can get an address for these criminals you should send them a certified-mail debt validation demand. It doesn't sound like they would be able to validate anything. Report them to the FCC. Your complaint probably won't be the first they've received on these criminals.
I received several calls from this number on my telephone at work. The messages were from an "officer" Jeff Hall and demanded me to return his call to give a statement concering several bad checks that I had passed. He also said that the case was going to be procecuted in the Monroe County Court. He also called my Supervisor and told him that he was from the "Erie Police" asked that I call him immediately. I did a search of the area code just to see where he was located and luckly stumbled upon this site and realized that this guy probably wasn't a police officer as he had claimed. I returned his call and he said "What's going on with these checks, Boss?" (Really?) I said that I didn't know what he was talking about. I asked who they were written to and he said that it was to a payday lender. I asked which one and he said he didn't know. The disturbing part was that he he had my name, drivers license number, and social security number. He said that they wanted to prosecute me through the county court where I live and I told him to let them. After he said this, I realized (if I'm not mistaken) that a criminal investigation would take place in the same jurisdiction that it would be prosecuted in. After I told him to let them prosecute me, he told me there would be some type of law enforcement to see me and that I needed to have two forms of ID on me. And then he told me "good luck."
Consumer Alert: Attorney General warns Kansans of debt collection scam
January 29, 2010 -- Attorney General Steve Six is cautioning Kansas consumers about telephone calls from apparent fake debt collectors who are impersonating law enforcement officers in an effort to extort money from consumers. Consumers are warned to not submit payments to these fraudulent debt collectors.
When calling, the scammers most often state they are attempting to collect a debt related to an internet payday loan obtained by the consumer, but which the consumer never repaid. Consumers state they have never obtained such a loan or paid off the loan years ago. The scam artists have most recently identified themselves as ACS, National Affidavit Processing Department and United Financial Crime Division, but may use additional phony names. It appears the phone numbers used by the scammers are “spoofed” numbers, so that the number appearing on a consumer’s caller ID is not the actual number of where the call originated. It appears the calls in question may be originating from outside the United States.
When questioned, the individual calling refuses to disclose the full name or address of the collection agency they claim to represent. These scammers have been able to provide consumers with identifying information, such as the consumer’s social security number, home address, e-mail address, names of family members and the consumer’s computer IP address. Since the callers are able to provide valid personal information, consumers may become confused and believe they are being contacted in regard to a legitimate debt.
If the initial debt collection scam is unsuccessful, consumers have been re-contacted months later with the scammers posing as law enforcement officers or officers of the court. Typically, the consumer is threatened with arrest for fraud or some other fictitious crime unless the consumer agrees to immediately wire money via Western Union. The fictitious officers strive to frighten and confuse consumers into compliance by using legal sounding terms such as “We’re filing an affidavit against you” or by stating a lawsuit has been or is in the process of being filed against the consumer.
A hallmark of each scam has been calling consumers repeatedly at their place of employment. This scam hit home when an employee of the Kansas Attorney General’s Office was repeatedly called both on her cell phone and at work. Despite the employee’s repeated verbal disputes, the caller refused to provide any identifying information to allow her to send a written dispute. The scammer also continued to call her numerous times a day regarding a payday loan she denied obtaining. Two months later, she was again contacted by telephone by an individual identifying himself as an “officer”.
“I denied owing the debt and refused to pay without being provided validation of the debt. I was then told, ‘If that’s the case, I will have local law enforcement come to your place of business and drag you out kicking and screaming’,” stated the employee.
“It is important for consumers to know their rights under the law,” Attorney General Six said. “If a consumer is receiving calls from a debt collection company and believe it is a scam, I encourage them to contact our office immediately.”
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), collectors are required to send consumers a written notice within five days of the initial contact. The notification should contain information such as the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed and a statement informing the consumer they have thirty days to contact the debtor in writing to dispute the debt or request validation of the debt. In addition, legitimate debt collectors are prohibited by the FDCPA from making false or misleading representations, such as the consumer has committed a crime, implying nonpayment will result in the consumer’s arrest, or using the threat of violence.
More information is available on the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf.
To register a complaint with the Kansas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, call 1(800) 432-2310 or visit www.ksag.org.
I just received the same message 2 days ago. I didn't believe this guy he sounded like such a scam but I was actually served today! How can it possibly be that fast??
Has anyone else been served? What do I do now?
I know I can't go to jail but now I'm going to have to pay attorneys and court fees and all that stuff. I wish I just would have settled out of court, this is a nightmare... : ( ... can anyone help me?
this guy said that someone had me on their list to be a back up for them in court I said whatever I do not know who you are talking bout and I dont want anything to do with it, take me off the list. He then proceeded to ask for the individuals number once again I told him i did not know that person he says are you sure. I hung up.
I recieved a call today from 877-633-2779 asking me for a friend of mine. The man stated that my phone number was given as a good number for contacting my friend. I laughed because my friend does not live in the same state that I do. then he asked me to share his contact information with my friend if he happens to call me, at that point I was given a 716-335-9319 and the name of richard gleason.