They also called me today i've already contacted a lawyer in the family about this. Such a shame they try to scare people. A lawsuite needs to be filed against them if they can be found.
I've also gotten these calls. They don't always leave messages, however, until they get desperate to hear from you and want to try some intimidation tactics. Anyway, I got a phone message several weeks ago with no person identifying himself but both the number I was told to call and the caller ID identified the call as coming from Goldman Law firm. I recently got another phone message from some Goldman Law rep, a Mr. McKannon or something like that, trying to sound very official or like a lawyer or investigator, stating he was from the a fraud department and I better call within 7 days, implying trouble if I didn't, and that I was now officially notified....although of what, I have no idea. However, not only did he violate consumer law in his communication and the caller ID indicated that the call came from a suspicious "not available" number this time rather than Goldman Law, I highly doubt this is any legitimate lawyer or law firm and they should be reported for how they are harassing consumers via their phones rather than mailing out official correspondence and letting people know what the issue is and where they are physically located. Furthermore, I have tried to research them for more info but unlike reputable agencies have not been able to find anything and will not call them to give them any more info so they can just verify my number and harass me further.
Got two calls on the Monday and Tuesday leading up to Thanksgiving from 770 604 1919, stating "Criminal Intent charges have been filed against you in court. You have 7 days to respond..." Well notice of criminal charges from a court always come in the mail. It's called a summons to appear. I presume they are trying to get ahold of some old pensioner who can be scared into giving out personal information. I've had similar calls from debt collectors looking for another person with my last name. A common last name and a land-line phone are a necessary curse.
This is a common ploy by criminals attempting to extort money from people by scaring you into believing that you will be criminally charged, go to jail, lose your driver’s license, have wages garnished, be sued, and a variety of other variations on this, all for an alleged or nonexistent debt. One of the tricks they use is to call your work place repeatedly in an attempt to shame you into paying. They also use the “process server” who calls and claims he is going to serve you, but then says you could avoid it by calling another number.
Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) within 5 days of their first contact that contains their name, physical address, the creditor’s name, and the amount of the alleged debt. It also must contains “mini-Miranda” telling you that it is an attempt to collect a debt and that all information will be used for those purposes. The one other important thing that this letter must also have in it is that you have a right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receipt of the letter and if you do so, all collection activity must be stopped until the debt is verified.
Read up on your rights here, get template letters to send and also make a complaint at this government site: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/
Also file a complaint with your State Attorney General's office.
List of State AG’s offices: http://consumerfraudreporting.org/stateattorneygenerallist.php