I just got a phone call from this number. Automatic message left on my voicemail "this is a law firm. Call us back at 917-517-6205, give reference number so and so"
Concerned, I called back. Got a lady's voicemail. Left her a message--no response.
Called back the next day--now it's a man's voice on the voicemail, saying he is from David Wightman's law office attempting to collect a debt, please leave a message at the tone.
I google the number, find nothing.
Then I google David Wightman. Apparently, they have been operating under a different phone number for some time now:
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-408-868-4444
If anyone asks you to pay any sort of bill, they should be able to mail or fax you an official explanation and notice. Don't give any of your credit card info over the phone.
Just got a call from this number on my cell, did not recognize hence I did not pick up. The voicemail kicked in. Checked VM no messages left... Whomever it was did not need to reach me with anything that would matter. If it was something of any importance, it would have left a message.
My advice to everyone would be: if you do not recognize the number NEVER pick up. If it's someone who needs to reach you for any reason, then they WILL leave a message... friends and family will do that for sure... especially if calling from the county jail and need to be bailed out or if there is an emergency and called from a phone you may not recognize. Should that be the case either call back right away or go meet them to provide whatever help they may need.
If it's someone you do not know who is trying to get back to you, whether for work or leisure, they WILL leave a message.
If it's an automated message about a package delivery or cable company appointment reminder/confirmation, the VM will kick in and you will usually get most of the message with info and instructions... you can call back the delivery service or cable company support numbers to make related inquiries about a package or appointment if you need to.
If it's someone you do not know and they are trying to scam/sell, you definitely do not need to pickup. If they do leave a message:
1) DO NOT CALL BACK the number you received the call from,
2) Look up the company on the web/yellow pages Better Business Bureau, etc.
3) Do a web search to see if they are any legit or if it's a made up company with existing complaints from netizens reporting that the company is a fake one and is behind "this" or "that" scam attempt.
4) If it's legit then find contacts of the company. They are usually different phone numbers and are not even aware that a scam involving their company name is being attempted
5) To call back here are your options:
a. If you have a number not connected to you like a google voice number for instance just to be on the safe side, call the legit company number from your GV number.
b. If you do not have GV nor want to deal on knowing how to get one, then call from a phone line at the company you work for... ideally a conference room line or better the mailroom one ;)
c. if you are self employed or do not work at a company where you have access to a phone line as just described, then simply use a public phone or a public calling center
d. if you have no public phones or calling centers around... do you live on the moon?! LOL! No worries, you may still have a chance to call back if you want to find out if the company that the "suspicious number" from which you received a call has any real messages for you (usually they do not). Buy a calling card, those where you need to call a 1-800 number to get calling credit to call out. That should hide your number from the receiving end so whether they are or not behind the scam, they won't be able to reach you.
Generally the only useful thing coming out of calling back the real number of a company that a suspicious call claims to be calling you from, it will be that you will give a chance to the legit people at that company to do some investigation and inquiries in order to prevent that their company reputation be
ruined by being associated with scam attempts. They may go as far as warning about scams involving their company name and will usually put it on their website especially if they are a small company. Big ones usually do not care since that won't hurt them as they already have large clientele and fat wallets... in which case you could avoid the hassle of even calling back... a large company trying to reach with important info would leave a message and contact info for a call back that are the same of that you will find online, therefore you could safely assume that the call you received is a scam attempt of some kind ;) If you still want to call back you can follow the suggestions above at point #5.
I hope that now those in the same shoes that the fellow netizen Anna found herself in will have a clear idea of what their options are ;)