Just got a call from this famous fraudulent "John Brooks", who could hardly put together a sentence and yet claimed his was a lawyer. Said that legal action has been filed against me for check fraud to some company called Avalon. Said they'd sent me a legal notice to an address I had 6 years ago. Interestingly enough he had my legit email address. Asked him to resend the notification, said I'd been notified and there was nothing I can do. Told him this is total fraud and I was not liable for anything and was not going to do anything.
They are calling me saying I owe $3000 and need my debit card number and threaten me with a law suit, frezing my wages ect. Wouldn't even tell what company they were from.
This is a common ploy by criminals masquerading as debt collectors who are 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, friends, or relatives repeatedly in an attempt to shame you into paying. They also use the “process server” ruse who calls and claims he is going to serve you, but then says you could avoid it by calling another number. Please note that process servers do not ever call ahead. That way you can’t dodge them.
Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) postmarked 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://800notes.com/faq/attorney-general
Got that call today. threatened to have my drivers license suspended for 6 months, freeze my checking account on and on. When I challenged him he got rude and ugly. Said they had sent me something in the mail and I refused to respond. I asked his name so I could have my attorney contact him. He said he was sending it to county and I would be served at my place of work. I just said I will see you in court then.