It's a scam! Same thing happened to me. they keep calling my mom, who I haven't lived with for 20 years, saying they need to get ahold of me to give me my case number! LOL!
They left a message stating that they tried to deliver legal documents and had failed. Called back (just in case it was something legit) and some random guy answered saying that the office was closed and that it was Howard and Associates out of Irvine, CA.
This happened to me yesterday. They called stating they were going to send a process server. This happened two weeks ago from a place Affinity Solutions J.D Malone Associates indicating they had an outstanding check and they were going to file criminal charges. However, this place was from NY. Now I am getting a similar call from Irvine CA. I filed complaints and provided all telephone numbers that are coming in these organizations. It's a phishing scam...don't give out any information or credit card account information.
I also received a call today from the same people. They claimed that I also still owed on a bill. It was the name a valid company I defaulted on back in 2006, however I remember getting a settlement from the company. The claim my $420 default is now $3,500 plus lawyer fees, which seems crazy. I told him I think I paid a settlement already, and he stated that even if I have proof that wont matter and it probably was fraud. The also stated they were from Howard & Associates, in California, and that I needed to deal with this immediately or I would be sued. I tried to find a website or information about this company on the internet to no success, and the phone number does not seem to be a legitimately listed business number. It looks like it may be a cell phone. Also, they said payments cannot be made over the phone they will fax you the information.
Check the statute of limitation for your location where the original debt was incurred.
http://www.creditinfocenter.com/rebuild/statuteLimitations.shtml
If the time period has lapsed, they can not successfully sue you.
By claiming they can, if the can not, they have violated federal law:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Debt_Collection_Practices_Act
Using Wiki link due to federal shut down.
I also received a similar call, saying they were trying to deliver a summons to my old address. When I asked them to send it to my current one, they told me it was too late for that, and I needed to communicate through fax. So I just ignored their calls from there. Stopped calling after about 2 weeks.