What to Do When Fake Debt Collection Scammers Call
I got a phone call message which said someone would be by my home and place of employment to give me a summons. That kinda startled me. Then later I called the number back and spoke with someone. They said I had this old debt, I told them that I never had such a card. They then told me that I should be getting served a summons and would need to fill out my court documents. But, if that happen yet I could settle over the phone for .50 on the dollar.
They didn't know who was supposed to serve me (sheriff) and didn't even know where I lived. They just rattled off addresses.
They kept threatening that the court date would be set as soon as the guy showed up at my house.
In haste I made a payment in full (reduced amount of course) to settle and not go to court!
Thinking back, they totally got me! I totally drew a blank on the SOL.
What tricked me the most was they said I, or someone, had made payments for the last 10 years... Yeah right!
So what do you the best course of action is here? I paid on a credit card and was just going to pay it off (keeping a zero balance is habit now).
Should I cancel the payment? Did I screw up the SOL?
They also emailed me a contract but I haven't read it so haven't signed it.
I was thinking to reply that they need to state they won't take me to court and that they have called off the summons... Basically get them to admit to their illegal bullying threats so I could collect the fines from them.
What do you advise? Thanks.
Was I just scammed by a debt collector? What can I do now?
—TJ
Short answer
Never pay a debt collector who opens with a same day threat, mentions your arrest, calls themselves an investigator, or will not name the company they work for. Those are the marks of a fake. Take notes, file complaints, and speak with a consumer lawyer before you send anyone money.
Key points on this page
- A same day “or else”, such as being sued today or served at work, paired with an offer to stop it if you pay right now, is very likely a scam. Real collectors and process servers just show up.
- Any mention of arrest is a red flag. Unpaid credit cards do not lead to arrest. A bench warrant can only follow a failure to obey a court order, such as missing an asset discovery hearing, and collectors do not call to tell you about that.
- Anyone calling themselves an investigator, or threatening to involve one, is using an intimidation tactic. Properly trained collectors cannot act in a false or misleading way.
- Collectors are required to tell you who they work for and what debt they are calling about. Any hesitation or failure to identify themselves is a huge red flag.
- Scammers get real details from social networks, purchased consumer data, or a hacked collection system, so the debt they name may be one you actually recognize.
- If in doubt: take notes with names, dates and times, capture the caller number, keep any voicemail, file complaints with your state Attorney General and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, talk to an experienced consumer lawyer, and do not set up any payment.
Believe it or not, there are varying degrees of debt collection scams. And it is because of these differences, my feedback to people who interact on this, and other sites I participate on, can change. I wish things were more cut and dry, but because licensed and bonded debt collectors can say and do the darnedest things, even when they are collecting legitimate debts, there are blurred lines. Add to that the fact that fake debt collectors continue to get better at… faking it, things can become less clear.
What to do, and how to go about doing it, when you suspect you are being called by an outright debt collection rip off artist, can be different than when you are dealing with a debt collector crossing the line with their unprofessional actions. I am going to focus on the fakers first.
When Fake Debt Collectors Call You
There has been a rash of fake debt collection scams of late. Ten years ago it was not something I would run into. Nowadays, between my site, and many others that are part of my daily activity and news feed, I see a reference to some fake debt collector on a near daily basis. And some of what I see shows that the scam is getting more sophisticated.
Here are some things to look out for from a debt collection scam phone call.
- The debt collector opens the call with an immediate sense of urgency statement. This would mean saying something with an or else that packs a punch, like; you are going to be sued later today if we cannot get a payment set up right now; there is someone coming to your work to serve you a lawsuit.
Legitimate debt collectors and process servers do not make these threats. They just show up. The fact is, virtually any debt collection lawsuit that someone took the trouble to file, is going to serve you with it before talking word one about payments. That is just how that kind of escalated collection action works. There is such a low probability that a legitimate debt collector will both threaten you with an “or else” set to happen same day (or close to it), while simultaneously suggesting your payment will put a stop to it, that the chance of this being a fake debt collection scam are high.
- A debt collector mentions anything about your arrest.
There are very limited instances where you could be arrested for not paying an unpaid bill. Court fines and fees reach to that level, and so can unpaid child support, but unpaid credit cards and other types of debt do not. An exception could be if you were sued, and there is a legitimate judgment entered in the court. If there was an order from a judge that you did not follow, like appear for an asset discovery hearing, it is possible to have a bench warrant out there. But that would be for failure to comply with the courts order, not for lack of payment on a civil judgment. And debt collectors do not call you up to inform you of that in my experience.
- The debt collector refers to themselves as an investigator, or that they will contact the investigator on your case.
Debt collectors that are trained properly cannot act in a false or misleading manner in an effort to get you to pay. Referring to any investigator is awfully close to suggesting there is law enforcement involved in collecting the debt. This is an intimidation tactic. These kinds of words and phrases are not used by legitimate debt collectors.
- They will not name the collection company they are working for.
Debt collectors are required to inform you of who they work for, and the debt they are contacting you about. Any pause with, or failure to identify themselves clearly and immediately, is a huge red flag.
Debt Collection Scams are Getting Sophisticated
Some debt collection scams are designed for the quick cash. They need to scam as quick as they can using a few phone calls to their mark, or to your family members or work place. How is it that a fake collection scam can get the information they need to really cause you stress and pressure you to pay them something?
- They can learn about you, your family, friends and work place through social networks.
- Scam debt collectors with a higher level of sophistication can potentially purchase data about you directly from the credit reporting bureaus, or through a data aggregator or software company, just like legitimate debt collectors do today.
- A legitimate debt collector may have had your debt at one time. Perhaps they did not know their CMS or data management system was hacked, or files copied and sold to someone with a fake collection scam going.
In fact, the debt a scam collector may say you owe is something that could still show on your credit reports, or that once was on them. That is why you may recall the debt in the first place, and be susceptible to fork over some money to stop a fake lawsuit, arrest, or potential embarrassment.
Websites are now being published by some of the fake debt collection scams. When someone shares the name of the supposed collection scam company, I usually see what I can find online about them. I rarely see any company web presence. But more recently I am seeing some decently designed, but very basic websites with the scam company name, or something close to it as the URL. Legitimate debt collectors in this day and age have larger, more well put together web sites, and a strong web presence in general. Fake collectors websites that I have seen tend to have a home, about, and maybe one or two additional pages. The pages are skinny on any details and have no industry badging that you find on legitimate collection company sites.
When the Real Thing Looks Like a Fake
I was not kidding about some of the ways licensed and bonded debt collection agencies can be found to step over clear lines of consumer protection laws. It is not hard to understand why they do it. A real debt collector can have a real hard time getting paid when people are struggling to pay today’s bills, let alone pay for the past.
None of that excuses bad collection behavior, and it sure does not help public perception of debt collectors.
Real debt collectors may make empty threats about you being sued. These threats may not be as direct as the fake debt collectors, but the verbiage and tone that is used can be implied to the point that is what you think you heard an hour later.
Most legitimate debt collectors do not use “or else” type of threats to collect. They can be sued for these types of tactics.
In fact, virtually everything I mention that the fake debt collectors do, a real debt collector can and often will be sued for. The debt collection laws they would be breaking are both state and federal violations. Many consumer law attorneys will take these kinds of collection violations on at no charge to you, and instead are paid by the other side. This means all of their fees are covered. You could see some money back for your trouble too.
It is imperative for everyone who is harassed or abused by a debt collector to take action. You should connect with an experienced collections violation consumer law attorney. Post about your situation in the comments below and I can provide feedback and contact details to someone who can help you.
What to do About the Scam Debt Collector
You can legitimately owe a debt, but still be scammed, whether by real or fake collectors, so… when in doubt… never pay a debt collector making threats like I outline above. If you even have a whiff of concern the debt is not yours, too old to be collected, or that the collector contacting you is either a fake, or a collector willing to step over the legal lines and violate your rights, you should:
- Take good notes of any conversation.
- Write down names, dates, times.
- Capture the caller ID and/or write down any phone numbers they provided for return calls.
- Keep a copy of any voice mail recordings they left.
- File complaints with your state AG and with the CFPB when you have identified the collection company.
- Speak with an experienced consumer lawyer.
- Do not make, set up, or arrange for payments.
Having said all of that, I should mention again that most debt collectors you encounter are not going to be fake. They are not going to violate your rights. If you have a question about the legitimacy of a debt collector, or their behavior, lets talk about it in the comments below.
I reached out to the above reader offline to encourage getting those payments reversed. Hopefully he will share more about his experiences in the comments below.
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About Michael BoveeMichael started CRN in 2004 with a mission to provide people in need with detailed debt and credit help and education. Michael has participated as an expert panelist in federal consumer protection rule making, collaborated on state law changes governing debt consolidation, has worked as an expert witness in court matters related to the debt relief industry. He is available to speak with you about your financial struggle and helps people resolve their debt problems daily.
Currently I have been receiving calls from a “central mediation services” they have contacted my daughter, myself and my mother so far in the last 2 days saying that they’re coming to my home or work place to serve a subpoena then if I want anymore information I need to call this 800 number. I’ve contacted the police department in the location the area code and they said only the sheriff could do this. I’ve contacted the number and I end up getting into arguments and they hang up and then the “manager” will laugh and argue back and then hang up and I’ve yet to be informed of what it’s in regards to. I’ve never seen the company a day in my life. It’s causing distress on me and my family especially with someone leaving voicemails saying I’ve been running from the law when I have not and then concluding with their statement by calling me stubborn.
Received three robocall messages today… 12:34pm, 1:02pm, and 3:57pm. All three show different 1-800 numbers… 800-769-2216, 800-082-9834, and 800-253-2973. All three left the same cut-off message. “House so if you want any further information about this case please press one to get in tough with the officer at headquarters if we don’t receive a response from your side please be prepared to face the legal consequences as the issue will be extremely serious and time sensitive so press one to get in touch with the officer….”
Got a call from a blocked number today so I didn’t answer. They left a voice message and this is the transcript from the van. I called back the number they provided and a guy answered called Keith Allen. I gave him the referee number then he asked me if I have received any docuAttention this is ____________________ for ————this is Lauren calling with the process that we have a documentation that being issued out to the home premises for your cell if you will not be available to receive and signed off or do you have any further questions and or concerns on the pending action that may be filed against you it would be in the best interest you report to the issuing agent the legal department immediately affirm can be reached at 866-994-7603 number you will need to reference is 711_____your _______ to contact reassuring office may result in any further decisions to be made without your consent…”ments on that yet. I said no. He said he was going to connect me to the person handling my case. He placed me on hold for a very long time till I got tired, suspicious and hung up. They haven’t called back yet.
I’ve gotten this call too. They called me Friday as well. I haven’t called any number they’ve given me.
I get this call everyday: from 830-202-2396 ‘Process Division’ -This message is intended for ______contacting you from the process division. I received an order for you. It looks like two pending matters. Now unfortunately because I am unable to reach you by phone. I will be actively pursuing you at your place of employment and your residence. Your case number is ______. Press 1 if you would like to speak to a live representative or you can contact us at 702-751-2843.
I called spoke to a Gretchen Services at Process Division and they said if I need to pay $3000. or payments $173 will be garnish starting this 8/14/2019 from my employer. I said – I’ll wait for the papers she said no more papers will be send, – but I never got any papers.. she yelled and said well your wages will be garnish and hang up.
My family are getting false calles grom “National Location Services” saying that our county wants to locate me and serve me papers. My county knows where I live. I own a home and have a business licence. Servers don’t call asking for directions from family. Phone number they give 866-945-0571 and name of “company” doesn’t show up in google. I have reported this to the police and the DA.
Federal Location Services have been harassing me and my family. They left messages, sent txt and have called about four times today
Ugh me too! I called back and the women put words in my mouth and hung up on me. Then I called back and she went to hang up on me meanwhile saying have a good “debter’s” day. Asshole.
I received a call from a “No ID” phone number so of course I didn’t answer. Then they left a voice mail stating “I’m calling from the county courier service our office has been retained to deliver legal documentation to your property address this is regarding a pending action against …”. I called back with the CA number they gave me in the message and used the case number they told me to use. The lady said I had a bank acct. in 2009 that closed with a negative balance of $200 something and that now its $800 something before all the attorneys fees and courts fees which then brings my total to $2000 something. She said if I settled now she’d waive the fees and I only had to pay an amount of $500 something or have a payment plan set up of $200 something a month. I told her I couldn’t do anything without first speaking to my husband and she said well then I suggest you call your husband and then call me back and I said my husband does not get out of work until nine he is in meetings it’s impossible for me to call him and she said well I will give you 24 hours before the sheriff serves you with the summons after that I can’t help you she gave me her name first and last and her extension number part of it sounds legit but other parts are sending red flags to me. I even asked her how do I know she was legit or I’m being scammed and she said well you can call the bank corporate number In which she gave me and I did verify it and Collett and the bank said that since it’s 10 years old they probably don’t even have any information anymore and then if I owe them money they would have contacted me. Unfortunately though the department then I need to speak to him already left for the day so a gentleman from the bank is supposed to call me back tomorrow.
Follow up from yesterday. So I called the bank that my acct was sold to but it’s 10 years old they no longer had records. They said I do have rights and suggested that I request from this “collector” a proof of debt in writing. I immediately called the “collector” and she started off all nice saying yes we spoke yesterday I instantly said “I am requesting proof of debt in writing” her tone changed and she said “you are getting sued and the summons…” I cut her off and repeated my statement. To that she yelled “YOU ARE GETTING SUED!” and hung up. I’m almost sure it was a scam now.
Sounds like a scam debt collector to me Sharon.
That brought back my experience with the company that called me. Mine was also a bank account that went negative from 2009. I told them I would call them back the next day and when I did and asked for proof he said he wasn’t going to send proof and then said since I know the law so well then they’re going to process the information they had and my wedges will be garnished by August. I said but you will have to take me to court first and I still need proof. I then told him to stop calling me. He said he was going to process me and have me served and hung up…that was June 12th this year…today he called again (using a different number) and asked me if I wanted to pay by month on what I owed. I told him I thought I told you to stop calling. He said I just needed to hear that from you. I said I told you that last time you called. He got mad and yelled “Well I’m going to process you” and hung up. Each time he wanted me to pay that day or else I was going to get processed.
I got a call a few days ago, I didn’t answer cause I didn’t recognize the number. The voicemail was a robot voice, “Important documentation of an urgent nature has been excepted on behalf of (my maiden name). Previous attempts to deliver documents at the address on file has expired. In order to resolve this matter in (inaudible word) further action is required that you made contact with our offices at 1-844-332-5692 or press 2 to speak to our team”
So I called the number back but the call dropped. A few seconds later I get a restricted call and don’t answer. That voicemail said “This message is intended for (my maiden name). My name is Ms. Ray (or Ms. Reed) contacting you from the office of regional calling because I received a missed call from this number resulting in your case that we are seeking a file with an order of location attached against you for documents to be processed at your place of employment. Either you or your attorney does have the legal right to contact the number back. Your file number linked to this case being verified to be filed is 844( this is the beginning of their phone number) I’m sorry your phone number (think she meant case number) is 811235- the last 4 of my social (which she had). Understand at this point MR. ( I’m a MRS. My maiden name) this is considered legal notification by telephone and you will be processed at the premises of your employer for your upcoming court date uh being filed out of (my county) unless I do receive further instructions.” And she hung up.
Do I take this serious? Who is the office of regional? Plus, they can’t serve my employer cause I’ve been permanently disabled since 2008. I’ve lived at the same address for 20+ years so how has my address expired? And they think I’m a man? I’m concerned they had my last four of my social…what should I do? Ignore or call back?
Sounds like a scam to me, and one I would ignore.
Got a Text message saying I owed a debt. Being that I’ve been in trouble financially before, I ,of course, call.. he says who is “JPM group” and I say I have the wrong number. He says “No you don’t”.. I said, excuse me.. “He said, we texted you, no you don’t”.. I called back and talked to someone that said it wasn’t her account and she doesn’t get paid enough for this but read off a legitimate payday loan I had in 2011. Down to the TIME I took it out.. References I listed, and scarily enough.. my routing number and Account number from this old account. Says it’s going to litigation.
I ask for a phone number and she doesn’t give it to me. I asked again, She said ” It’s urgent and don’t be rude”. I hung up. I call back.. I tell the “SUPERVISOR” on the first ring mind you, that I needed a phone number. They knew who I was talking to and the extension.
They have called me twice today…
SCAM?
Sure sounds like one to me Shaunna.
It’s a scam. The same thing is happening to me, but now these a-holes are calling my family members as well. Not sure what to do. They have all my info including my SS number. I put a credit freeze on all credit agencies so that no one can open anything up in my name. It’s frustrating. Not sure what else to do. I did call a law enforcement department. They said it’s a scam and advised that I let my accountant know so that a tax return isn’t submitted in my name. Simultaneously, I was alerted that some of my personal information is circulating on the dark web. Great!
Anyone else dealing with this and can provide viable information for protection? They are nasty and persistent.
I have been getting calls from a local number that identifies themselves as “Federal Location Services” they state that they have a case file from and issuer and I need to contact a completely different 888 number immediately to prevent further escalation. They called me at the end of May, I requested a debt validation letter and I know that they have 5 to 7 days to comply. They sent me a letter 11 days later and didnt include a lot of information. I contact the bank they stated I owed the money too and they have no record of an account from 2009 for me. They didnt contact me again until just yesterday so it had been over a month since their last attempt. Do you believe this is a scam?
Yes. I’ve received 4 calls over the past 2 weeks from a Leonard McFadden of Privaye Courier Services. Pretty much the same story as yours. Call this 866# & reference a particular claimant #. I have already consulted with a credit attorney (about 3 years ago) because of old debt from a bad divorce. The statute of limitations had long passed. In our case, you’ve got to know your rights. If you have zombie debt as I did from several years ago, don’t fall for this. Even if you had a judgment placed against you, check your state laws. In most states, if the judgment holder doesn’t reup the judgment every so many years, the judgment becomes unenforceable. Your situation sounds like zombie debt. These types of bottom feeders probably bought your old debt from some other debt collector for 10 cents (or less) on the dollar & they’re trying to score a big payday on a debt that was written off or sold by the original creditor a long time ago. Or these people stole your old debt information from some other place and are trying to collect off you. Blow these people off. Know your rights. Or, if you want to give them a good scare, have a credit attorney contact them back on your behalf. They’ll get reported to the right government agency & will be fined and shut down. Also know that Trump’s got a guy on his staff who’s been quietly dismantling alot of consumer safeguards against this sort of activity. Pay attention to this sort of stuff because those safeguards are important!
If they creditor they say they are collecting for has never heard of you, yes, it sounds like a collection scam.
I was contacted by someone today stating they were from national processing and i owed a pay day loan for over 500$. They had my old last name my old address and a closed bank account. They stated if I did not pay the amount today I would be charged with check fraud and like 3 other things and I should be hearing from an attorney shortly. They also stated a place I worked at like 7 years ago. I have NEVER taken out a payday loan but they had all this information including the last four digits of my social security number. I did not provide any personal or financial information. They stated they were going to email me some contract with options to pay off this debt. I still have the voicemail from the original missed called.
I just had someone call me from a *67 number so I didn’t answer it. They left a voicemail and is transcribed below. Is this real or does it sound like it could be fake? The call went as follows: “Hi guys this is an urgent notification intended for _____ _____ also known as _____ ______ my name is Brooke Davis I’m contacting you with the Department of verification in regards to some certified legal document been trying to get out to your residence ________ documents do require a signature from you and they’re showing that they are undeliverable at the location that we have for you on file this point what you’ll need to do is speak with the legal issuing firm that’s handling the case I have those documents rerouted to the proper residence phone number is a toll-free number of 844-821-4415 when calling please be sure that you reference your file number of file number is going to be 810-2323
That is typically not how legitimate collectors talk or leave messages.
My entire family has recieved threatening phone calls by a Rosenberg & Assoc? Claiming I’m going to be summoned, and gave different case numbers? This is a scam, if I was going to be served, I would be, with no forewarning ,correct? I feel we are being harrassed, the call back # is 888-613-3286… either its busy , or I get a recording. Did a reverse number search, and this did not belong to any law firm! How do I make this stop!! Really mad at this point, I dont owe any money to anyone!
Correct. Scammers behave this way, where legitimate collection firms would not.
You can file the compaints with state and federal regulators and make sure the scammers know you are not falling for it.
A few weeks ago I got a call from a private # so I didn’t answer. My brother who lives out of town came to visit for the weekend and told me that some woman called him looking to get in touch with me.. he couldn’t remember the exact details, but I just brushed it off thinking they would call back. He received the call the same day i got the private call. That was on a Wednesday.. When I finally checked my vm it was a lady who I could barely understand because she was talking so fast when she gave her name and company name. She said the last 4 of my social and that this was a “summons” and that if I didn’t cooperate they would come to my place of employment. They would also have to go to the HR department and also have a supervisor present.. She gave me an 844-425 number to call back. She also stated when she left the voicemail that on Friday someone was going to come to my house between 3-5 to serve papers and to make sure I was there.. no one came to my house. I was off work and there all day. When I did call the 844 # back, the same lady that left the vm said I had an old medical bill back from 2008.. When I told her I felt like this was a scam, she got a little irritated and said she is taking that as I am not going to cooperate.. I said well no one showed up at my house at that time like you said they would.. she said that they did show up at the address they had on file for me.. When I asked her name, she hung up.. If it was legit, wouldn’t they have my correct and current address?
Yes, they would have, and they would not have called and made those threats if it was legitimate.
I got a voicemail from a unknown 888 number from some guy threatening me if I’m not home with with proper identification when he shows up with sealed documents he will put it down as a refusal to cooperate. Then gave an 866 number to call to reschedule. I’m guessing scam? Scared the crap out of me at first though!
Sounds like a scam Chrissy. Legitimate collectors, and even legit process servers, typically do not talk that way.
So I actually had the same voicemail but for some reason on my uncles phone he let me know I called she wanted to verify my identity tho with my birthday and last four of my social. But everything else that was said I feel like I just read a transcript of the beginning of the conversation. Oh and they knew I actually did owe 300 to Wells Fargo in 2009 but they said I owed 5000 soo I am thinking I need to find a way to protect myself somehow now to stop them from stealing my identity? How do I contact proper authorities on this matter
Check out this post about ID theft: https://consumerrecoverynetwork.com/identity-theft-prevention/