Possible collection or scam?

[JJ1827]

Hello,

So recently I've started cleaning up my credit, I have some accounts in collections so I get missed calls sometimes from random numbers. This week I received phone calls and voicemails on my cell and work phone as well as family members recieving calls and voicemails saying they're looking for me for a legal matter that is going to be put through our county if I don't respond. My mother in particular was alarmed because they left her a voicemail saying they know where I reside and they will come find me. So first i'm not sure if this is legal or a scam or just a bully tactic. They dont say where they are calling from just the name of the person calling. They do leave a call back number and reference number but they've called from different numbers and unknown numbers. 

[gdale6]

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@JJ1827 wrote:

Hello,

So recently I've started cleaning up my credit, I have some accounts in collections so I get missed calls sometimes from random numbers. This week I received phone calls and voicemails on my cell and work phone as well as family members recieving calls and voicemails saying they're looking for me for a legal matter that is going to be put through our county if I don't respond. My mother in particular was alarmed because they left her a voicemail saying they know where I reside and they will come find me. So first i'm not sure if this is legal or a scam or just a bully tactic. They dont say where they are calling from just the name of the person calling. They do leave a call back number and reference number but they've called from different numbers and unknown numbers. 

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If its legit they are breaking all kinds of laws in the FDCPA, they cant be telling others why they are looking for you. Most of these are fraudulent callers. If you owe any collections I would be calling to settle them if you can they you will know its fraud when they call.

[thornback]

That's a scam or a scummy pennies on the dollar collector trying to collect on a debt too old to report or take any real action on.  If they were "looking for you" for a "legal matter" they'd send written notices to your last known address.  If youre getting these calls, you also may receive calls threatening to serve you if you don't pay by the end of the day (they never actually show up to serve you) - do not let them scare you into sending them money. 

Work with collections that send you written notices or appear on your credit reports. You can also check your county records database to see if there are any open lawsuits or judgments against you and deal with those.  

Welcome to the forums!

[bass_playr]

Oh how I wish someone would call me like that these days lol....

OK, so more than likely this is a scam.  I say more than likely because there are still some debt collectors that act like this even though it's illegal in a bunch of ways.  Could you post up the phone number they left you to call them back?  That way we can tell more about who is really calling for you.

They called your mom and left a message saying they know where you live so they know how to find you....???  According to FDCPA, they are only permitted to contact a third party if they DONT know where you are, and even then, only for the purpose of trying to locate your contact info.  If they know where you live already, that's a big fat red flag to me that most likely you're dealing with a scammer.  

Let us know that number, and I'll dig up some info on them for you.  They have already violated the law in numerous ways.  Let's see who you're actually dealing with.

[designated_knitter]

Definitely a scam.  I've been known to call them back from a "burner phone" just to mess with them.  I will record the call (my state is a 1-party consent state).  

I don't necessarily recommend this approach but *IF* you really wanted to know, you could call them from a phone number that you can ditch (google voice, skype, etc).  

• Record the call
  • if you live in a 2-party consent state, notify them that you are recording the call -- if you are in a 1-party consent state, don't say a word.  
• Ask them for their full name, address, original creditor, amount owed, date of last delinquency etc.  
  • If they were truly "legit", they would have all that information and give it to you.  
  • If they are a scam, they'll shout over you and intimidate you that they are filing "criminal charges" such as "fraud" or "interstate wire fraud" (note: you can't be charged for criminal fraud for a debt -- they can only sue you in civil court).

If you don't want to go through all that -- the wiser course of action is just to ignore them.  Tell your mom it is a well known scam technique.

Also, if you have the phone number, you can google the phone number and you will often find out whether it is a scam or an actual debt collector.

Good luck!

[vntrsc]

As pointed out by @designated_knitter, this is a well-known scam technique.  Scammers routinely refer to a "legal matter".   Many of the scammers also state that someone will show up to serve "legal papers."  

If the message(s) did, in fact, include that it is "going to be put through your county", that's another red flag,  No one who knows what they're talking about says anything like that.