They are scammers...they are indians with american names who say you owe a payday loan..NOT TRUE! BE AWARE!They say they are from credit inquiries litigation...NO SUCH BUSINESS!!

They cal and say they need a credit reference for someone.  Then give me an american name.

they say i owe money but they wont tell me who they are they threaten me court and call my job.getting me in trouble saying it is a emergency.also he said his name is steve johnson he does not sound like a steve johnson he hardly can speak english.

they are calling my job looking for me; i'm going to report them to the BBB. these scammers need to stop.

We decided to have a little fun with the fellow that called a friend here in the office. He did not seem to appreciate the random prank calls he recieved from us. We could not get him to give us his name but he did make mention that the we were calling 'Credit Inquiry Litigations'.

Bob, They claim there names are Mark Brown and Jacob Martin and said that I was involved in a fraud case here in my home state. They would not provide any more info so I have given the number to the police department.

I too had a similar experience, the guy identified himself as Mark Melfoy and then he transferred me to someone else (who sounded exactly the same).  He said I had a pending unpaid payday loan and needed to pay almost 3 times as much immediately to avoid legal charges (they even give you a case #)  I thought maybe I did owe this, so stupidly gave them info about me.  Now they won't leave my alone. I misplaced the checkcard info I gave them, so the card is canceled.  They won't provide a mailing address for money orders or any documentation supporting the debt.  Now they just tell me that I will be arrested within 3 days for bank fraud.  I wish I had read these messages first.

they continually call me also and always from different numbers.  they are very hard to understand. the few times that I did answer i ended up arguing with them -- told them i wanted documentation in writing but they refused to provide that and said they did not need to.  they never really told me what they wanted, but they are really annoying and really getting on my nerves.

Stated I owe a payday loan from the past and threatened court action and closure of my open credit accounts. I could settle this 'out of court' with them paying a flat or settle 'in court' for a larger amount.

Fake Debt Collectors and Collection Tactics

If consumers did not have enough to worry about having to deal with rising credit card interest rates, late fees and over-limit fees, zombie debt, and fervent bill collectors, now we have to worry about collectors calling about fake debt.

While many legitimate collection agencies follow the FDCPA, there are some collectors out there that are only running a scam operation and will be quick to use threats and scare tactics to get you to pay up quick. Their scams turn up in mailboxes, on the internet and through the telephone every day. Some collectors pose as national banks, government agencies (FBI, CIA), or even popular celebrity stars to gain personal information. These phony collectors may threaten to repossess your house, issue a warrant for your arrest, or even garnish your pay check, all of which are against the FDCPA rules. Some of which are even laughable (for example, there is no debtor?s prison in the United States).

Fake debt scammers rely on the fear and lack of knowledge about debt collection laws within the population. They also figure that a certain percentage of their calls will be received by individuals who may be carrying debt on credit cards anyway and may be susceptible to intimidation. When collectors use misleading statements and fail to provide identification, they are breaking the law. Never pay money to a possible thief. Keep cool when you hear from collectors to avoid this collection abuse.

Many times, people who took out payday loans online in the past are most susceptible. If you took a payday loan, be aware scammers may have access to your Social Security number and other personal information, and keep your guard up against such tactics.

Ironically, real "deadbeats" probably wouldn't fall for these scammers, since they have no intention of repaying their creditors anyway. But upright citizens may doubt themselves, thinking they've forgotten to pay a bill. Many times, the sums involved tend to be fairly small, so some people may be tempted to just pay the "bill" and "get it over with."

Ways to Protect Yourself Against Debt Collection Scams

Review your credit report frequently to find inaccuracies.
Be aware of your current creditors and how much you owe.
Ask creditors for identification before you provide any information over the telephone.
Reporting Fake Debt Collectors

If you ever receive a call from anyone identifying himself as a debt collector, the law requires that the debt collector provide you with identification, and that the debt collector refrain from making misleading and threatening statements.

You can report any problems you have to your state Attorney General?s office www.naag.org and the Federal Trade Commission www.ftc.gov. Many states have their own debt collection laws that are different from the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Your Attorney General?s office can help you determine your rights under your state?s law.

call to employer stating someone using my social security number

They are calling my employer looking for me.