FYI..now received a call from Patrick Wagner that came in on 5857306167 but had a return number of 5857306400.  He again indicated the same threats as previously left.  The call came in at work.  I have not received anything via mail.  They indicated that I have 4 cases against my checking account and this is the final notification before further processing.  Any advice?  Has anyone else received numerous threats on different numbers and names.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, is warning consumers to be on the alert for scam artists posing as debt collectors. It may be hard to tell the difference between a legitimate debt collector and a fake one. Sometimes a fake collector may even have some of your personal information, like a bank account number. A caller may be a fake debt collector if he:

?is seeking payment on a debt for a loan you do not recognize;
?refuses to give you a mailing address or phone number;
?asks you for personal financial or sensitive information; or
?exerts high pressure to try to scare you into paying, such as threatening to have you arrested or to report you to a law enforcement agency.

If you think that a caller may be a fake debt collector:

?Ask the caller for his name, company, street address, and telephone number. Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice." The notice must include the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor you owe, and your rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
If a caller refuses to give you all of this information, do not pay! Paying a fake debt collector will not always make them go away. They may make up another debt to try to get more money from you.?Stop speaking with the caller. If you have the caller's address, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files. By law, real debt collectors must stop calling you if you ask them to in writing.
?Do not give the caller personal financial or other sensitive information. Never give out or confirm personal financial or other sensitive information like your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number unless you know whom you're dealing with. Scam artists, like fake debt collectors, can use your information to commit identity theft ? charging your existing credit cards, opening new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, writing fraudulent checks, or taking out loans in your name.
?Contact your creditor. If the debt is legitimate ? but you think the collector may not be ? contact your creditor about the calls. Share the information you have about the suspicious calls and find out who, if anyone, the creditor has authorized to collect the debt.
?Report the call. Contact the FTC and your state Attorney General's office with information about suspicious callers. Many states have their own debt collection laws in addition to the federal FDCPA. Your Attorney General's office can help you determine your rights under your state's law.

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors

They have been calling me for a few weeks now making threats telling me one of my checking accounts is going to be frozen and someone is going to file a case against me yadda yadda yadda.  I am filing a complaint with the BBB over the matter as they give no information and threaten.  The name actually changed in the last message, at first it was Michael Johnson then it was Michael Jones.  Either way its illegal to threaten with legal action and they violated Illinois collection policy by calling before they are legally allowed to.  They are not Chex Systems either.

I just received the same message as Sue, not sure if I should call back
Or not?

No Sue, they are not the same company. It's rather obvious that their intent was to hope you may believe they may be.
Chex Systems is well known and is legitimate. Check Systems is well known but are bottom feeding fraudulent and/or bogus debt collectors. I've had dealings with them, but have determined that they're on their last legs and are unworthy of pursuit. They're getting friskier lately. They know the bottom of their endeavors is about to fall out.
Live Well.
Gunnar

Me again, are Check Systems and Chex Systems the same company?  Chex Systems appears to be legal and tied to banks but I don't think that is where the call was from.

Thanks for the response Gunnar.  Should I even call the number back?  Do you know if they have ever gone thru with their threats?

The smoke blowing frauds at "Check Systems" are very well known here. They're nothing more than the usual bunch of "Buffalo Boys" operating out of western NY. Demand written proof of their claims be mailed to you. NOT e-mail or Fax, as per federal law under the FDCPA. When they refuse or start making excuses tell them you're on to them and they're wasting their time. Believe NOTHING you're told by these scum bags.
Be Safe. Be Aware.
Gunnar

Received a message from a Michael Johnson Director at Check(?) Systems indicating I needed to call back in order to stop court action scheduled for next week.  Both the phone number on caller ID and that left by caller were 585-730-6185.  This is the first time I have heard from this company.  I am skeptical of these types of calls as my mother has been taken for over $4500 in the past.  Prior to calling back I wanted to check this site but do not see any reported calls.  I don't know if this is a new number these types of scammers are using or not.  Has anyone else received a similar type of call?