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-collectorsReply !

This Guys are very obnoxious but good scammers. They called me and said I had a non sufficient check and that he is a lawyer . He was giving me a chance to resolve the matter before he proceed. With what? I have no  checking account . I only haves savings tied to a debit card! What a con!

Just got a call from a Chris Curr, from a 602 # but told to return call to a 866#  about a NSF check ,but i do not write checks!!!

named as a corespondant means someone used your name and number as a reference for some sort of financial loan, Not that you took out a loan or have a financial obligation

I've received numerous calls from this number in the last 2 weeks. The first time a man left a voicemail looking for some woman, saying she had a claim filed against her and giving a reference number. I continued to receive calls, day and night, even during work. I finally had the opportunity to answer my phone and told the man that he had the wrong number and to stop calling me, especially during work hours, and when I have clearly identified myself on my voicemail. He was VERY rude and his response included the assertion that if I would have called him back earlier, I could have told him that he had the wrong number and he would have stopped calling. Then when I told him that now he was aware and he had better stop calling me, he hung up on me! I called the number back and demanded to speak to his manager. After waiting for several minutes, I spoke with another man who was not at all apologetic but did say that he would remove my name from the account. He identified himself as Kurt but did not state what company he works for. These guys are jerks and are looking to have a harassment complaint filed against them if they ever call me again.

My daughter has been getting harassing phone calls from this same number.  I called another number associated with this company (Central Processing) 887-957-6951, and talked to a very rude woman.  She ended up saying I was harassing her (imagine that!).  My daughter had gotten a call at her job from a Mr. Chris from the 602 number.  He said he was coming to her job with an "officer" between 10-6 if she didn't call him by 10 a.m.  I told her to call the FTC and report them.  She did that, and I would advise everyone to do the same.  These people need to be stopped.

My family members and I have been receiving these calls for about 2 months now for me.  They now have started calling me at work stating that I have 3 NSF check's from an account a year and  a half ago...funny I haven't had a checking account in 3 years.  Not sure how they are getting family members names that are compeltely different from mine.  I reported them yesterday to the BBB, but am calling the states attorneys office and the FTC regarding this today also.  It is getting extremely annoying...SCAMMERS  I have NO debt I filed BK and all my debt has been wiped clean over 2 years ago!

THEY R NOT legit debt collectors they are scammers phishing for information

A Chris Curr called from Central Check Processing a claim that I am named as a respondent regarding a NSF transaction ...Thats interesting I do not have a checking account and have not had one for 4 years..This is the number that came up on the the caller ID but i was told to call 866-871-5330.  This was left on my answering machine.

Thanks Tiny.  I bet you're right!  The called again today and left a message. Stating that my name and ss# came up on an application and is being investigated for fraud.  It was scary at first.  But then I had to think twice and wondered what fraud I had committed especially since they never stated my name or who the call was for.  I bet someone I know has listed me as a reference and this company is looking for that individual but trying to intimidate me into calling them.  

They claim to be representing Central Processing.

Yes my dear they are. They will claim that you owe some type of loan, payday, one day cash loan etc. That you have committed a federal offense and charges will be brought to you if you don't pay them now. They are rude and very hostile towards you. So don't even answer it.

Yes everyone, these are very rude debt collecting SHARKS!!  Please do not give out any information to them. I have been battling these calls for three months and have been reporting everyone of them to the BBB and the attorney general. My youngest son just got a call for me on his cell phone at work. They claim in 2008 I suppose to have taken out a payday loan and that I am looking at federal charges that they want me to pay etc, etc. they are sending out a server to serve me. It is all a SCAM!!!  Call this number, it is the FTC  1-888-382-1222 they stop harassing calls.

I received a call from this number today but no message was left.  Could it be a bill collector?

i got call about 53 minutes ago, i let go to v/m.. no message was left