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

This company has called me twice looking for my niece.  They claim to work for the fraud and bad checks department but cant supply the name of the prosecutor they work for.  They now just hang up on me because I am returning the favor of calling them all day long.  They answer with Brian and then I called back and his name went to Chief O'Brian....go figure.  If they call you just have fun with these idiots and start calling them back and back and back.  The people defending these idiots are probably the same idiots trying to scam others.  But I am on the case!!!  LOL!!!

My, my, my, aren't we the typification of moral turpitude with our meaningless pontifications.  Let me translate the troll speak for readers

>>This guy helped me out
Translation - he hired me to work for his boiler room outfit

>> Brian thanks for your courtesy call now I can sleep peacefully.
Translation --- Brian, thanks again for the job.  I want to suck up so badly I will go to boards and shill for you.

Wow, speaking of ignorance, since when did anything related to an allegation of a bad check fall under that classification of "white collar crimes" [per Sutherland's original conceptualization)?" How on earth could some troll like you ever accuse anyone of running a scam (unless you were looking in the mirror)?  Back to the boiler room you shill

Sounds like you are a little addle-minded from inhaling a bit too much helium from the leaks in the boiler room.  I'd love to hear you say in person what just wrote here.

Translation: Boiler room shill hot air working overtime out of desperation..

Admin Edit: "It's a SUSPECT message!"
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I agree with you Michelle ignorant people like Yolanda and so forth out there running scams with bad checks need to pay their bills so they won't have to worry about people like Brian or any companies that's out handling prosecution for white collar crimes and so on.Next time work harder on the clock at your job maybe you won't need to scam the next honest 9 to 5 personal that's doing his or her job.Word of advice go write a bad check to Walmart in any State and see how much your bond is Scammer.

You are a lying shill  Go away

Admin Edit: "It's a SUSPECT message!"
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Yolanda if  you or sister we're to handle your business in the past I'm pretty sure this guy Brian wouldn't have made contact with you or your family pertaining this situation out of their office.This guy helped me out about my previous case he was very courteous and trust worthy I had no choice but to admit for my past history and it's everyday honest people like me that suffers for worthless people like you and your family that run scams on corporate america everyday. Word of advise do the crime do the time ( Brian thanks for your courtesy call now I can sleep peacefully).

I received a message from Brian Thomas of the check fraud department regarding a sister.  I returned the call to Mr. Thomas and he stated to me that my sister had written bad checks and that she needed to contact him immediately to avoid any further actions.  Mr. Thomas made these calls to my son, and other relatives.  My sister returned the call to Mr. Thomas and was told that if she had written a check in 2008 and if she did not send $200.00+ dollars to clear it, she would be arrested.  My sister has never had a checking account, so she went to the DA's office her in New Orleans.  Someone from the DA's office called the telephone number to get information, put the call was disconnected.  Further attempts to call went unanswered.  Apparently, this is a scam, to please BEWARE.

Admin Edit: "It's a SUSPECT message!"
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First and for most I was recently contacted by a person from this number stating about a worthless check case I had pending with my name on it.I can admit I did commit a crime by leaving a bad check to a company previously 6 yrs ago for debt I had in Norfolk, VA . I was very glad these people made contact with me due to my lack of honesty unlike some people in corporate america with lame excuses of not remembering their actions . I can say these people was very courteous and helpful with me on my case. I wish the rest of everyday people out here commiting crimes could do the same in return.

Just received a call from a "Sgt. O'Brien" stating they we issuing a warrant for a check cashing company in Dallas Tx. with a no contact order that I was not allowed to contact the company that the debt was with.  I however had my identity stolen 6 yrs ago and have become familiar with the laws of debt collections and fraud because of this.  I google found the number linked to a company listed as " Investigations"  then I contacted the company he said they were collecting for and then the local Mecklenburg Sheriff's office which told me that was a scam not to talk to them and to hang up. If you receive a call from this number do not give them any information.

apparently someone from this number called a past acquaintance and thru 4 people I was contacted with message...told that party that I was going to be served a warrant for my arrest for a bad check...why didn't they contact me & isn't that way too much info to leave a 3rd party

got a message from a "nick thomas" from the check fraud departrment about serving me papers, i've never heard of this guy or a check fraud (since i do not have a checking account). seems like a scam. can't understand the company he says he is from, he just mumbles it.

Someone name Mark David from 704 464 0022 called me yesterday about a check fro a cah advance place in Wilmington DE.  My transaction was 4 years ago. I tried to explain to him I'm mentally disablef and forgot, I am very much willing to pay off my debt.  He started yelling & harassing me.  Also, he said I was being charged with fraid &  larceny!!!!