Watch out for this scam operation. They called me at 5am in the morning (I'm on the west coast) for almost a month before I got annoyed enough to call back. The call is an automated machine stating it's a collections agency with a reference number. When I called them back they knew my name and address. The demanded that I pay $40 owed to a major bank and I have to act now for "voluntary collection" and they will refer the debt back to the bank. I called my bank up and they could find no record of me owing any money (hehe they even waved my LOC annual fee).

I called back to this scam outfit 5 hours later and asked them to provide any data to back up their claims (any documentation, etc), especially since my bank has no idea about this collection. Interestingly it's the same lady answering the phone and remembers me (light day..eh). She couldn't provide any information about the account and after a couple of threats said she will refer the account back to my bank.

So in summary it's a scam, I've checked with my bank and pulled a credit report and there is no trace of the amount or the account they mentioned.

ADVICE: Call this operation back up (if they already know your phone) and ask them to never call you again (real collection agencies are required by law to stop calling you when you ask them). DO NOT give them any information including your SOCIAL SECURITY number. Check your accounts and pull a credit report to make sure that there are no errors.

They are calling for me saying they need to settle an unpaid debt.  This is bull.  I'm going to call them back in the morning and unload on them.

ummm....i havent picked up the phone but i dont have a banck account with anyone....so i guesss its a scam....what ever!!

I received a call from this number.  I owe money to no one.  I have no credit cards, no open accounts, no medical bills.  My car is paid for and has been for the last 4 years.  I own my home free and clear.  There is absolutely no reason for these a-holes to be phoning me yet they do.  I finally got a reference number and when I questioned to whom and what was owed they could find NOTHING.  No surprise there. And that was the end of that - I thought.  It has been several months since I received a call from this agency.  All of a sudden they are calling again.  This time the reference number is different.  I haven't called back yet because I am waiting to calm down from the rage I feel.  The reason I have no debt is to avoid this kind of harrassment.  Guess it doesn't matter.  Everyone has to make a living and they don't care how.  Pretty sad if you ask me.  I've checked my credit report and no one is using my identity so I don't understand why I'm being harrassed.  They know my name and my phone number and I'd like to know how they got that.

I don't know whether this is a scam or not. Perhaps the previous owner of my phone number had some debt or something. But for sure I don't have any debt that is for collection because for one, I just arrived in the US and 2nd I don't have any loans in the US or anywhere else. I pay my credit card before the due date, otherwise it is my bank that would have persistently called me.

Advise: don't answer their call and let it go to the voice mail.

I also live on the west coast and they call me almost everyday at 5 am and it annoys me because i try to get as much sleep as i can because i work at 630 in the morning. they told me i had an outstanding balance with wells fargo bank of 33 dollars and that it was closed october of 2007. news flash, i havent banked with them for 3 years and my account was closed with me calling wells fargo and closing my bank account with them before any of this fraud began to start. they are liars!!!!

as semicrazy noted, if you have a new number and they are calling for a previous owner they will continue to call.  if you ask them to desist they will for a time, about 6 weeks.  they do not update their records of a bad number, they assume you are lying is my best guess.

they have been calling for a year now.

I HAVE NOT ANSWERED ANY OF THEIR CALLS,THEY NEVER LEAVE A MESSAGE. SO THERE'S NO ONE TO REALLY CALLL BACK. READING FROM ALL THE COMMENTS, SO MAYBE WHO EVER HAD MY NUMBER BEFORE OWES SOMEONE MULA$$$$......WELL THEIR CRAP OUTA LUCK!!! OR MAYBE IT'S MY EX PLAYING PHONE TAG...LOL ANYWAY WHATEVER AND WHOEVER CAN JUST KEEPA DIALING CUZ I'M NEVER GONNA ANSWER YOUR CALL....

I got a call from 800-493-0796.  They called for supposedly for Wells Fargo Bank regarding a closed bank account.  I haven't had an account at Wells Fargo in over 15 years.  I asked for backup of this debt and was told if I didn't pay $900 right then they would refer it to an attorney.  They gave me a routing number and account number to reference.  I called Wells Fargo and they have no account with the number they gave me and never did.  The routing number was also incorrect.  I gave the phone number to Wells Fargo to check if it was a legitimate collectiona agency for them and it was not.  So do not pay these people before do any research.

They have called my cell twice. I haven't picked up the call because I have a pay as you go phone and it costs me when they call.
Thanks for this service. It answered my questions.

Got a message this afternoon saying they are a collection agency and the message stop when it suppose to give a reference number.

I google 800-493-0796 and found this site and other discussion about this number.  Almost all people beleive this is a scam.  I think this is a scam also as I always pay off my balance and check my credit report regularly.

The 800-493-1796 number, however, is the number of a legit collection agency named Enhanced Recovery per discussions on other website.

Do check your credit report to be sure the claim is not legit.

Good luck.

they have been calling me for over a month now, each time at exactly at 5 AM!

FREEwakeUPCALL

watever.

This is actually a legitimate collection agency.  They said that I owed Wells Fargo $30 from an account that closed in 2005.  I called Wells Fargo and they confirmed that Enhanced Recovery was a third party collection agency that they use.  Wells Fargo has just released a listing of low amount debts on closed accounts.  Verify this with your bank, but Wells Fargo assured me that I did indeed owe this.  A check was received after my account closed and they evidently honored it.

I called Wells Fargo and talked to an account manager who gave me the number for the Wells Fargo Privacy Preference automated system. I was connected directly but the number they gave me is 888-528-8460. The system allows you to tell them whether or not you choose to receive 1. Telemarketing calls on new services and 2. Mailings about new services.
I don't think it's going to work because on the automated profile for me it said I already do not allow telemarketing calls from them.  I'm not sure if this Wells Fargo system stops their affiliates from calling.

I have received several messages, finally called back and demanded to know the name of the company I owe money too (I am recently arrived in the US and have no debts). The lady refused, and I followed the advice given by Tired of It to report this company to the BBB. I hope this helps, and I encourage others to to the same. The reporting process is straightforward and quick.

I have been receiving calls from this number almost daily for months now, but I had no idea who it was until I finally got a phone with caller ID.  Every other day I come home to find a message on my machine...hello!  This message is for........nobody apparently!  Ugh.  Do***ebags.

Computerized msg regarding a collection

I called the number back and it had a busy signal i let the busy signal keep going until it said "the mobile customer you are trying to reach is unavailable"

I just got this call now.  They have gotten a LITTLE smarter.  They actually had a recorded voice that said my name, however it sounded like the Windows TTS tool in a womans voice (I used to work with blind people so I know what it sounds like and how crappy it is).  If I wasn't at work I'd give em a piece of my mind just for fun!

Have recieved several calls from this number, one with a VM.  Finally answered once and they said I owed $30 to Wells Fargo which is completely absurd.  Scammers trying to request small amounts so that people will just try to pay it and get it over with.

They just called me again on my cell phone. I do receive calls from them once per two weeks and they always leave a message that says "This message is for....." and than nothing!

No one knows my cell number with the exception of my friends. I will never answer calls from unknown numbers and certainly not from 1-800 numbers.

Got a call from this number moments ago. Calling for my wife. Answered the phone... nothing for like 40 seconds... then an obviously computerized voice comes on and pronounces my wifes name way wrong...

I have Ascendis Caller ID software on my computer to screen my calls. I have added them to my automated response to cease and desist, do not call and mail only. Two can play the automation game... if they call again I have records that they have been notified (just like they keep records of their automation notifying you). If they call after they are or their machine is given the automated notification? I will be calling the FTC for violations of the FCRA by them continuing to contact me by phone after I have recorded the fact that I have notified them to stop.

http://800notes.com/articles/Article.aspx/KBN5c2IZiAC_wQjKBNRWFA

my wife has been getting these call from this number. They claim she has an unpaid debt and they are collections agency. I have done research and they appear to be doing war dialing and using a the name of a legit collections agency to try and get people to give them personal information so they can steal your identity

These idiots have been bothering me with increasing frequency.  Just now, they called twice in a row on my cell (I hit Ignore).  This was after calling earlier this morning and at least once yesterday.

Please if company's like this continue to call you after you have asked them not to, contact organizations such as the BBB. Below will direct you to their complaint form: following will be the needed information to file against the company with this phone #

http://www.jacksonville.bbb.org/complaints/commoncomplaint.html

Business Contact and Profile Name: Enhanced Recovery Corporation
Phone: (904) 645-0049
Address: 8014 Bayberry Rd., , Jacksonville, FL 32256
       
Business Category: Collection Agencies
eMail: info@erccollections.com
Web Address: www.erccollections.com
BBB file opened: August 13, 2002
Business started: November 1999
Business started locally: November 1999
Primary Contact: Ms. Ginny Walker (Compliance)
Complaint Contact: Ms. Ginny Walker (Compliance)
Other Contacts: Mr. Kirk Moquin  (Chief Operating Officer)
Mr. John Schanck  (CTD/Chief Licensing Officer)
Mr. Mark Thompson  (Preisdent/ CEO)

I hope this helps you all resolve this issue.

My hubby got a call today from them on our cell phone. They left no message, after reading this website, we arent calling back.

UPDATE:
Received a call two weeks ago. called back within 5 min. Told the person that answered my problem. I did not give any info on myself. He took me off the list. No calls back. I hope that is the end of that.

I received a call from these people on my voice mail. 745pm 5/29/08. The message said, "THIS MESSAGE IS FOR____________SILENCE_______" THEN HANG UP. I HAVE RECEIVED 2 OF THESE CALLS. HAVE NO IDEA WHO THEY ARE OR WHO THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AS BOTH MESSAGES SAID THE SAME THING - NO NAME

I've been receiving calls from 800-493-0796 off and on for quite some time and finally decided to look it up online, having never called the number back. This is a great resource, first of all! I read the posts, including those containing the company's web site and phone number listed thereon. I called that number just now and after being told multiple times that they couldn't find my number in their system, they finally removed it. I was told that it would take 24-48 hours. Thanks everyone!