Well, if they are, then they are breaking a lot of FDCPA laws according to the posts here..

Please do file reports with the FBI, your state attorney general and Department Of Justice,FTC & FCC..

http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
http://www.fbi.gov/
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form1088.action

Also read up on the laws and your rights:

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ...
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf

And see:

http://800notes.com/forum/ta-86217073a9c8dad/ ... 077595690349410
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http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors
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http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm
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Section 809 of the FDCPA http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf requires 3rd-party debt collectors to give debtors written notice of debt (the key word is *shall*) :
"§ 809. Validation of debts
(a) Within five days after the initial communication with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt, a debt collector shall, unless the following information is contained in the initial communication or the consumer has paid the debt, send the consumer a written notice containing?
(1) the amount of the debt;
(2) the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed;
(3) a statement that unless the consumer, within thirty days after receipt of the notice, disputes the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, the debt will be assumed to be valid by the debt collector;
(4) a statement that if the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, the debt collector will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment against the consumer and a copy of such verification or judgment will be mailed to the consumer by the debt collector; and
(5) a statement that, upon the consumer?s written request within the thirty-day period, the debt collector will provide the consumer with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor."
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A Collection Agent May Not?

Here are the top 11 actions prohibited by the The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:

Misrepresent Him or Herself

  A debt collector may not misrepresent himself as an attorney or law enforcement officer.

Use the Telephone to Annoy or Harass

  A collection agent may not cause a telephone to ring or engage any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with an intent to annoy, abuse, or harass anyone at the called number.

Threaten Arrest or Lawsuit

  A collection agent may not threaten a consumer with arrest. It may not threaten legal action that is either not permitted or not actually contemplated. In other words, a the threat of a lawsuit may be an empty one.

Use Abusive or Threatening Language

  A debt collector may no use abusive or profane language in the course of communication related to the debt.

Publish a Bad Debt List

  Publishing the consumer?s name or address on a "bad debt" list is prohibited.

Contact By Embarrassing Media

  A debt collector may not communicate with a consumer by post card. It may not use any language or symbol, other than the debt collector?s address, on any envelope when communicating with a consumer by use of the mails or by telegram. A debt collector may use its business name if such name does not indicate it is in the debt collection business.

Contact a Consumer at Work

  A collection agent may not communicate with consumers at their place of employment after being told this is unacceptable or prohibited by the employer.

Seek Unjustifiable Amounts

  A debt collector may not demand any amounts not permitted under an applicable contract or as provided under law.

Contact a Consumer Represented by an Attorney

  A collection agent may not contact a consumer after it learns the consumer is represented by a lawyer.

Communicate With a Consumer After Receiving a Validation Request

  If a consumer sends a written §1692g response within 30 days, the collection agent may not communicate with the consumer until it mails the consumer the requested verification of original creditor's name and address.

Communicate With Third Parties

  A debt collector may not reveal or discuss the nature of a consumer?s debts with third parties other than the consumer?s spouse or attorney. A collection agent may contact neighbors or co-workers only to obtain location information. It may contact a third party again if it has reason to believe the information the party provided previously is false.

Bills.com FDCPA FAQ

Below are questions Bills.com readers ask frequently:

Can a Collection Agent Call My Cell Phone?

  Yes. However, if you tell the debt collector it may not use that number because it is a cell phone, it may not contact you again at that number.

I Keep Receiving Dozens of Calls From Collection Agents. Is That Legal?

  No. Unscrupulous collection agents will use "block parties" or "office parties" where they contact a consumer, multiple neighbors, or co-workers telling them they need to reach the consumer on an urgent matter. This is not permitted under the FDCPA.

A Collector Says I Will Be Arrested if I Do Not Pay

  This was a true statement before the US Civil War, but has not been true since. People may be arrested if an aggressive judge files a bench warrant for a person who does not appear at a hearing relating to a lawsuit regarding a debt. However, in that case, the offense is the failure to respond to a court order, and not the existence of the debt. As stated above, it is illegal under the FDCPA to threaten a consumer with arrest if the consumer does not pay the debt.

Sorry the number is 1-813-444-4267  please take the other 800 number down they are a real company .

The number tha keeps calling now is 1-800-[removed] . They claim to be Royce & Accosates are they scam artist or legit ?

Report the scam artist. https://complaint.ic3.gov/default.aspx

Go to the Internet Crimes website and report this b****h.
https://complaint.ic3.gov/default.aspx

I did a reverse number search, and I came across a post of a guy saying he was arrested.  
Maybe it's a fake post from a shill full of b.s..  They are out of Florida, I am pretty sure, and are just scumbag scammers. Avoid.

I received the same generic letter. there is no address on it and they will not validate the debt. Where did you see that someone went to jail??

I got a phone call from these people. Did anything ever become of this regarding your statement below?

These people are official scam artists! Do not answer or respond to any of their request.

I just got the same call saying a loan was taken out in 2009 from Check N Go online... did anything ever happen to you? I have read mixed messages on here, some say they were taken to jail some say nothing happened. I have a 3 year old daughter... I am scared. She is supposedly sending me something to my email for back up, but yet I have not received anything by mail! Any thoughts...

I just received a voicemail from this Christine Richardson for a person I don't even know.  Glad I looked the number up and saw all the comments.  Thanks.  I am going to report this.

yea thats what i was thinking i thought it would b a civil suite..they claim this check an go thing i did happened back in 2008. thats 5 years ago.. im gonna try and block there number cause she has my credit card number where i almost paid cause i was scared of going to jail until i came home and done research on her and the royce and associates. i took all the money off my card and i am getting a new one tomorow. but she sent me a docusighn thing through my email for me to sign so they could take my money but i figured it out and declined it.

Just remember, unpaid debt is a civil not criminal matter.  Although you can be sued, you cannot be jailed since they would have to prove intent to defraud at the time the debt was incurred.  Also, in order to sue, the have to provide valid proof that you owe the debt, the same proof they are required to send to you as a "validation of debt notification".  See the following link for your rights under the Fair debt Collection Practices Act and what collectors can and cannot do. http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0149-debt-collection

this crazy woman christine just keeps calling me leaving me voicemails saying i have an hour to get in touch with her and good luck if i dont call her back.. she really does sound official and i hope she is a scam.. after reading all the post on here kinda made me feel better on not going to jail...lol This lady needs get real job

She called last week for a friend of mine and said she was Christine Richards from Royce & Assoc from their bad or worthless checks div. She was trying to contact my friend regarding two bad checks in another state.  She needed to explain to my friend the charges and her rights.  If my friend, or their lawyer did not call back, she could not help them anymore.She sounded quite official.  My friend just told me that she did call her back and she demanded money or she would go to jail.  My friend has never been to the state in question.  She hung up on the woman.

i got a call today from these people saying if i didnt pay $700 by 2:00 today they were taking feloney charges on me and said i was gonna be put in jail.. The number Was 813-444-5413 and her name was Christine Richards. Do NOT talk to these people. they wanted my credit card number and said i owed the money to a check and go place.

Some numbers to be aware of - (813) 444-4510, (813) 444-4513, (813) 444-4514. These people are trying to scam money for non-existent payday loans. They claim to be from "The Fraud and Worthless check division of a fictitious law firm known as Royce & Associates. DO NOT PAY THESE PEOPLE ANYTHING! I have spent quite some time investigating these numbers only to find that there is absolutely no information about the "law firm" or the phone numbers they are using. Instead of wasting time arguing with them that you do not owe anything - immediately report these calls, the phone number the person who you spoke with (who is no doubt using a fake name as well) to the FTC the FCC the Ic3, your states attorney general and your local police department heck even your local District Attorneys office!!! There is no way to know where these calls are originating from. Bill Billaster (ha!) says they are in Tampa but I dont find him  a reliable source. Other names they are using are Samantha Moon, Tori and Christine. These people are scam artists and have found a way to scam little old people out of money. Please tell everyone you know! Even put it on Facebook and Twitter! Spread the word and do NOT stop DO NOT shut up - until the authorities are forced to do something about this! We work too hard for the money! These losers need to get a real job! I'm not afraid of going to jail, I'm not afraid of going to court! Come on people! We all should know that a collection agency cannot prosecute u!!! Only the district or states attorney can prosecute you. If they have fraudulent info that you are a worthless check writer / they are not going to give u fair warning over the phone .

this person called me and identified themselves as an attorney office and said my number was given to them by a private company and I was been used as a reference.They called looking for someone that I have not seen in like fifteen years.

when looked up this number it said it was a spoof number? what is that ?