They understand. They either don't believe you or, more likely, don't care. They may know exactly where to find him but call you to try to shame him into responding through family pressure. Or perhaps they think you'll even pay off the "debt" for him (this probably happens too often). There may not even be any debt (given the number of laws they're violating already that's a possibility). But they don't care. They work on commission and as long as money comes in from somewhere it's fine with them.

Don't let strangers on the phone confuse extortion with debt collection. Consumer debts in America, including payday loans, are a *CIVIL* matter, not criminal! The agents' horrid threats are empty and their conduct is illegal. As early as possible it's critical to determine if your collector is domestic or yet another South Asian faker. The former you can sue into submission; the latter tend to be out of reach.

My notes from October 2011 on payday loan and "hot check" collectors are linked below.

Fake payday loan collection scams
http://800notes.com/forum/ta-429fb24ec2162e3/ ... -numbers-here-2

See also this FTC alert: "Fake Debt Collectors"
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors

The following will be useful if you have a US domestic collector calling, and will in general help you sniff out the frauds:

official FTC guidance and staff opinions on the FDCPA, PDF copy of the Act
http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm

CFPB Q&A on debt collection practices
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ... debt-collection

That's not an argument you will win verbally. Your stepson is obviously hiding in your bathroom or a closet, in their minds. Blabbing about his alleged debt problems to you is meant to create false shame and prompt his payment before he thinks to demand proof and an end to the calls. The anti-privacy behavior is also illegal.

These people call me for my stepson's debt. They are so stupid they can't understand "he does not live here and I don't know where he is."

Received this call on my cell (a number I do not use on any of my credit cards information) - said I was being targeted in credit card fraud.   Told if I did not call this number, I could be served a summons.   Very vague and ominous - gave me a case number but did not say who they were!!    Idiots.

Got a call from this number with the threat of "...failure to call back, may result in possible legal action taken against you..." I have no clue what they were talking about. They mentioned their name, actually they mumbled their name and I was also unable to understand their "case number". Something about "credit card fraud".  Sounded extremely threatening!!

Called about a super old debt, that is not even on my credit report anymore. Ugh these people.