Just received a call form Nationwide 844-205-6998. Informing me of a debt that needs to be settled today or I would go picked of for failure to pay a date back in 2010. I explain, I do not owe anyone and please stop calling me. Called back on several occasions wouldn't give me a name. I hung up!

A scam!

For at least the last year, an illegal group of debt collectors have been terrorizing consumers, their family, friends, and employers threatening to arrest the individual of an unpaid loan or other debt (their generally don't even owe).  Be aware debt is a civil matter, not a criminal matter, and you can't be arrested.  The threaten a warrant if the victim does not pay a sum of money by the credit card over the phone.

Although when pressed the callers give the victim an address in Columbia South Carolina (usually a vacant lot).  They are actually out of the Charlotte North Carolina area.  The scammers are using the following business names

Kaufmann and Associates
Sanderson Blaine & Associates
McKenzie Reid Associates
Kennedy, Kline, & Associates

Here is a set of links to a variety of threads on this forum that document this group and its behavior.  They include the experiences of victims as well as a former employee or two that quit within a week of finding out exactly what was going on.  They also include responses from consumer advocates and people who are really criminal justice professionals advising victims of what to do

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-748-8367
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-719-1725
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-676-3492
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-805-5549
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-751-1084
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-803-2349
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-775-2417
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-775-2418
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-755-3417
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-746-3946
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-676-3485

Send them a cease com letter also call attorney General office file a complaint like I did..also call bbb like I did

As other posters have mentioned, this number is a scam artist collection agency. The address they report is a fake, unless they are operating out of a middle school in South Carolina. The company was created around December 6, 2013, just 4 days before the first report of this number. I haven't actually spoken to them since I haven't answered the phone, but I don't need to  talk with them to know exactly how these scams work. DO NOT GIVE THEM ANYTHING. All their threats are bulls**t.

Unfortunately, they are using an internet based number which means they could be calling from anywhere. They probably won't tell you their address, and they probably won't accept anything but your debit/credit card or bank account.

Another thing to remember, since they just opened up last month, it means that the company used to be called something else, and they got caught by the FCC and got shut down. But instead of paying any fines, they just close down whatever name and number they used to have and start up with a new (fake) name and phone number. I promise, this company won't be around longer than 6 months.

They are using a new # 855 803 2349. They told me that they were looking for a certain person ( which I will not name ) but this women jennifer parker said that this person had committed a felony for bad checks over $5000.00 and she needed her or her attorney to contact them or the superior court. Don't these people have laws of what they can say and can not. I am an x relative of 10 yrs. They call themselves investigators I call them liars

This day was absolutely crazy!! I've been through a lot in my life and going thru a divorce, my fianances in crisis and for this to happen was the top of the cake. However after speaking with them and telling them am a single individual and have no recalls on that payday loan. But if I owe, then a payment plan is what needs to happen and the only thing I can do! I offered 25. a mth she nearly came thru the phone telling me that's not acceptable and am going to be arrested and takn to court, jail. I freaked and started to give them my debit until I heard nothing in the background and a small voice inside me told me to STOP! I proceeded to ask her for her full name and company name and got that number also. I also wanted her to transfer me a to a lwayer on site.. she paused and transferred me to a answering machine and I haung up! wowThese people need to be STOPPED I NEARLY HAD A HARD ATTACK AND FAINTED. THE NUMBER WAS 855-775-2417 BEWARE!!!

Kennedy Clyne Associate,I don't know what's the matter with this company but I have received calls from them saying about some online payday loan. I call information and gave them the address out of Columbia South Carolina and they had no record of it. I also have family live in Columbia South Carolina gave them the address of 440 King St and went to see if there were such address and they couldn't find it. I wish we could locate these scammers and have the attorney general handle the situation.

I looked and could not find a listing for this company. Mmmmm fake!!!!!!

These people call my sis-in-law, and message was sent to me...I called 855-775-2418 ext 306. Victoria Ruzzo....she me I had loan that I had not paid in 2010, needed me to pay. Or they will contact the County I am in an issue a payment through courts. I told them, Wait! I NEVER GOT A Loan!...I need to go to my bank and prove it and then go to local POLICE Dept. She said, 'No! U need to settle this now, we make an offer, and settle out of court.....WAT THE HECK!....I reported them in...I even went to the bank....I got my proof...I never got a loan with PAYDAY 1.....they also said the are working with "Kennedy Klien & Associates.

THESE PEOPLE ARE SCAMMERS THEY HAVE BEEN CALLING ME FOR MONTHS WITH FALSE NAMES!!!!!!!!

Got a call today from them looking for my daughter, they do not have permission to call my number nor use manipulating tactics of threat of a warrant for her arrest if she does not call them back next time they call I will record call and file suit for what and how they do what they do when the shoe is on the other foot does not feel good.

I too got something from this number but it wasn't directly to my phone.  They called my sister, my brother and my daughter and I thought that was odd. They could contact my whole family through their cells but not the one person they were looking for. I called them and they told me as I was being investigated for check fraud because I owed a payday loan from 2010.  They said they had bank information and the last 4 digits of my social, which they told me and it was correct. They told me that a warrant was pending for my arrest in frederick county where I lived and that if I were to be detained I would not be released before my court date which was Jan 16.  They talked such a good game and really scared me, even putting me on hold while they contacted they attorneys office to ask about a payment plan. When they came back with, an amount I couldn't afford, they advised me to get an attorney. Im still shaken and confused.  Are these legit people or a scam.

Got a message at work with this number saying that I had to call them immediately.  I did after work and they answer with "Investigations".  These people are scammers and speak very fluent English.  Told me they were giving me a choice of where I wanted to be served papers at...work or home.  I asked what client they were calling for and they said Payday One and I was being charged with non payment AND breach of contract.  I DON'T EVEN DO ONLINE LOANS !  Today, they called my workplace  3 to 5 times.  We are not allowed to receive phone calls at work unless it is a family emergency.  If anyone knows how to get this to stop I would greatly appreciate it.

Got a call a few minutes ago.  I kept saying hello but no one answered.  I could hear voices in the background.  I called back and the person (female) that picked up answered saying "investigating"...I asked why she was "investigating" me and all she could say was that she could not find my number in their database.  I will give them the benefit of the doubt.  Maybe she dialed the wrong number.