I sent money ther said I would go to jail they new all my information what should I do please help

Some clown called me from the 855-778-8154 number at 10:26am on 1/16/14 claiming that I wasa person of interest in sdomething.  Anyway, I returned the call at 10:48am, the same day, and of course a robot said no one was avaialbe to take my call.  So being the upstanding citizen that I am (LOL), I left a VM saying that I need some clown to return my call.  

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

My In Laws got a call from these people telling them I was a " Person Of Interest " I got the number 855 778 8154 . I called first and a guy Named Chris Johnson answered after a few times I finally got the name of the company ( APR ) . I hung up . I called a few minutes later got Chris Johnson again ( you could hear in the background a bunch of people making phone calls ) anyway I told him my name and that I have filed bankruptcy and they can no longer call me or my in laws. That is when this guy git a tude with me telling me that if I did my lawyer would have sent then papers I returned and told him if he wants I'd be more then happy to give him my lawyers number. He hung up on me .  

"You have been named a person of interest in a case"

They say (my son's name) you have been named a person of interest. You have to call some number immediately. I am about to ditch my home phone. Sick of this. Saved a bunch of these messages. How do you sue them? No money for a lawyer.

Thank you to all who have reported to this site.  I received a call like this today.  I have contacted my lawyer and they have stated the following:  "If you search the number on the internet and it doesn't come up with the company name on the first result, then you know it's a scam".  I am a hard-working professional and do not have time for these "empty" threats.  I have always paid my bills as agreed.  Please make sure you ask a lot of questions and get State Bar license numbers from these "law firms" that contact you.  Also, please note that if you are really named a "person of interst" in a case, you better believe that a process server will be at your doorstep and you would never receive a phone call.  

Stop calling me !!!!!!!

I called this number and they called themselves a law firm and when I asked for an actual lawyer and they said well they are going to give you the same info that I am.  So I asked again are you a lawyer he said " a yes we are"  I said so "you are a lawyer??"  " A no he told me"  so I wanted him to get me one and he did and when I asked the man for his credentials  He screamed yes screamed " Who the hell are you to talk to me in this manner I will not take this abuse from you anymore ...you have no right to ask me those questions"  I ll just see you in court"  Is that really how a true lawyer acts?? I dont think so...I wish I could have gotten the name of the so called law firm but they kept skirting the question.  BEWARE THEY ARE THIEFS!!!

Too weird, cause I got a call from this number today, as well! Thank you for the information y'all have provided.

I received the same call with a pre-recorded message saying "You've been listed as a person of interest and have been legally notified."  I know nothing about it and don't owe anyone.  I am glad I looked the number up to see all the calls they have made today .  Amazing!

Just got the same call!!! It is a little scarry!

I received a call from this company and obtained information that may be useful.  The company indicated the mailing address to be 4246 Ridge Lea, Ste 43 in Amherst, NY 14226 (This is actually an area in Buffalo, NY).  The alleged attorney stated that his name was Patrick Corbett.  The company goes by the name of APR (American Profit Collection); however, they requested that the payment be sent to Infinity Acquisitions.  They were attempting to collect a debt for a Tribal Pay Day Advance company that is sovereign from the US and is not allowed to sue for recovery without losing their soverign status.  I simply pretended to be remitting the alleged amount of the debt and instead, I sent a notice for them to Cease and Desist.  I sent it via certified mail and I also plan to report this company to the Federal Trade Commission, the Attorney General in their area, The State Collection Board for New York, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.  I have dealt with this kind of company  before and this is very effective in getting these types of companies to go away.  They are often acting illegally; therefore, it is always best to refuse to deal with third-party collectors.  If you owe a debt, make sure you are settling the debt with the company you owe instead of being tricked by the criminal minded lazy schemers.  Good Luck

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for the information.  Such as yourselves, I received this call today.  I am a legal assistant at a law firm and was suprised to see the level to which these so-called "debt collectors" go to.  When I say "So-called", I mean not legitimate debt collectors.  My advise to all is to inform the "collector" that called you that you have consulted with a legal professional and have been informed to not give any personal information.  Once they hear you have legal representation, they will back off. I cannot say for certain that this will work, but under no circumstances should you ever offer information to a company or collector who cannot verify details of the debt they are calling on.   To clarify, I do not own any outstanding debts nor am I being sued for fraud.  Using the term "Person of Interest" is very bold on a so-called consumer debt; "person of interest" term is used in a criminal case, to which a financial debt is not listed under.  

Long story short, this company is not legitimate and is fraudlent.  Do not provide any information or do not answer the call.

Holy cow!!  What are the chances that all of us got the same call on the same day within minutes of each other?????  Ruthless scammers!!  This brings a whole new meaning to "Friday The 13th".  LOL!  They will never get information from me, that's for sure!

HA!  Thanks Brian!  Just got the same call.  So crazy, I cannot believe people are still trying to scam innocent people.  I certainly did not give them any information and will continue to ignore the calls.

Those losers are persons of interest to the FTC. Turn them in.

just got the same call. i have been labled a person of intrest, so everyone stay away from me! i wish they would leave me alone. thanks for all the info on this site!

DO NOT GIVE ANY INFORMATION.  THESE PEOPLE ARE SCAMMERS!!!!!  THEY HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE FTC AND THE GOVERNMENT.  SEE ALL THE COMMENTS BELOW.  

My husband just finished received a call from this same number and was completley harrassed on the phone, i have advised him before not to get caught up in conversation and get upset. They are not legitimate in their collection process. They threatened him by saying that he would have to appear in front of a judge and that he would be processed for criminal activity and so on...bullcrap! I told him to call back and he did and the girl on the other line just hung up on him. SO there you go. I will be contacting the FBI.

I just got the same phone call and I did call them back and they wanted me to give them my personal information, when I refused do so, the guy got irritated. When I told them if they don't quit calling I will contact my attorney and start a law suit against there company, the guy told me that he didn't have time for this non-sense and said good bye. If this was a real company they would have told me all of my information on the phone and wouldn't have hung up on me.

I have repeatedly received calls from this group saying that the person who previously had this phone number was named as "a person of interest" in a case.  I've twice called them back to let them know the number no longer belongs to the person they are trying to communicate with.  They always say they will correct the record, but I'll bet they have a new staff every week.  It's that kind of place.

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.

Got a voice mail from them at work--I have a private office and line. To be honest, they skirt around saying anything illegal, but just barely. Do not pay any attention to them unless they give you verification. They won't.

Had call/message last week from 855-778-8154 with case #, tried calling back and no one is there and no name when voice mail answers to leave message. Tried many times and same thing.

Called and asked for my phone number to be removed from their calling list.  Didn't say anything else other than remove my phone number.  I also had information pulled up and ready to go about reporting them to the FTC under the Fair Credit Debt Collection Practices Act and they were unlawfully trying to collect a fake debt.  Didn't get that far.  They just removed me.  I didn't give them any information other than the phone number at which they contacted me at.

I have no business with these people yet they say I am a person of interest! This is a scam! Do not send them anything!!! They should be banned from calling anyone!!!

Just got the same phone call,  Still waiting for an email as they told me would not mail me a verification in the mail. told me I was using a stalling tactic.  and that I had been contacted on several occasions for this.. so not true.

these people are calling my home too, this is harrassment.

Been having the same issues as above.  I did get the email... but when I emailed back it didn't get to them.  They had a year I supposedly took the loan, with an address, job and bank from different years.  Told me there was a criminal case against me for fraud.  Same scare tactics. They even had someone call me at work saying they were So and so from the county I used to live in and they had 24 hours to serve me.  I told dude that when someone can show me proof that I took out the loan, I will pay it.  Other wise, they are not allowed on my property at work or at home.  They are all nuts... and I throw scare tactics back!  Now they only have a a recording call me. That really scares me...lol!