I got a message to call back this number.  Expecting it to be a scam I called back, just to make sure.  The man on the other end by giving the DOB and address they had listed for me.  Neither one was mine, and I did not give him the correct info. He said it must have been for a different person.  The whole call still didn't seem legit, but if it's a scam, I can't figure out what they're trying to pull.

Hey There Brit,

The reason why you're not getting a name or address is because its a scam. Call them and verbalize to them that you want them to cease and desist and by law they cannot call you anymore. Call your local news. Tell them what's going on. If anyone can find them it's the news and police.

Does anyone have an address for these people because i really need it and he won't give it to me and i don't even know what his real name is because he gives me a different name everytime if someone could call and get his name and address i would be beyond grateful

These fools called me, my entire family, and people I didn't even know I was related to.  They told EEVRYONE that I was gong to be arrested for writing bad checks.  When I called them back to ask for an address to send a cease and desist, I was told, "F*** off, I run this s*** not you", and then was hung up on. Oh really?  Glad that was recorded and the reality of this is that the CONSUMERS AND THE LAW RUN EVERYTHING.  YEARS ago I was victim to identity theft, filed a police report and contacted all the credit bureaus, to subsequently have all negative reports removed. Every now and then I will get a call trying to collect an old debt, but NOTHING like this.  Thankfully, "Mr. Sheilds"  fraudulently identified himself as a "Detective with the Harris County Sheriff" on a recorded line, to an ATTORNEY uncle of mine, who, after doing some research, reported them and filed a criminal complaint with The Harris County Sheriff's Department (They were very happy to do this after hearing the fraudulent audio claim and after I had called them concerned that there was a warrant out for my arrest - Mind you, I have never even had a parking ticket!) We have also sent this information to Texas Attorney General Abbott and the FTC.  Do yourself a favor and do research.  Below is information from the FTC.  Ask for a badge number, a first name, ANYTHING to identify that this is a really bad scam.  KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. KNOW THE LAW. I hope this helps anyone out there who is scared of someone hiding behind an 855 number trying to intimidate you.  

Debt Collection FAQs: A Guide for Consumers
If you?re behind in paying your bills, or a creditor?s records mistakenly make it appear that you are, a debt collector may be contacting you.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation?s consumer protection agency, enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect from you.

Under the FDCPA, a debt collector is someone who regularly collects debts owed to others. This includes collection agencies, lawyers who collect debts on a regular basis, and companies that buy delinquent debts and then try to collect them.

Here are some questions and answers about your rights under the Act.

What types of debts are covered?

The Act covers personal, family, and household debts, including money you owe on a personal credit card account, an auto loan, a medical bill, and your mortgage. The FDCPA doesn?t cover debts you incurred to run a business.

Can a debt collector contact me any time or any place?

No. A debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 in the morning or after 9 at night, unless you agree to it. And collectors may not contact you at work if they?re told (orally or in writing) that you?re not allowed to get calls there.

How can I stop a debt collector from contacting me?

If a collector contacts you about a debt, you may want to talk to them at least once to see if you can resolve the matter ? even if you don?t think you owe the debt, can?t repay it immediately, or think that the collector is contacting you by mistake. If you decide after contacting the debt collector that you don?t want the collector to contact you again, tell the collector ? in writing ? to stop contacting you. Here?s how to do that:

Make a copy of your letter. Send the original by certified mail, and pay for a ?return receipt? so you?ll be able to document what the collector received. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again, with two exceptions: a collector can contact you to tell you there will be no further contact or to let you know that they or the creditor intend to take a specific action, like filing a lawsuit. Sending such a letter to a debt collector you owe money to does not get rid of the debt, but it should stop the contact. The creditor or the debt collector still can sue you to collect the debt.

Can a debt collector contact anyone else about my debt?

If an attorney is representing you about the debt, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you. If you don?t have an attorney, a collector may contact other people ? but only to find out your address, your home phone number, and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting third parties more than once. Other than to obtain this location information about you, a debt collector generally is not permitted to discuss your debt with anyone other than you, your spouse, or your attorney.

What does the debt collector have to tell me about the debt?

Every collector must send you a written ?validation notice? telling you how much money you owe within five days after they first contact you. This notice also must include the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money, and how to proceed if you don?t think you owe the money.

Can a debt collector keep contacting me if I don?t think I owe any money?

If you send the debt collector a letter stating that you don?t owe any or all of the money, or asking for verification of the debt, that collector must stop contacting you. You have to send that letter within 30 days after you receive the validation notice. But a collector can begin contacting you again if it sends you written verification of the debt, like a copy of a bill for the amount you owe.

What practices are off limits for debt collectors?

Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact. For example, they may not:

use threats of violence or harm;
publish a list of names of people who refuse to pay their debts (but they can give this information to the credit reporting companies);
use obscene or profane language; or
repeatedly use the phone to annoy someone.
False statements. Debt collectors may not lie when they are trying to collect a debt. For example, they may not:

falsely claim that they are attorneys or government representatives;
falsely claim that you have committed a crime;
falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit reporting company;
misrepresent the amount you owe;
indicate that papers they send you are legal forms if they aren?t; or
indicate that papers they send to you aren?t legal forms if they are.
Debt collectors also are prohibited from saying that:

you will be arrested if you don?t pay your debt;
they?ll seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages unless they are permitted by law to take the action and intend to do so; or
legal action will be taken against you, if doing so would be illegal or if they don?t intend to take the action.
Debt collectors may not:

give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit reporting company;
send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency if it isn?t; or
use a false company name.
Unfair practices. Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, they may not:

try to collect any interest, fee, or other charge on top of the amount you owe unless the contract that created your debt ? or your state law ? allows the charge;
deposit a post-dated check early;
take or threaten to take your property unless it can be done legally; or
contact you by postcard.
Can I control which debts my payments apply to?

Yes. If a debt collector is trying to collect more than one debt from you, the collector must apply any payment you make to the debt you select. Equally important, a debt collector may not apply a payment to a debt you don?t think you owe.

Can a debt collector garnish my bank account or my wages?

If you don?t pay a debt, a creditor or its debt collector generally can sue you to collect. If they win, the court will enter a judgment against you. The judgment states the amount of money you owe, and allows the creditor or collector to get a garnishment order against you, directing a third party, like your bank, to turn over funds from your account to pay the debt.

Wage garnishment happens when your employer withholds part of your compensation to pay your debts. Your wages usually can be garnished only as the result of a court order. Don?t ignore a lawsuit summons. If you do, you lose the opportunity to fight a wage garnishment.

Can federal benefits be garnished?

Many federal benefits are exempt from garnishment, including:

Social Security Benefits
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits
Veterans? Benefits
Civil Service and Federal Retirement and Disability Benefits
Service Members? Pay
Military Annuities and Survivors? Benefits
Student Assistance
Railroad Retirement Benefits
Merchant Seamen Wages
Longshoremen?s and Harbor Workers? Death and Disability Benefits
Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Benefits
Compensation for Injury, Death, or Detention of Employees of U.S. Contractors Outside the U.S.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Disaster Assistance
But federal benefits may be garnished under certain circumstances, including to pay delinquent taxes, alimony, child support, or student loans.

Do I have any recourse if I think a debt collector has violated the law?

You have the right to sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. If you win, the judge can require the collector to pay you for any damages you can prove you suffered because of the illegal collection practices, like lost wages and medical bills. The judge can require the debt collector to pay you up to $1,000, even if you can?t prove that you suffered actual damages. You also can be reimbursed for your attorney?s fees and court costs. A group of people also may sue a debt collector as part of a class action lawsuit and recover money for damages up to $500,000, or one percent of the collector?s net worth, whichever amount is lower. Even if a debt collector violates the FDCPA in trying to collect a debt, the debt does not go away if you owe it.

What should I do if a debt collector sues me?

If a debt collector files a lawsuit against you to collect a debt, respond to the lawsuit, either personally or through your lawyer, by the date specified in the court papers to preserve your rights.

Where do I report a debt collector for an alleged violation?

Report any problems you have with a debt collector to your state Attorney General?s office (www.naag.org) and the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov). Many states have their own debt collection laws that are different from the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Your Attorney General?s office can help you determine your rights under your state?s law.

For More Information

To learn more about debt collection and other credit-related issues, visit www.ftc.gov/credit and MyMoney.gov, the U.S. government?s portal to financial education.

The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

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.

You have a filthy mouth........shill

Beverly,  you and Anacia be sure to read each of the posts here and make your own decision as to what is your best course of action.  In fact,  read over some of the other 1-855  posts on other threads of this 1-800 board and you will see a lot of information about how the scammers are working.  They will then come to these  board and try to influence people to believe that  the debt could be legit.  This practice is called Shilling.  Also,  look for Alfalfa's post on many of the threads on the board.  He outlines your rights as layed out by the Fair Debt collection act,  and how to deal with scammers and how to recognize them.  
Also,  I encourage both of you to  Google   Fair debt collection practices and consumer rights.  There is a world of information to help guide you in dealing with these people.  You should never pay anything to anyone unless that person/business  has fully validated,  in writing and via the US Mail,  any claim that they have against you.  Never ever even consider paying any alleged debt that you have no knowledge of ever owing just because you get that scary phone call that threatens you with arrest.  This practice by them is illegal and misrepresenting.
Any debt that is legitimate,  you will already know that you owe it,  and  those collecting must abide by the legal collection practices as layed out by the Fair Debt Collections Act.
There are those who watch this board in hopes of helping others know their options as well as recognize what may be a possibly a scam.  It is good to read what they say,  as well as what others are saying that may encourage you to pay the debt.  Most will say that they too had a similar debt and was arrested,  or wish they had paid,  or numerous other things to set your mind at ease and suggest that you should pay the alleged debt.  (naurally by debit or credit card)    Read over all of the posts and then decide just who is who.

I don't get your point..  You/Jason are the only one here who says that they took out a loan and actually owe money.  No one else here said that they took out or owed money for any loan.   So who is it that everyone is expected to pay?  Grow up and pay what to whom?   I'm just not following you on your logic here.   You owe the money,  yet you say others here should pay .........for what they don't owe?  To some strange voice over the telephone?

I apologize!   I just can't see paying some stranger money for what isn't owed.   By the way,  you do have a filthy mouth.

Back at cha!!

Thank you 'ah',
Physics eh? Then you will understand why I feel that the last centuries two true heroes were Albert E. and Stephen H.  Thankfully Stephen is still with us but I rather doubt that he'll be making many more contributions to science.
Onward to the next frontier!! Quantum Physics...and the extermination of human parasites.
God be with you 'ah'.  Gunnar.

There is a big difference between paying legitimate debts to the people you owe and paying strangers who call you on the phone because they claim you owe them.  If the company can't provide written validation through the US mail then don't pay them.  They have to prove you owe the debt, you are obligated to pay and they have the right to collect.  You have the right to dispute the debt if you believe you don't owe it.

Well put Gunnar.  Actually,  believe it or not,   I am a retired High School physics and Math teacher In _____, Oklahoma and I too get very angry when I see innocent people being scammed.  If one owes,  they should pay.  However,  I get very resentful when I see people who are not fully aware of the scams going on,  being taken out of fear by some low life.   I too enjoy doing what I can to put a stick in the scammers bicycle spokes.

What are YOU doing sitting there tapping on your keyboard?  I'm sure  he's trying to scam himself.  yeah....Makes sense.  I'm glad that you decided to make the decision to take care of what you owe.   You should....YOU OWE IT!    Since there are others who came to this board,  claiming that they do not owe the debt,  and indicating that there is some apparent mischief afoot (If you will read their posts)   how  about letting them make a decision Not to pay to a stranger with an unvalidated claim.  They say they don't owe it,  if the collection/scammer says that they do,   then why don't they send the written documentation  to validate the claim and be done with it?   As in being in accordance with the FDCPA.
Additionally,  you don't know that Gunner doesn't have a life.  You are also here Tapping a keyboard,  name calling,  and defending the scammer, (and yes he/she is a scammer)  and you think everyone should be impressed because you draw blood?  LAME!!!!

Ya' Think?
Yes 'ah', I do believe that the shills are getting their undies in a wad! And did you notice that 'she' claims 'she' is a Phlebotomist? Fitting eh? Takes blood...
Oh and by the way 'Jason", 'Tammy' etc. I happen to be a succesful Contractor with a Masters Degree.
I don't spend my day at the computer scamming people. I work hard at making an honest living and don't owe a single soul so much as a dime. I simply enjoy helping others understand the sickness that is pervading the collection industry. It's the low-life bogus firms that are destroying the reputations of the legitimate companies that are legally engaged in their trade. Nobody likes a debt collector, but some are merely doing a job that is neccessary. Others are nothing but con-artists trying to steal an easy buck from naive folks. I;m guessing that the people at this number know which category they fit in.
Carry on 'ah'. It's up to people like us to spray the garbage with deodorizer every once in a while!

I don't see anyone here confessing to haveing these debts.  I see people who have pretty reasonable reason to believe that they are being scammed,  and who have done some checking and  found where bogus faxes were sent and threats contrary to the laws of the FDCPA  were made against them.  I see posts where people have legitimate concerns that they are being scammed with no written validation,  simply a stranger on the phone threatening them for payment.   What I see here are people who have a firm conviction that they are not responsible for those who are accusing them of debt,  and making honest attempts to defend themselves from being taken by one of the many many scammers who are now infecting peoples lives.  If you have a problem with these people,  who claim they owe no debts to strangers who have called,  and are defending the ones who are making the threats and demandng what amounts to extortion,  You have the problem fand we will do all that we can can to alert as many people as we can,   and make the scammers and/or collectors either work within the laws of the FDCPA,  and provide the written validation necessary (if any)  to justify the paying of any valid debt.

Hi Tammy,  How are you today?   I see that you say you did in fact take out a pay day loan,  and you believe in paying it back,   and as you should.   Since you did take out the loan and you are responsible enough to pay it back,   then what is your problem?  You should have to pay it back.    However, you are acusing others here of not paying their bills,  and being so lame,  and paying up what is owed,  yet,  I don't see anyone here who has stated that they owe the Debts!  In fact,  they have offered pretty convincing evidence that someone is in fact trying to scam them into paying.  Re-Read all of those who posted here and tell me if any one of them has said that they owe the debt,  as you and Jason say you do.    Would you pay a debt that you don't owe?  Blindly to anyone to any stranger who calls and demands payment without any written validation or any written proof that the bill is actually yours?   Would you just hand over money for something that you have no knowledge of to just any one who tells you that you owe it?   I don't call that being sooooo lame as to  hide from obligations,   I call that proper management of funds and protection against scammers.   And also,  how many laws governed by the FDCPA  has been broken by not only this scammer but all of the others on these boards.  Any yet,  you believe that everyone is shierking their responsibilities just because they don't hand over the bucks?    Tammy,  or what ever you name is,   it is you that needs to get a real life and wake up.  You are the one who is unrealistic in what you are saying,  and you need to learn the difference between being paying what you owe as opposed to not paying what you don't owe,  just because some stranger calls and says you need to give them money or go to jail.....

That made a lot of sense....temper temper.  Strange that all of these people are showing up just to defend the scammers and shills when it's nothing to them.    Hmmmmm.   Must be affecting somebody's pocket book.  :)

I am certainly not capable of understanding the wording to your post.  Sounds like another illiterate attempt by the same shill writing all the other posts...

WOW u must be some kind of doozy thinking everyone is a scammer,maybe your the SCAMMER????not everyone is trying to sit around and making up things to get these people to think you know better then EVERYONE else.I say do what ever you want....i just decided to take care of what i owed.im no marter an could care less what anyone else does.except u gunner i think u should go f*** urself ya half wit...im a phlebotomist what do u?do besides sit around tapping on your keyboard how everyones scammimg everyone...get a life LAME!!!!!!!!

Good points Gunnar!   I think the ole shill here is probably wearing out the keyboard trying to salvage a few bucks this month.  It's a terrible thing  when people are actually costing those   honest,  noble,  hard working,  scammers an opportunity or three to make a living by taking some little old lady's social security check.  I think I did detect a little temper in ole jason though.  I'll  Bet he got that BP up around 300/250  with the heart rate of a bull terrior....Relax Jason,  after all,  you are just trying to be helpful to everyone.........aren't cha?

What's the matter 'Tammy'? Having a little trouble collecting on all those 'legitimate' debts? Or could it be that trying to collect on those invalid debts isn't working out to well? You shills are sure spending a lot of your time on here. I guess that sites like this are really starting to put a damper on your party time huh?
Maybe you better start looking for a better job. Of course, we all understand that it's not easy to find work now when they all want background checks and drug screenings. But maybe you could find something under the radar. Like a job with one of those scum sucking bogus debt collection outfits!

I also recieved a call an i did in fact take out a pay day,and i believe in paying for what i got.im not trying to screw anyone over,trying to skate out on paying your debt is sooo lame.Don't take the money if you are not gnna be able to pay it off.NO ONE OWES U S***!grow the f*** up an pay what u owe.i don't have to hide from anyone!!!!!

Shill alert !!

I saw these post and thought I would reply.  While I'm sure the approach these guys are using is harsh but from what I've perused here, while entering into agreements or proposals that you do not nor are capable of understanding is your first problem.  Being responsible for your actions is the problem not being scammed.

What do expect to find here?   Compliments and goodies?  Scumbags...PAY YOUR DEBTS!!  You must be voting for Obama

Garnishment is not a scam f****ard...post dating a check and or providing my account number and routing number is the same thing.  The court that awarded them garnishment is not a scam.  WTF are you on?  I'm paying back now...without a choice.  If you do provide a posted dated check and it is returned NSF that is possession and realease of a forged instrument.  Write one and see.  I worded my first post for the obviously f****ng ignorant people that dont believe.

Sir,   I don't believe a word that you have typed.  What I honestly believe, from your story and  by your English wording,  is that you are a little toad like guy sitting in the back room of a telephone boiler room in India or some similar place,  working your little a** off trying to  scam some poor sucker into turning over his family's much needed money.
I find your kind deplorable and liken to raw sewage.

Lets see here. You took out a loan with a Bank. Decided not to pay it. They took you to court & you didn't show up. Now your wages are garnished. Sounds like a perfect description of how the law is suppose to work on an honest, but you didn't pay it back, loan. An expensive life lesson.

Well now Jason.....May I call you Jason?.........you say you took out a payday loan,  with your bank info,  and they took you to court when you told them to   __OFF....so what's the problem bub?  you said you did it and it was a valid claim.   If you will read those others who have posted here,  not one says it is valid.  
you were a fool not to pay it.........They would be fools if they did pay it!!    Scam all the way and you, Jason,  may I still call you Jason?.........are a shill and are doing nothing but trying to legitimize the scam....
Go Lay down....shill...

I got a call from these guys.  I don't think it's a scam.  I took a payday loan out with my bank info and they took me to court when I told them F OFF!...I didnt appear because i thought it was a bunch of s*** and they won by default.  Civil court garnished my wage.  Way extreme tactics though.