Got a call. No message was left.

I called a number 8669499516 for my fiance today at 1:51pm central time (we live in Louisiana). I was attempting to take care of his "case (#)" however the young female on the phone informed me that they could not provide me with his information, which I expected but I wanted to try anyway. I realized that she didnt give me the name of the business in which i was calling, which I have been trying to get from my fiance so that I can do a search like this! She refused to give me the name of the law firm and even went so far as to say that I was "playing games". It was not until I told her that it was suspicious that she couldnt give me the name of her firm and that we weren't playing games, that she told me that their name was frederick, goldstein, and zoe. That suspicion led me to google their name as I was going to anyway, way "before" he gave the people his account information! I didnt know for sure at the time but when she was hesistant to provide me with the name of their lawfirm I felt then that something was definately wrong. ---A little background to the situation: they told him it was a credit card debt from 9 years ago and that it had to be paid in full by the end of this month (May) or his check would be garnished.--- I'm so upset. With him for giving that information over the phone without having enough information, with them for being the type of cold hearted scum that makes a living this way, and with the country and government and fair debt collection act from not staying on top of stuff like this, responding to it, and preventing this from happening to people. Next stop, ftc.gov to report it, Thanks.

lovewi, I am currently experiencing the same thing as of yesterday. They agreed to speak with me, wife, in regards to a matter and the way we found out about this was threw a relative in the northern region of the USA; which my husband has only visited like twice. Yesterday we started getting all kinds of calls from relative in and out of state saying these people are trying to find you. They refused to say who they were and were extremely unpleasant when I stated that we were not just going to give this info on the phone to Joe Blow. I recommend not giving any info and just ignore. I consulted with an attorney at my company and he said that this is ridiculous and illegal way of handling something.
Also, after searching the net, they ironically use same names, Mrs Campbell, Mr Daniels were two name that they are identifying themselves with. If you search the web enough, you will see that this company has been sued before because they mess with the wrong people.
They are kicking people in the gut financially while the economy is suffering.

I GOT THE CALL TO TODAY. ARE THESE PEOPLE ACUTALLY SUING INNOCENT CONSUMERS OR ARE THEY JUST SCARING THEM INTO PAYING TO EVEN FIND OUT?

Just got through talking with Jeffery McCall @ Fredricks,Goldtein,Zoe..Going to sue if I don't pay a 9 year old bill for 99.00 that has now grown to 300.00. He could not send any info, but if I agreeded to pay tonight , He would stop the law suit, if I paid 150.00 tonight.
I told him I would let my lawyer handle it, that I wouldn't pay for something that I was unsure I owed.
Wait and see what happens

got a call with a recording saying they were looking for someone that I have never heard of - I've had the same number for 15 years - I am sure not calling them back - doesn't sound legit to me

This is the third call in the past month from Fredericks Goldstein and Zoe out of Western New York. They said the got my information from the Federal Police registry. They said this was an old debt and I was the only contact that was registered. Funny how no other relatives have had any calls. The receptionist made the call, then gave me to a Mr. Black. I am confident that was a made up name, because after a few minutes of talking I addressed him as Mr. Black and he said who? I asked about statute of limitations and basically had no idea what I was referring to.

wait u guys r saying they want u to pay some bill or somthing?
haha im 14 years old and i dont have any bills to pay.
they have been calling me for a while and i have never picked up.
next time they call me im gonna say this is pizza hut what do u want to order

cant wait till they call me back

still waiting....

I thought this was a legit debt that my husband owed and I gave them our account numbers and set up payments. Then the first payment they overdrew my account; then refused to verify the account was indeed my husband;s account.
Just got off the phone with them and they were BELIGERENT!!!
I hope they are shut down. I am going to sue for fradulent misrepresentative tort!!!!

I thought this was a legit debt that my husband owed and I gave them our account numbers and set up payments. Then the first payment they overdrew my account; then refused to verify the account was indeed my husband;s account.
Just got off the phone with them and they were BELIGERENT!!!
I hope they are shut down. I am going to sue for fradulent misrepresentative tort!!!!

Here is how to stop these thugs:

1) Tell them you are recording the call and will forward the recording to New York Assistant Attorney General Dennis Rosen of the Consumer Fraud Division.  

2)  Whatever they say, just laugh at them. Just Laugh ? tell them you know they are scam artists and they do not scare you at all.

3) read this:

ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO SHUTS DOWN NEW YORK DEBT COLLECTION OPERATION THAT USED ILLEGAL SCARE TACTICS TO THREATEN CONSUMERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

http://www.oag.state.ny.us/media_center/2009/june/june23a_09.html

Employees Posed as Law Enforcement Officials and Threatened to Throw Consumers in Jail if They Didn't Immediately Pay Debts

Latest Action in Cuomo's Ongoing Probe into Unlawful Debt Collection Practices

BUFFALO, NEW YORK (June 23, 2009) - Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that his office has shut down a New York collection operation that consisted of at least nine debt collection companies across Western New York, run by Buffalo resident Tobias Boyland. This is the latest action in Attorney General Cuomo's ongoing investigation of unlawful debt collection practices.

According to hundreds of consumer complaints filed with law enforcement agencies across the country, Boyland's employees violated state and federal law by routinely posing as law enforcement officials, threatening to arrest consumers and throw them in jail unless they made arrangements to pay the company immediately. Under the terms of the court order obtained today by Cuomo's office in Buffalo Supreme Court, Boyland's operation will shut down all of its companies in the Buffalo area. Attorney General Cuomo also announced that his Office executed search warrants on four of the operations known locations and on Boyland's residence this morning. When investigators from the Attorney General's Office arrived at the residence, they found a loaded, .380 semi-automatic pistol on Boyland's person. Boyland was taken into custody by the Erie County Sheriff and the Office of the Erie County District Attorney will handle the resulting gun-possession case.  

"Plain and simple, this company was run by people who lied, bullied and preyed on vulnerable Americans struggling to resolve their financial situation," said Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. "Pretending to be a police officer, threatening to throw consumers in jail - these practices are as despicable as they are illegal. My Office will continue to relentlessly root out these kinds of tactics and shut down unscrupulous companies that violate the rights of consumers across New York and the entire nation."

According to the lawsuit filed by the Attorney Generals Office, Boyland, a convicted felon, and three other individuals ran numerous debt collecting companies that operated out of at least four locations in Western New York. The other three individuals named in the lawsuit are Kayla Pritchett, Dellian Sharp and Dorian Wills.  Both Sharp and Will also have criminal records.

These debt collection agencies operated under several names across the Buffalo area, including: Central Resource Management, Final Claims Asset Locators, Final Control Asset Locators, Interchange Payment Solutions, Next Step Services, Portfolio Asset Assurance, Silverbay Services, and Teleport. Their collectors routinely made scripted telephone calls designed to intimidate consumers into paying their debts. The debt collectors pretended to be law enforcement officers and threatened consumers with arrest and incarceration if they failed to pay.  These employees also falsely informed consumers that they were being sued in civil court.

Attorney General Cuomo's investigation revealed that collectors regularly demanded payment for non-existent debts, demanded payments for debts that had already passed the statute of limitations, or substantially inflated the amount owed on an actual debt.  Using their false law enforcement identities, collectors coerced and cajoled terrified consumers into agreeing to make payments.  Frightened at the prospect of arrest and humiliation, consumers authorized withdrawals from their checking accounts, sent Western Union moneygrams and/or money orders out of fear.  Consumers were intentionally given misleading names, addresses and telephone numbers that led them to believe the businesses were located far from the Buffalo area.

Peter Dellinger of the Empire Justice Center said, The Empire Justice Center stands firmly behind Attorney General Cuomo's efforts to stamp out fraudulent and abusive debt collectors across the country.  In these times of financial hardship, dishonest debt collection companies are attempting to take advantage of honest, hard-working consumers.  We thank Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for his leadership and for putting a stop to these merchants of financial misery.

The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the New York State debt collection and consumer protection laws prohibit the following conduct: posing as an attorney, threatening lawsuits or other legal action which cannot be taken, saying a consumer committed a crime or will be arrested and talking with third parties except to get location information. The law further requires collection agencies to send a written notice within five days of initial communication with the consumer explaining how he or she can dispute the debt. If properly disputed, the collection agency must stop all collection attempts and send verification.

Today's action is part of a larger investigation by Attorney General Cuomo into unlawful debt collection practices. Earlier this month, Cuomo announced settlements with three Western New York-based debt collection companies to reform their deceptive methods. Attorney General Cuomo also subpoenaed nearly twenty companies and law firms operating as debt collectors throughout the state. His office shut down two collectors for threatening and intimidating consumers into paying debts that they did not owe. In early May, Attorney General Cuomo announced a lawsuit against two debt settlement companies for fraudulent business practices and false advertising by selling misleading debt settlement plans that very rarely deliver the promised benefits to consumers dealing with debt.

Cuomo also launched a website - www.NYDebtHelp.com- that explains consumer rights, allows victims of debt collection and debt settlement companies quick access to the Attorney Generals office to file complaints, and outlines the stages of the Attorney Generals investigation.

The case was handled by Assistant Attorney General Dennis Rosen, Assistant Attorney General Nathan Reilly, Assistant Attorney General James Morrissey and Senior Consumer Fraud Representative Karen Davis, under the supervision of Special Deputy Chief of Staff Mitra Hormozi.

4. Go to http://www.oag.state.ny.us/resource_center/co ... eb_consumer.pdf

5) Fill out the form and file the complaint.

Really quick and easy to report...
1. go to www.ftc.gov
2. click on the FTC Complaint Assistant
3. 1st question is "is the complaint concerning identity theft"
click "NO" then closely related to "debt collection practices"
then "A company other than the original creditor"
4. follow through the six steps
5. review and submit.
...Hope it brings an end to "this" scam.

Calling looking for my husband's cousin.  Long story short, they are hired by Fredrick Goldstein and Zoe attorney's office, they are debt collectors.  Won't answer questions or give info.  Have no idea how they even got my number, it is in my maiden name.  Reported to the FTC.  Very easy to do a www.ftc.gov.