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

I received a voicemail from a woman named John (1st clue that its a scam), saying my name is Tiffany (2nd clue, my name is not tiffany) and that they have tried to serve me papers and that they are going to try again tomorrow.

I keep receiving calls from this number saying they are a collection agency who says the people they are collecting for has a case against my daughter, who is disabled

ll from 8778455598/8772309366/ACS and local number 9104424511. Looked up local number and was an electrical company.
Will serve papers from personal locator on 2/28/14. Called me back and just played music. Talked to lawyer and he advised me to give them his number.

I got this call at work on 2/19/14 so my boss took a message said her name Katrina and she is from advance capital 877-230-9366 x 102 I don't know why they would be calling me I don't owe anything

These lazy people trying to money the easy way by scaring people into giving them money saying are going to press charges againist you.  I know when I meet my maker I will go through the gates because I have a real job teaching !!! not scamming people. said to call from Advanced captial solutions at 877-230-9366 but phone did not ring the ID on the voice mail (vocie to text) says "unknown@emaildomain.com"   Went to web site has NO phone numbers or address but they are more than happy for you to fill out their appilcation with ALL your personal information on it!!   BEWARE!!!!

Sounds like a scam - if you really were going to be served, the process server would just show up.  You don't get a "courtesy" call beforehand.  And obviously the "location specialist" is anything but, or you'd have been served already.  If you're worried you may have a lawsuit against you (any unpaid debt in collections?), call your local courts and they will be able to tell you if you are on the court schedule.  However, I'm betting there won't be anything.  Again, no one calls you before you're served.

Message on my machine: Concerning my brother owing money. I am his POA due to him being mentally challenged. Stated a name I have not used for 40+ years. Left their company name of: Capital Solutions; her name was Estelle, I believe; she would be there from 9-5 daily but I could call anytime & talk to anyone. Her extension is: 120. Phone # to call back is: 877-230-9366
I suspect some kind of payday loan type deal. I have dealt with these type people before. If legit, let them send the legal paperwork and I will deal with them through the court system. Till then, they can go fly a kite.

I have not & will not call back. This is a scam to get money.

I got a call from 330-863-8424 today with a messege left for husband to call this 877-230-9366 number. they included a case number and said it was attached to SSN and name. a mrs. jays or something was the person to call back at ext. 110.she said she was with advanced capital.

This number called and told me they are a locater in the area and are scheduled to deliver documentation to my house tomorrow between 9-1 I will post and let you know if they show

Received an "unknown" call.  I don't answer "unknown" calls.  A voice mail was left stating there is a pending case attached to name and social.  Was given case number.  This phone number was left as a callback number.  From research that I have done, it appears to be a payday loan collection agency.  

This company has been calling my mother for months using my name and maiden last name stating they are looking for me and have important information to serve me. This Jennifer lady claims she has stopped byy house and is a location specialist. I have no clue what this could be about or if it is even real! Kinda freaks me out

I hate the weasel clause "unless the following information is contained in the initial communication."

What if the debt collector falsely claims that the consumer was given all of that information during the "initial communication" by phone?  Unless the phone call had been recorded, how could the consumer prove that the debt collector was lying?

Not without first proving you legitimately owe the debt:

Validation of debts   [15 USC 1692g]
(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.

(b) If the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period described in subsection (a) that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, or that the consumer requests the name and address of the original creditor, the debt collector shall cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion thereof, until the debt collector obtains verification of the debt or any copy of a judgment, or the name and address of the original creditor, and a copy of such verification or judgment, or name and address of the original creditor, is mailed to the consumer by the debt collector.

(c) The failure of a consumer to dispute the validity of a debt under this section may not be construed by any court as an admission of liability by the consumer.

http://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/rules/rulemaki ... es-act-text#809

They called me and my husband claiming we owed money to a payday loan and threatened to take us to court and garnish our wages of $1500. How do they get this info on us? Do they have the right to do this?

They keep calling and harrassing.....threatening.......you can hear other callers in the background.  I am sick of it!!

They called and threaten to take me to court. Don't remember who they are calling for just that they scared me. What else

This number called and made a threat to take me to court.....they used my OLD last name from 1996?