Earl works for these guys.  Dont believe a word that they say.  Total scam.

Did any of you make a payment through moneygram beforehand? Moneygram asks identity questions, one of which is to confirm a relative's location. Right after I entered this information my relative was contacted by these people the next day - new number which supposed creditor wouldn't have known. Telling relatives there is a pre legal matter is slander and violates privacy laws, this is an unreputable company. Apparently moneygram does business with some shady people.

Got a call from this phone number.

They can't get anything from you anyway, because you don't live in a community property state:

The debt collectors are behaving badly again. This time they're hitting up surviving family members for money that's owed by the dead!

The New York Times reports that some collection agencies specialize in this somewhat morbid pursuit. Collectors even receive "sensitivity" training to deal with grieving relatives. They'll speak in hushed tones on the phone like a funeral director and refer you to a legitimate grief counselor if necessary.

In most cases, you have no legal obligation to assume the debt of a late spouse, sibling or parent. But the collectors will never tell you that.

The only states where there is a possibility that a surviving spouse may have some responsibility for a debt are "community property states" -- Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/category/12/103/358/

Send them a cease and desist letter. If that doesn't work, get yourself a good consumer attorney and sue them.

I JUST GOT THE CALL THE LADY CALLED ME BY MY MARRIED NAME AND MY MADEN NAME THEY HAVE BEEN CALLING ME SINCE MY HUSBAND PASSED AWAY A YEAR AGO THE CREDIT CARD IS 10 YEARS OLD THEY WONT GIVE UP  I LIVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA THEY CANT GET NOTHING FROM ME AND ITS NOT ON MY CREDIT REPORT

They have been calling my mom and sister...and I don't live with either one of them. Same other info as above, Robert Foster, Robert Mason, Carol Newman....case number blah, blah, blah. Checked my credit report, looks great. If it was a legit "legal" matter, they would serve you formally-not call various numbers hoping to reach person "X". Companies like these purchase old debts for pennies on the dollar and attempt to collect on them. Often enough, they even contact the wrong individual. I am looking to see how I can block them from calling and even checking into how to file a complaint against them for harrassing my family.

I just got a call from 631-755-3087 an it was a lady saying her name was nancy Riley from legal verifications department on my cell.. sayin for me to contact robert mason or carol newman at 888-576-1260.. sayin if i didnt that futher action would be taken.. i called number back they didnt identifiy theirselfs the just answered the phone how my i help u... seems a lil fishy to me

@Earl : how does it feel that you are the only 1 out of a 100 on this blog that actually fell for it....we are the losers....

Received a call today from a Nancy Riley from a pre-legal verifications department on my cell.  I asked what is the name of the company whom she was representing or making the call for she stated verifications and that she didn't have anything to do with the case she was just calling to let me know about it and for me to contact Robert Mason with the case number she was about to give me. I was like what in the world!! Come to find out after I passed the info along to my attorney, this was not even my debt.  Debt collectors use all sorts of tactics to collect on a debt and 9 times out of 10 they go about it the wrong way.  By law all debt collectors have to send you something in writing for your verification of the actual debt.  If they don't then basically it's on them.  If it appears on your credit report and you have been asking for verification of this debt so that you can start paying, then you can go after the debt collector for not responding to your request.  Luckily I have a family member that's an attorney and one that's a collection attorney. There are laws consumers have to abide by, as well as business owners, you just have to know how to go about doing it the right way.  If you don't know then you can be scammed into debts that are not even yours.

IT IS NOT A SCAM, THEY OFFERED ME A REALLY NICE 60% OFF SETTLEMENT ON ONE OF MY OUTSTANDING DEBTS. SOMETHING NOONE WILL EVER DO.. YOU PEOPLE ARE JUST A BUNCH OF LOSERS WHO DONT WANT TO PAY YOUR BILLS.

I received a call today regarding my ex-husband.  They called from 631-755-3087 and 631-755-3089 at the same time. I called the regular number first and asked that person a few questions.  She asked me for my number, but I refused to give it to her.  She said the only way to be removed from their list is to give it to her.  Then I called them back at 1-888-576-1260 and spoke with "Carol Newman" and told her I was very angry that they are bothering me because I have been divorced for almost nine years and didn't have this number for that long.  I said I would like to know how they got my number. She said I must have been listed as a reference for him at some time.  I know he didn't use me as a reference, as he is remarried and would list his current wife.  She said they would remove my number from their calling list.  I hope they take care of this problem.  It's not right for them to harass people that were once associated with the person they are looking for.

Got a call from the same Carol and Robert.  They didn't call me though, they called my sister and husband leaving messages for me.  I Googled them after talking to her and found all this bad stuff about them.  I came across your blog and tried your tactics and  got the same answer.  She wouldn't mail me the proof because she is going to "sue me if I don't pay today!"

SCAMMERS!!  I'm reporting them today.

I received a message in Spanish asking me to contact Sr. Jose Chavez by 4pm in order to discuss "a very important pre-legal matter." It seemed very strange considering English is my 1st language, fortunately I know some spanish and was able to understand the message. Sounded like a big fat scam to me, hope they haven't gotten over on too many people.

I got the same call today, talking about my three options...
I called back, they connected me to Carol Newman, ..scam scam scam
they need to loose my info..see me in court, I told her " I don't owe you
child support lady!"..the call shook me at first, until
I looked up the names carol Newman and Robert mason..
I'm glad i did!   Don't trust it guys!

This company started calling me wed may 12th.On wed. they left a message just like the first post here. Thursday they left another message exactly like the first one and then today they left another message . the first two calls were from a private number and in the message mr. Foster left the 877 number to call back. Today he left a 631-755.3092 number. I beleive it is a recording, because it is the exact same thing everytime!!!!

I just had the identical call from 613.755.394 Framington, NY.... about pre-legal matter for my son.  I always research such goofy calls.  Good thing.  I'm in NC.

Called to tell me that I was the primary contact for Teresa Sanchez and she had a pre-legal matter.  I don't know anyone named Teresa Sanchez...  I didn't call them back.

Kevin called about a legel matter for my Daughter.I researched number and didn't call them back.

Send your complaint to the NY ATTORNEY GENERAL AS WELL.  

HE IS SHUTTING THESE SCAMMING DEBT COLLECTORS DOWN!  

here is some more information on them  

http://www.consumerjustice.com/consumer/agencydetail.aspx?id=7539  - this website helps with how to handle ALL DEBT COLLECTORS

ANOTHER EXCELLENT WEBSITE FOR FIGHTING ILLEGAL DEBT COLLECTORS
http://www.collectorsexposed.com/

Credit Smart, LLC   AKA PAYSTAR

273 Walt Whitman Rd., 356

City : Huntington Station
State : New York
Zip : 11746

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phone No.  877-230-1901 631-755-3075 631-421-2057 631-421-1307 888-333-0904 631-547-4879 800-344-1588 631-421-1840  
Fax 888-755-5312 631-421-1397  

  http://www.credsmart.org/id4.html
nfo@unitedabstractgroup.com
 
 

Notes
Same scam, new name. Boittom feeders, collectors offering scam of "Stimulus Program" (don't think they drug test.) From website: "Stimulus Program" Your credit score will start to rise immediately after payment We will also report this matter as paid in full account to the credit bureau (it will look like full balance was paid). We will also remove any negative marking on you credit file regarding this account. Lies, just like all their other phony organizations (see below.) Collecting on time barred debts. NO LICENSE OR BOND FOUND ANYWHERE! SUPER SCAMMERS!

I couldn't tell you what number these people called from, but they called my mother very early yesterday morning looking for me.  Told her it was a "pre-legal matter" and that I should call back either Carol Newman or Robert Mason at 877-309-7617 in reference to case number 142998.  I first blocked my number so that they couldn't call me back at my home number, because I had a feeling right off the bat it was going to be something suspicious (and frankly, I don't want people calling me at my home number).  When they first answered without even identifying who they were (with a simple, "Hello?"), that raised another red flag for me.  She receptionist immediately connected me with Carol Newman.  She identified the company as PayStar International.  She said she was in possession of an outstanding bill from Sprint in the amount of $1107.05.  I knew I didn't have anything from them, so I immediately asked her when the account was created and closed.  I then asked her for all of her company's information, which she gave to me with an attitude, stating, "This is all on your credit report."  She told me I had three options; to pay the bill in full, to pay in installments, or to be taken to court.  Knowing that I didn't ever have that account, I said I wasn't paying it, that she needed to send me proof of debt (per Fair Credit Reporting Act).  She told me that wasn't how it worked, that she would NOT send me proof, and that she'd see me in court.  I was a little peeved and shaken up when I got off the phone with them, so I decided maybe it was time to finally check my credit reports.  I printed out all three - Equifax, Experion, and Trans-Union - and funny enough, they weren't listed on there.  I called again today to see if I could speak with Carol about her company not being on there.  I asked her what kind of scam she was trying to pull, and she hung up on me.  I called again to ask to her supervisor - Michelle (didn't catch the last night) - and a woman sounding oddly exactly like Carol Newman answered.  I asked HER what kind of scam they were trying to pull, and got hung up on.  So I called back a third time and asked the receptionist - and got hung up on.  Again.  I called one final time, asked for Carol's supervisor's supervisor, and got connected to Jennifer Davis (and when I verified how to spell her name, she got kinda snippy with me and said, "Well, that IS how you spell Jennifer).  She seemed friendlier until I pointed out that her information was not listed on my credit report.  She told me that it was on hers, that she has a "business copy" and that credit reports are 99% accurate.  I told her I needed to see proof of debt before I could commit to making any payments, which she was willing to email to me.  I told her I'd rather have it mailed to me so that I could have it in writing, and that I had no intention of paying the debt as I have no income and nothing to my name.  She then told me that she was NOT going to send me proof of debt.  I told her that violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and, oh, by the way, this conversation is being recorded.  She then got downright nasty, asked if I was crazy "because you sound like a crazy person", and again refused to send me the copy, saying they had sent something to me last year (considering they had my address from five years ago on file - needless to say, I didn't get it).  I said I needed to see it again.  She refused.  I told her fine, take me to court, because I have all the evidence I need (my reports printed out yesterday without the information on them and her blatant refusal to send me proof of debt) to win.

For the record:

Paystar International
237 Walt Whitman Road, Suite 356 (Suite 310 according to their site)
Huntingdon Station, NY 11746

I've already sent in a complaint to the FTC, and will be sending one in to my local attorney general.

Been getting calls from this number.  Same experience as everyone else. (They told me I had until noon central same day and called me at 2 pm central.....lol)  They took it a step further and called my EX-husband's home (we've been divorced for 7 years, separated longer than that and live in completely different states).  When I called the 800 number back they refused to tell me WHOM I was calling until I would give them my information.  FAT CHANCE!

My father received a call at his home number for me with this same message and same people. I haven't lived with my father in over 10 years, and I never lived at his number they got a call for me at. I was suspicious how anyone would get that number for me as I no longer even live in the states. I am glad that I researched it before calling them back.

They gave me a claim number of 173202.

I got the same call from 877-309-7617 on 4/26 that annoyed got on 4/16 I was able to trace the call to 631-755-3083 Fulton st, Farmingdale, Ny.  I reported it to the Ohio Attorny Generals office as a fraudlent and harrasing call.

just got the same call form the same with the same number...with a case number as well...they will never hear from me just another scam..i unfortunately got scammed 2 years ago and sent another company 100 a month and when my debit card changed and i never contacted them i never heard from them again..so please beware...and don't call this number or any other...same name Carol Newman or Robert Mason...how annoying...

I just got a call from the 631 number telling me to call the 877 number back.  It was word for word what annoyed posted above.

Was originally told to call this number after receiving a call from a 631 number.

Here is the details:
This is a new number for the same scam place .

Info from my call this morning at 7:30AM:

Who called: Kevin Foster
Who he was calling from: Pre-Legal claims certification department re: pre legal matter
Who to call: Carol Newman or Robert Mason, 877 309 7617

When called back, they refuse to give their mailing address (so a complaint could be filed against them), as well as explain who they are or what their company is, other than stating "There is a legal matter, they will try to collect money from you in court, etc". Yeah, good luck with that.

This is a SCAM, don't fall for it. Report it to the NY State Attorney General here:
http://www.ag.ny.gov/bureaus/consumer_frauds/filing_a_consumer_complaint.html

I just called and was told to file a complaint for the Consumer Fraud Dept of Suffolk County.