Don't EVER call back a toll-free number left on your caller ID UNLESS YOU ARE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH THAT NUMBER.  (E.g., you may already be doing business with 1-800-FLOWERS or some other business having a number you already recognize, like the WalMart pharmacy prescription call back number.  These are OK, but DON'T TRUST THE DISPLAYED CALLER NAME!)

If you call back a toll-free number, it doesn't matter what you do, the scammer WILL get your real number, even if you block outgoing caller ID.  That is because it is sent in a different way, and most toll free numbers are charged based upon the location of the numbers calling them.  Thus, they ALWAYS get an accurate indication of what number is calling them.  Once they know you have called them, they know that they have a live individual who is likely to respond to extortion threats.

If you really want to call back a toll free number, you might (repeat: MIGHT) get away with it by signing onto a Skype account and using their dial out feature.  They do not charge anything for dialing toll free numbers (they don't have to, because they probably collect a fee for sending them to the terminating carrier -- remember, the receiving party pays for the incoming toll free call).  Also, they have their own trunk lines from which their calls are placed.  Most if not all of them have Fresno, CA local telephone numbers, so if you call a toll free number in the U.S. from Skype, it probably appears to the recipient as though the call originated from one of Skype's numbers in Fresno, CA.  (Perhaps someone with a real telco toll free line can verify this observation for me, but those are the numbers I get on my own toll-free lines and it is the ANI read back to me by a telephone service provider that allows you test this sort of thing.)

It might be worth setting up a separate Skype account with a handle rather than a real name, using a disposable email address to ensure the greatest anonymity, and of course, not give Skype your real phone number or any further information about you.  You may have to read the terms of use to see whether Skype allows or prohibits users from signing up for their service this way.  However, it is still quite unlikely that any extortionist scammer will take the trouble to trace you through this level of indirection, and you won't be using the service very often for this purpose.

Just be sure NEVER to give any information to the extortionist scammer -- always ask for information from HIM.  And record your call with a tape recorder or one of those digital dictation recorders if you can, letting the scammer know that you are doing it.

Your attorney got his degree from a cereal box and gave you such poor advice because he was late for his day job at the car wash. Now stop with the cheap fearmongering.

This sounds like extortion dressed as debt collection. The agents' horrid threats are empty and their conduct is illegal. As early as possible it's critical to determine if your collector is domestic or yet another South Asian faker. The former you can sue into submission; the latter tend to be out of reach.

My notes from October 2011 on payday loan and "hot check" collectors are linked below.
http://800notes.com/forum/ta-429fb24ec2162e3/ ... -numbers-here-2

See also this FTC alert: "Fake Debt Collectors"
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors
(former title: ''Who's Calling? That Debt Collector Could Be a Fake'')

The following will be useful if you have a US domestic collector calling:

official FTC guidance and staff opinions on the FDCPA, PDF copy of the Act
http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm

CFPB Q&A on debt collection practices
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ... bt%20Collection

Law firm my a**! Must be one hell of a LARGE law firm, as I could hear 100's of agents on phone calls in the background...LOL

I got the same type of calls as everyone else here.
A "process server" called ready to "server me papers" I was given a this number to call 877-783-2877
with a claim number. Called and was told I was being charged with fraud over some payday loan from 2011.

Rude woman kept trying to get my info to "take care of this matter today to stop the process"
Told them where to stick and hung up, now the phone calls are non stop today.  These people will stop at nothing to get you to pay. Just a bunch of POS. DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY BANK OR CREDIT CARD INFO!!

They keep calling me threatening me with charges for an online loan they claim I got in I think they said 2006. Want to be left alone.

Recieved several calls asking for a relative that do not live here and they want his phone number, when I refused the woman told me they were going to serve papers to his work and had a private locator call saying they had charges filed against him. She gave me a number 877-783-0397 and a claim #. She was nasty on the phone after I refused.

I can't understand their name when they call but it sounds like collections.  Very forceful and full of it. I have an 800 credit score.  No outstanding debts except up to date, paid ahead mortgage.  No car loans.  No credit card debt.  This is a scam.  I won't return their calls that just started because they don't pertain to me.

The problem Stephanie,  is that no one recalls taking out any loans.  Except that other SHILL.  And they are expect to pay a stranger over the telephone?   Not in the real world.   Go ahead and deliver those "papers"
I'm sure many would be happy to meet you...

you work for them!

Exactly what I thought but the lady that called me didn't sound Indian.

Probably not, process servers DO NOT call you for a heads up.
This is a payday loan scam run by criminals in India.

Shill alert !!

Did any of you have any papers served to you from these people??? I'm in Florida as well...

I received a call from a process server who gave me this number, they are a law firm that is handling this matter I know I took this loan and never paid it back so I went ahead and paid them, I received a PAID IN FULL letter right away that I was able to show my attorney he said I was right to resolve because I could have been charged with fraud....... If you know you took money then I suggest you pay your bills this was not a fun day for me...

Well my work told them not to call anymore. I talked to my lawyer , he said just let him know immediatley if someone tries to sue me.  I think its a bunch of bs myself.  I'm in Florida what state are others in?

Did they ever serve you with anything?

I just got the same call at my work... I dont know where this payday loan is from. Is this just a scam? Her nanme was Patricia Jones..

This number has called my family and my place of work ! I am going to file a retaining order against them ~
they claim i has charges and claims against me
Here name is Gabby Johnson

Yeah , they just called and comfirmed my address they said, Even tho I didn't give them the address. I did the same thing closed that account over a yr ago.  I'm not worried I closed it because I was going to file bankruptsey and my lawyer told me to close it so I did. He told me if it is a payday loan not to worry about it , Not much they can do.  Called my lawyer to set up an appt anyways just to be safe.  Thanks for the info Joe. I surely was not goiing to give them my bank card info. Nor tell where I live to them. But we did do *67 to block the number but they have some kind of a decoder cuz they called the number back. Just a word of the wise call from a pay phone if you want to call them or not your phone, Other wise they will more than likely keep calling ya....

Got same call at my office. They even got a hold of my Father that lives in another state. These Mother F'ers are a POS. They called 3 months ago and I called them back and they said it was a payday loan from 2011, just like the other guy said. I asked for the amount and date of the loan. I had that bank account closed for over a year, so I told them to go, you know what!!! These pricks are POS. I wish they would bring me papers face to face, chicken shizs!!! Good luck to you all.

I called it they say it is a payday loan from 2011 , trying to charge me with fraud and something else , going to go see my lawyer.... You may want to do the same not sure what your situation is... hope this helped, oh they did give me some pay options but they also wanted my card number so they could deduct it from my bank account . I was not willing to give them that.

Got the same thing going on . Saying there going to serve papers on me also. They called my work I assume

Recieved a call stating they were going to serve papers to my work and had a private locator named Jason call saying I had charges filed against me