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 have received the same calls...at work too. Caller ID says "unknown"--hint #1 they're not legit. Thank you so much for your posts because it scared me! They threatened charges of theft of services & check fraud & they had my old account number!! I wish there was something we could do because this is so wrong!

Yep! Exactly what the recording said on my VM....never identified who they were though...weird!

Audobon Financial Group

Google them, they are disreputable & frowned upon by the BBB. Known scammers & will try to collect on debts that they do not own.

I got this exact same email on Oct 17. I have no idea who this is.

Received several calls from this number which I send to voicemail. Filed complaints with the FTC and Texas AG's office. I called them back to stop the calls & they hung up on me.

Received this email to call this number 877.957.2735

On Thursday, October 17, 2013 12:25 PM, "AFB_scs@gcnotify.com" <AFB_scs@gcnotify.com> wrote:

Account Holder,

Your recent online payment with us has  declined on card ending in ***4. We have made several attempts to contact you with the information you?ve provided and have no choice but to forward these documnets to our refusal department. We would like to resolve this matter as soon as possible.Our representatives are standing by to assist you Monday-Friday 9am-7pm est. Call 1.877.957.2735

Sincerley,

Account Management Department

1.877.957.2735


Note: Please Do Not Reply to this e-mail. It was sent from an automated address. You will not receive a response.

This is the email I received:

On Thursday, October 17, 2013 4:12 PM, "AFB_scs@gcnotify.com" <AFB_scs@gcnotify.com> wrote:

Account Holder,

Your recent online payment with us has  declined on card ending in ***4. We have made several attempts to contact you with the information you?ve provided and have no choice but to forward these documnets to our refusal department. We would like to resolve this matter as soon as possible.Our representatives are standing by to assist you Monday-Friday 9am-7pm est. Call 1.877.957.2735



Sincerley,

Account Management Department



1.877.957.2735


Note: Please Do Not Reply to this e-mail. It was sent from an automated address. You will not receive a response

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Jolene

I just got the same exact email .....

emailed me from " AFB_scs@gcnotify.com "  see email below.  scam!!!!!

Subject: ---Payment Declined---Account Forwarded, Call 1.877.957.2735

Account Holder,
Your recent online payment with us has  declined on card ending in ***4. We have made several attempts to contact you with the information you?ve provided and have no choice but to forward these documnets to our refusal department. We would like to resolve this matter as soon as possible.Our representatives are standing by to assist you Monday-Friday 9am-7pm est. Call 1.877.957.2735

Sincerley,
Account Management Department

1.877.957.2735


Note: Please Do Not Reply to this e-mail. It was sent from an automated address. You will not receive a response.

this is a scam. asking for SS# and DOB. Reported to local athorities.

robocall had my name but nothing else... press 1 to speak with someone.  Avoid.

collection company trying to scare you by saying they are going to take you to court