This is a version of the you-have-committed-a-crime extortion scam and you are being...
1. summoned/investigated/charged/whatever with fraud/embezzlement/passing_bad_checks/whatever or
2. served with a court_summons/arrest_warrant/bench_warrant/whatever or
3. located in preparation to_be_served/for_a_lawsuit/to_be_arrested/whatever or
4. sued for cable TV usage that you've been stealing for years or
5. whatever stupid crap reasons they will think up next.

And you have to...
1. call back with your case number or
2. confirm your address/birthdate/SSN/whatever so you can be served or your papers processed or
3. pay $895 now to avoid paying $5,000 in court or
4. whatever stupid crap reasons they will think up next.

Beware extortion scams come in many flavors and they constantly evolve to stay one step ahead of the law.
The FBI warns about payday loan extortion scams here http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/paydayloanscam_120710
The BBB has issued several alerts on this scam, just google "bbb.org alert phony debt collector"
Never do what they tell you to do but report them to the Internet Crime Complaint Center http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx , the Federal Communications Commission http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm , the Federal Trade Commission https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ and your state AG http://www.naag.org/current-attorneys-general.php as appropriate.

I started getting phone messages telling me that they have a returned item from the bank. I don't owe any thing to anyone, I write very few checks, I know I have nothing outstanding. I started getting these calls after I left a brochure at a recreation center advertising my small business, no address. I think it is possible a scam.

These are the most vile type of people preying on the elderly - they have been harassing my 80 year old mother with the same scam described by others on this post.  My mother has never had an unpaid debt in her life!  I have just filed a formal complaint with the local police and I will be pursuing all available avenues to bring these people to justice.  Shame on them!

These two numbers called me. No debt, nothing returned from bank.   877-904-7581, 310-598-1732

Same here  Sat Mar 24, 2012  Colson, Gamble, and Assoc left msg that a bank had returned an item and to have myself or counsel to return call and referring to a blank reference #.  They are calling from that same California number 310-598-1732.
My bank has never notified me of a bounced check and I've been with them decades.  These phone calls are very distressing

They called me this morning Saturday March 24, 12.....they have called at least 8 times in the past year...the called ID gives this number : Beverly Hills, CA--310-598-1732, and the toll free is same as above: 877-904-7581.......OF COURSE, I DO NOT OWE ANYONE, my bank is perfect records, and when I get the message, they say Colson, Gamble, and Assoc....calling for ....BLANK....and YOUR reference number...BLANK..... I am elderly, awakened early by their calls, how do we stop this? I have read all the postings and want to know what I can do......Thank you for being there!

I just got the same call from 877-904-7581 @ my place of work.

They just called my house from a new number today. 877-904-7581.

Sounds like a sales pitch from the fraudulent company.

This company keeps calling my house from 713-568-9161 with the same recorded message saying that they have an item returned from my bank that requires immediate attention and to have me or my counsel call the Law Offices of Colson, Gamble and Associates at 1-888-390-7135 and refer to reference number (which is blank, giving no reference number).  I have tried calling both numbers back, and the number that the call originated from simply disconnects, and the number listed in the message says that it is currently not in service.  My husband and I DO NOT have any outstanding bills or returned items from our bank.  I truly believe that this is obviously a scam.  From everything I have read I don't know how they could be legitimate.  I work in a Law Office specializing in Collection, and if this was a legitimate Law Office they would be sending FDCPA Letters as required by Federal Law under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.  If you are going to call this company, be prepared to record your conversation should you get a live person.  From all that I have read they have people's confidential personal information, such as Social Security numbers, and that is not something you want a fraudulent company to have in their possession!!!

I have been getting these calls from this number for the past 3 years and I keep telling them the person they are looking for does not live here.  I told them that this was their cease and desist notice and that if they called my house again I was going to be the one that is going to get rich off their company.  I asked for an address since he told me I have to submit it in writing and he wouldn't give me an address.  Asked to speak with an attorney or a higher up and he said he was a higher up and then in the same breath said he was just a paralegal.  Think I will call an attorney today and see if we all can get paid.

got a call today from 713-568-9161 on caller ID.  left msg that a bank had returned an item and to have myself or counsel to return call to 1-877-908-2953  saying that this was Colson, Gamble and Assoc.   Called back the number and they were looking for someone I never heard of and I gave them an earfull  since I get a lot of these type calls for some reason and I'm sick of it.  will see if they call back

So I just recieved a call from this supposed "Colsen and Gamble" and They had donr the same exact thing to me.....They said I owed a debt and they needed a payment today. I know I never had a loan out in my name. I am reporting them to the county police and all the local news stations. They have my social number and everything and that is what scares me! Please anyone reading this DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY INFO....When I asked them where they were from they told me Pennsylvania but when I asked for an address she pretended like we had a bad connection and hung up. These people make me very angry.........Please I cant stress enough DO NOT GIVE OUT YOU PERSONAL INFORMATION!!!!!!!!

I'm in Texas, just got a rude machine call my cell saying it's in my best interest to return the call to some 888 number. I called, rings like 20 times no answer. I called local number that call came from and this guy's vm is completely full. I have no ides who this co. is and I'm very weary, especially since the 888 number and the local number pronounce the company name completely different (Collison and Coleson). Anyone in Texas that received this call?

These people just called my boyfriend's house while I was at work and were threatning to him that he better tell them how to get in touch with me or have me call them back because I committed fraud and they are trying to serve me paperwork and I wll be going to jail. Almost the whole conversation they had with my boyfriend was illegal. I called them and screamed at them and they told me I was a liar and that no one in their office would have said any such thing. The debt I have is real. But it was from like 6 years ago. I got a pay day loan from Cash Net USA. (Do NOT ever use this company) So they deposited $100 into my bank account. The very nvext day there was like $80 in charges taken out of my account. Here when I signed up for the loan, I guess I didnt read between the lines too well because they got their authorization from when I signed up for the loan. So all in all I never payed them and I closed the account. I never heard fromt hem again. Now I found out from contacting the company that they renewed the loan for another $100 and are trying to make me pay for that as well when I never even received it. They are also trying to charge me %1100 yes eleven hundred percent on 6 yrs for the one and 701.92% on the other one. Those were not the rates when I signed up but even still I guess they were way over the legal max interest rate allowed by state laws. SO now these guys from Coleson Gamble and Associates are harrassing me that I better pay up or go to jail. But when I ask them for documentation of everything, they wont give it to me lol

The Missouri Attorney General's office was very helpful when I called about this company.  I have filed a harrassment complaint against them (www.ago.mo.gov).  They said it will take 30-60 days to finish the investigation.  She also told me that because the calls are unsolicited and unwarranted, I can also file a complaint with the FCC (www.fcc.gov).  I've done that via their online application.  Her only other suggestions were to NOT answer their calls and to block their phone number.

I called them again yesterday, only to get the voice mail.  I called this afternoon and spoke with Chris Jacobs.  I asked for their address and he told me he was at a satellite location, but I could fax any documentation I needed to send them.  I told him I would prefer the mail and asked for the headquarter's address.  He hung up on me.

This is not a legitimate company.  Even if you know you have an outstanding debt in their offices, pay the original creditor rather than this company.  You have every right under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to refuse to pay or deal with a collection agency.

Has anyone been able to successfully find a current and correct address for this company?  They began calling me last week because I share the same last name as someone they are trying to collect from.  I've left two messages explaining that they are calling the wrong number, yet they keep calling.  I am filing a complaint today for harassment, but also want to send a formal "cease & desist" letter.

Is there anyway to file a class action lawsuit against them...idk...So far since I told them I filed a complaint with the attorney general I haven't received anymore calls, so far, but  it's a stinking feeling knowing they are out there and can continue harassment and abuse people. But since they are not providing anything other than a 1-800 or 1-888 number they are hard to track down.

I meant they were forced out of New York

This is a collection agency that were focused out of New York now they are here in Georgia trying to do business. They are not a scam the debt is validate and legit but it has reach the stat of limit time frame therefore you do not have to pay on the debt if you don't want to. They can no do anything but continue to call hoping and praying someone will pay them. FYI I wouldn't call nor pay them anything, IF anything you should tell them you know all about the company and do what they have to do because you are not paying anything and hang up. If they call back call your local police station orAttoney General for your area on this company. You will be the fool to give them anything even a conversation.

They called my elderly parents and scared them with incorrect information...not to mention they disclosed private info that is illegal.  They are nothing but bullies and to use scare tactics against elderly is AWFUL. If there was ANY validity to their claim, they should use proper channels. I KNOW THERE IS NO VALIDITY. Shame on them!

This is the collection part of a lawyers' office. I myself were a little weary when they first contacted me.I turned all recordings over to my local police station. After a deep investagation done by the police office, it turned out to be a debt I really owed and totally forgot about...They are very real and legit. The one thing I like about my rep Ms. Cindy Hinds she took her time and went thru everything with me over and over on the recording so I could feel secure. If you do receive a call from the legal office ask to speak with Ms. Cindy Hinds at the office. she's the best one working there.

angela turner called my daughter, my girlfriend mother-in-law saying i was going to be filed on and charges pressed for commiting fraud.

THESE PEOPLE CALLED ME AND COULD NOT ID THEMSELVES OR GIVE ME ANY VALID INFO