I just received a call from diane Watson saying I owed 2000 dollars and could settle for 1000 if I didn't pay right now I was going to jail I'm just wandering if this is true and what should I do should I pay?

Debt is civil, not criminal, so no one is going to be prosecuted.  That's the first red flag.  She would not give you any information on the debt or owner of the debt - that's another red flag.  She would not give you information on the company she's working for.  Yet another red flag.  Do you see what I'm getting at here?  Your caller has racked up at least three violations of the FDCPA - and I haven't even gotten to the rest of your comment yet!  It's another red flag to say she's not "obligated" to mail you any paperwork.  Ah, well, the FDCPA - federal law - says that you should NOT pay any caller who refuses to MAIL a debt validation letter showing you owe a debt and that your caller has the legal right to collect said debt!  Please do report your caller to the FTC, FBI and your state's Attorney General.  You should also read what Tamianth posted further up in this thread - good information.

Got a call from Diane Watson Stateing they want information from me to turn over to the prosecution. I asked her what co she was calling on. Said my case was turned over to her from Cash Net USA. I asked her you did she buy my information from. She would not say, I asked her what co she was working for, She would not say, I told her to send me paperwork. she said she was not obligated to do. However she gave me the option to pay the balance plus restitution. If I paid it had to be bu credit card, I told her I paid the balance in full back in 2009 to Mr Robert who contacted me from Cash net USA.  She said they never recived the funds, She turned my number over to someone else. I asked what company was Diane working for. They said the told me Goldman and waterson. Not sure who to beleive.

they called my children's cell phone & left messages that I their mother needs to call back for a fraud case! sad & absurd!!!

they called my children's cell phones leaving dunning messages about their mother comiting fraud! absurd!!!

Ok I received the call today from Miss Watson and told me I was going to jail if I didn't respond to her call.  Gave me a case number and said it was bank fraud and that paperwork is being filed against me.  I called back and gave my case number to the person on the phone.  I requested info about the bank fraud charges and he told me he couldn't discuss it.  That I should have received a 10 day notice from the Attorney General's office (California) that I was being charged with Bank Faud.  Again I asked him what was this about and that I never received any paperwork.  He told me that I would need to speak to the lead investigator and put me on hold.  After 15 minutes I hung up.  I asked him for the his employer and he told me it was "Bill White and Assoicates" in NY.  I also told him I was filing a complaint against them.

Thats same one who called my family today

The woman contacted me and told me i owed money to a payday loan company from 6 years ago she then went on to tell me i would be put in jail unless i paid 870.00 within 2 hours but the first amount was 1500.00 but they would settle for the 870.00. But i called their bluff and they wanted me to buy a prepaid card and put the money on it i said no way they got threatening with me and i got nice with we will see if they call again look out for this # 917-719-1915

This lady Diane Watson called my family members saying I commited fraud. I did this search and called her up letting her know I'm tracking her number as well of her location. I will track her be able to track her location and fly to her. She is very nasty and rude.  Keep you all posted.

http://dfi.wa.gov/consumers/alerts/cashnet-payday.htm
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Extortion Scam Related to Delinquent Payday Loans

Washington, D.C.
December 07, 2010  FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691

? filed under: Press Release

The Internet Crime Complaint Center has received many complaints from victims of payday loan telephone collection scams. Callers claim the victim is delinquent in a payday loan and must repay the loan to avoid legal consequences. The callers purport to be representatives of the FBI, Federal Legislative Department, various law firms, or other legitimate-sounding agencies. They claim to be collecting debts for companies such as United Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Net, and other Internet check-cashing services.

According to complaints received from the public, the callers have accurate data about victims, including Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, employer information, bank account numbers, and the names and telephone numbers of relatives and friends. How the fraudsters obtained the personal information varies, but in some cases victims have reported they completed online applications for other loans or credit cards before the calls started.

The fraudsters relentlessly call the victim?s home, cell phone, and place of employment. They refuse to provide any details about the alleged payday loans and become abusive when questioned. The callers have threatened victims with legal actions, arrests, and, in some cases, physical violence if they do not pay. In many cases, the callers harass victims? relatives, friends, and employers.

Investigator Diane Watson called claiming I owed a payday loan (I have never had one) and that they were calling for 1400.00 restitution than the amount changed to 754.50.  She would not give me any information or send me any documents by mail.  Called back following Monday to give me one last chance to pay before they come and arrest me for 3 counts of bank fraud.  .  My lawyer was on the other line with my mom and he said it is a scam 90% of the time.  Sounded like a African American to me.   The stuff she said was illegal.  I have reported to my local agencies.  If they show up at my door 911 will be my next call.

Please do file reports with the FBI, your state attorney general and Department Of Justice,FTC & FCC..

http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
http://www.fbi.gov/
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1
https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form1088.action

Also read up on the laws and your rights:

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ...
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf

And see:

http://800notes.com/forum/ta-86217073a9c8dad/ ... 077595690349410
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http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors
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http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm
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http://800notes.com/arts/Jb8EW-eDhQA/harassin ... ou-need-to-know
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Section 809 of the FDCPA http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf requires 3rd-party debt collectors to give debtors written notice of debt (the key word is *shall*) :
"§ 809. Validation of debts
(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."
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A Collection Agent May Not?

Here are the top 11 actions prohibited by the The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:

Misrepresent Him or Herself

  A debt collector may not misrepresent himself as an attorney or law enforcement officer.

Use the Telephone to Annoy or Harass

  A collection agent may not cause a telephone to ring or engage any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with an intent to annoy, abuse, or harass anyone at the called number.

Threaten Arrest or Lawsuit

  A collection agent may not threaten a consumer with arrest. It may not threaten legal action that is either not permitted or not actually contemplated. In other words, a the threat of a lawsuit may be an empty one.

Use Abusive or Threatening Language

  A debt collector may no use abusive or profane language in the course of communication related to the debt.

Publish a Bad Debt List

  Publishing the consumer?s name or address on a "bad debt" list is prohibited.

Contact By Embarrassing Media

  A debt collector may not communicate with a consumer by post card. It may not use any language or symbol, other than the debt collector?s address, on any envelope when communicating with a consumer by use of the mails or by telegram. A debt collector may use its business name if such name does not indicate it is in the debt collection business.

Contact a Consumer at Work

  A collection agent may not communicate with consumers at their place of employment after being told this is unacceptable or prohibited by the employer.

Seek Unjustifiable Amounts

  A debt collector may not demand any amounts not permitted under an applicable contract or as provided under law.

Contact a Consumer Represented by an Attorney

  A collection agent may not contact a consumer after it learns the consumer is represented by a lawyer.

Communicate With a Consumer After Receiving a Validation Request

  If a consumer sends a written §1692g response within 30 days, the collection agent may not communicate with the consumer until it mails the consumer the requested verification of original creditor's name and address.

Communicate With Third Parties

  A debt collector may not reveal or discuss the nature of a consumer?s debts with third parties other than the consumer?s spouse or attorney. A collection agent may contact neighbors or co-workers only to obtain location information. It may contact a third party again if it has reason to believe the information the party provided previously is false.

Bills.com FDCPA FAQ

Below are questions Bills.com readers ask frequently:

Can a Collection Agent Call My Cell Phone?

  Yes. However, if you tell the debt collector it may not use that number because it is a cell phone, it may not contact you again at that number.

I Keep Receiving Dozens of Calls From Collection Agents. Is That Legal?

  No. Unscrupulous collection agents will use "block parties" or "office parties" where they contact a consumer, multiple neighbors, or co-workers telling them they need to reach the consumer on an urgent matter. This is not permitted under the FDCPA.

A Collector Says I Will Be Arrested if I Do Not Pay

  This was a true statement before the US Civil War, but has not been true since. People may be arrested if an aggressive judge files a bench warrant for a person who does not appear at a hearing relating to a lawsuit regarding a debt. However, in that case, the offense is the failure to respond to a court order, and not the existence of the debt. As stated above, it is illegal under the FDCPA to threaten a consumer with arrest if the consumer does not pay the debt.

"Investigator Andrews" Just called and stated that they were calling because of Bank fraud and bad checks. They are idiots!

Caller said she was Investigator Andrews with the State of Texas. That it was an urgent legal matter and I better call her back today. She never identified a companies name. Scare tactic. My real bill collectors call and identify themselves. Also they usually call from the same number you can call back.