BG Legal: Debt collection harrassment for non-existant debt

[Anso]

Looking for some free legal advice, and I figured the BG community was a great place to start... I love you guys!

Anyway, I received a call earlier today from an Indian gentleman by the name of "Robert Jones" in regards to an attempt to collect a debt. While on the phone with him he was asking to verify various personal data, such as name, social security number, phone number, home address, etc etc. I refused to give this information to him (obviously) until he could tell me what exactly this was pertaining to. About midway through this conversation I was cut off due to poor signal. I received another call shortly after, but I was unable to answer it because I was at work. I was left with this amazing voice mail. Keep in mind this "Robert Jones" has a very heavy Indian accent, and speaks semi broken English, but here is exactly what was said in the voice mail (obviously omitting personal information):

"This message is for John, John ******. Hey John this is officer Robert, Robert Jones, I hope you remember me, you hung up on me. Were you just waiting what, because now I'm gonna lock down your social security number, that is 2768 the last 4 digits. I'm gonna send some cops directly at your mailing address that is ******. I'm gonna contact your manager at ****** and I'll make sure that you lose your job. So if you still wanna come up with the matter you can call back and reach me at ******. So either you reach me... or else, and the officers will reach you. Good bye, and have a great day." (I left the last 4 of the SSN in because he was incorrect, it was one of the things he wanted to verify).

So I called him back as soon as I was able to, obviously not in a good mood from the voice mail I had just received, and demanded an explanation as to what this was even about. About two months ago when I was laid off of work, I had an emergency and needed about 500 dollars. In a panic I applied for some of those quick cash loans over the internet (this was stupid I know, but I was really in a crunch and I didn't know what else to do at the time). I ended up reluctantly borrowing money from a family member, so I no longer needed the loan. All of my applications were initially denied, but I started receiving emails with subject lines like "Your $800 cash advance is ready, claim it now". I deleted all of these emails, but this gentleman is claiming that I received the loan and am now refusing to pay it. I told him he was incorrect, and he said he would look into the matter and call me back.

Later on, I got another call from a different gentleman, also with a heavy Indian accent, by the name of "Scott Peterson" (lol). He claimed to be an attorney, and was asking me to once again verify personal information. I refused to do so until he could tell me what it regarded, and he said that that information was unavailable to him. I briefly explained the call I had received earlier and asked him if it was related to that, he took down the name and number of the person who had called before and told me he would look into it and call me back, but he has yet to do so.

SO my questions are:

1. Does this sound like a scam to anyone else, am I about to have my identity stolen.

2. If this does go to court it is going to be fairly easy for me to prove my innocence, but can I counter-sue for harassment given the nature of the voice mail I received? I would at least like to have my legal fees and wages missed paid if I do end up in court.

3. Does this topic make my butt look big?

[miokomioko]

1) Sounds like they just have some of your information from your application and are trying to use it to scare you into a scam. (The film Punch Drunk Love comes to mind.)

2) I think it's unlikely that this will go any further once they realize they aren't scaring you.

3) Yes, but I like it.

[solanis]

sounds like a super scam OP, proceed with extreme caution

[Anso]

What I am mainly concerned about is the strong potential for identity theft. The first man I spoke to had the last 4 digits of my SSN incorrect, but the second man did not. The applications also requested my bank account and routing number to speed up the process of making a deposit, so they have this information as well.

Would there be any steps I could take to protect myself from possibly having my identity stolen? I plan on explaining this to my bank and requesting a different bank account number, but I have no clue what to do about my SSN.

[solanis]

if you're afraid your identity has been stolen or might be, go here:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/cons...eft/idt07.shtm

and do everything it says. I would have your account closed and a new one made, if it's just a simple checking account.

[jmc]

if you're afraid your identity has been stolen or might be, go here:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/cons...eft/idt07.shtm

and do everything it says. I would have your account closed and a new one made, if it's just a simple checking account.

Yea.... I would have done this 2 months ago.

Giving a online website your baking information, and all your personal information was indeed stupid. Majority of those "quick cash" websites are a scam to begin with.....

I would also look up your credit report, and look for weird charges. Someone could have possibly taken a loan through your name, and this company is trying to collect the debt for it.

[Anso]

Yea.... I would have done this 2 months ago.

Giving a online website your baking information, and all your personal information was indeed stupid. Majority of those "quick cash" websites are a scam to begin with.....

I would also look up your credit report, and look for weird charges. Someone could have possibly taken a loan through your name, and this company is trying to collect the debt for it.

Hmmm.... I hadn't considered that, although I did immediately regret my decision to give my personal information. It was indeed stupid and the only real excuse I have is that I was panicked and desperate at the time.

[miokomioko]

Call up the big 3 credit companies and flag your accounts for possible fraudulent activity as well. Just cover all your bases on your end notifying the police, or whatever you can do... then threaten them next time they call you since they refuse to give you any information about who they are and what they are trying to hold you responsible for. That in itself screams "scam."

[SwampdonkeyPLD]

What I am mainly concerned about is the strong potential for identity theft. The first man I spoke to had the last 4 digits of my SSN incorrect, but the second man did not. The applications also requested my bank account and routing number to speed up the process of making a deposit, so they have this information as well.

Would there be any steps I could take to protect myself from possibly having my identity stolen? I plan on explaining this to my bank and requesting a different bank account number, but I have no clue what to do about my SSN.

I'd be worried about your identity being stolen.

If they already have the last 4 of your social, a simple public records search will give them the first 5.

[solanis]

Hmmm.... I hadn't considered that, although I did immediately regret my decision to give my personal information. It was indeed stupid and the only real excuse I have is that I was panicked and desperate at the time.

it was a dumb mistake, but one that can be corrected if you act quickly and cover your bases.

[Sonomaa]

its almost assuredly a scam, dont fall for it

[Anso]

its almost assuredly a scam, dont fall for it

I am leaning towards that, what I'm worried about is that the damage has already been done...

Thanks for the link Solanis I will be getting on this

[solanis]

np, keep us updated if anything interesting happens

ps seno your new sig scared the shit out of me

[Anso]

Checked my credit report, nothing is awry, all my debt are belongs to me (I hate looking at that thing, damn student loans). Going to call the credit unions and my bank in the morning to flag my SSN and have my bank account number changed. Thanks again guys I know this whole situation was absolutely stupid for me to get myself into...

[Toxictaru]

Word from the wise (cause I work for those payday loan places), we're not -all- corrupt, just do a search before doing anything though. My company does loans online as well, but still requires you to actually come in to a branch. That being said, OP, you're pretty lucky this is as far as it will go.

[The Blackrose]

While I'm damn sure this is a scam, do note that the first voicemail you receive... I'm pretty sure that is illegal what he said (can't remember the name of the law that provides protection to debtors) , and you could sue the shit out of him for that. Debt collectors have laws they have to follow that do not allow certain shit, and if they slip up, they will pay out.

[Melena]

Yea it is illegal to impersonate a cop. If the caller id was not blocked, i'd see about forwarding that info.

[Valisk]

While I'm damn sure this is a scam, do note that the first voicemail you receive... I'm pretty sure that is illegal what he said (can't remember the name of the law that provides protection to debtors) , and you could sue the shit out of him for that. Debt collectors have laws they have to follow that do not allow certain shit, and if they slip up, they will pay out.

Isn't that one of the reasons (besides cheap labor) the the call center is in India? So the company isn't totally liable for collectors who run off at the mouth? Probably can't sue HIM but have to file a formal complaint to the company so they can give him a slap on the wrist and tell him that's a "no no."

[Melena]

Doesn't matter where the call center is. The company itself (if it's an american company) is liable in those situations. So yea, report that companies ass. I've had to threaten a few myself lately since the person who had the phone # comcast gave me when I moved seems to have quite a few debts and was getting 5-7 calls a week from different companies.

[Mikus]

Doesn't matter where the call center is. The company itself (if it's an american company) is liable in those situations. So yea, report that companies ass. I've had to threaten a few myself lately since the person who had the phone # comcast gave me when I moved seems to have quite a few debts and was getting 5-7 calls a week from different companies.

Yeah I'm almost positive myself it's the company, not the person that will get sued. And since you have the vm saved, this is almost a no brainer. You may be able to get some harassment money to help with your student loans