Debt collection scam

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Baiting Guru Joined: 10 Oct 2003 Posts: 4747

I have been getting calls over the past few years. It was a debt collection agency. First they wanted Dan Jones I didn’t bite. That’s not my name and I owe no one money.

It stopped for a few months then it changed to Mr Jones. It was a robo call and I press a few buttons and stayed connect for a minute or so. Just to have them get charged more for the call..

Well now its changed to just saying they are saying this is debt collection agency. It’s the number is 1 866 504 7050 and I am suppose to contact Mr Wilkinson. Searching the number with google says they people are saying you owe block buster money.

Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 11:02 pm

Not sure how you'd bait this one. Sounds like it could be fun though. Try just reporting it with your local police, for a start? Maybe your phone company too?

Do you ever get connected with a real person?

--The Commodore

Baiting Guru Joined: 10 Oct 2003 Posts: 4747

I emailed our states AG about this. the oddest thing is I been getting these calls for years on and off.

I am just wondering about if this has happened to anyone else.

Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 11:08 pm

Can you try to get them on the line and get any information from them?
If you can do that tell them you don't pay bills by phone, they have to send it to you IN writing.

Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 11:12 pm

Great idea if you want to pursue him. But since he has your real info, I'd be wary to do so. What I may do in your shoes is call that number from a throwaway phone or skype and pretend to be someone else. Set your character's address up near a 419eater dropbox, and see what he sends you? Gotta be a member first.

I might have a crack at that myself.... Don't have a throwaway or skype-to-land line account cuz I'm cheap though. Maybe that'll change.

--The Commodore

Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 1:53 am

You are not alone.

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-504-7050

Apparently, they are taking advantage of Blockbuster's bankruptcy filing; they figure almost everybody has a BB account and would believe somebody who told them they have unpaid late fees.

Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 3:52 am

Collection Agency Scam Variations:

Since many debts are public record. If a company you actually owe money to goes bankrupt, scammers can access that info and instruct you to pay them when in reality they have no authorization to do so.

Not all calls from collection agencies are necessarily scams. I got a new phone number a couple years ago that used to be assigned to some deadbeat with bad credit and am still getting calls from collection agencies for the debts of this person I never meet.

Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 2:45 pm

Most states require debt collection be in writing to start with. Here are 3 helpful sites:

http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/

The one below deals with Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)

Quote:

If you are receiving robo calls, or think you are receiving robo calls that violate the TCPA, contact us for a free case review. We will listen to your experience and let you know if you have a case. If you have a case, you can sue for damages up to $500 for each violation and in some instances, courts can levy triple damages! Don't wait, contact us today! Fill out the free case review form to the right.

Quote:

A debt collector MAY NOT (despite what they say):

1. Contact a third party about your debt for any purpose other than to locate you.
2. Identity the debt collection company name to a 3rd party without being expressly asked.
3. Disclose to a third party a debt is allegedly owed.
4. Communicate with a single third party more than once.
5. Communicate or or attempt to communicate with you at inconvenient times or places.

http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/tcpa-47usc227.aspx

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf