Fake process server calls
Complaint
Quintin L King
Country: United States
I have received numerous calls from this "company", all of which start with a request for address verification for Process serving. Intimations that a law suit has been filed (the Company, to the best of my knowledge is in Florida, I live and own a business in Illinois). What process server doesn't have an address? These people call constantly and wont reveal the name of the entity for which they are collecting unless you "confirm" your address and last four of social. I am formally filing a complaint with the FTC and the Florida Dept of Financial Regulation, but wondered if anyone has had experience with these people?
Comments
Soooooo.. I called them back, and was directed to the same guy that claimed to be the attorney handling the case. It would be a pretty sad state of affairs to have people passing the bar exam with little or no knowledge of the law, but that's neither here nor there.
He ended up hanging up on me yet again after listening to his "settlement offer" and I told him, "Oh, you want me to pay YOU? No, you need to pay me for all this breaking of the law you're doing."
After telling him exactly what laws he was breaking he hung up on me.
Supposedly they tried to serve you Monday, yet no one shows up. A "wrong address"? More likely, no "lawsuit" was filed.
Note that the "process server" call is just to get you to call them back. This is not what real process servers do.
Did the guy claiming to be an "attorney" give a name? Want to bet he isn't really an attorney, any more than the "process server" is who he pretended to be?
Want to bet he isn't licensed?
Contact your local courthouse and have a clerk check to see if there is any lawsuit filed. If not, you have caught them. They just got their Florida collection license, and already complaints indicate they are scamming. That says they set up just to run this scam from the beginning.
File a fraudulent debt collection complaint with the Florida Attorney General. They know what this stuff looks like, and have shut down other such fake "debt collectors" operating out of Florida.
It is generally illegal for non-attorneys to pretend to be attorneys, on top of the illegal deception and threats by this debt collector which violate FDCPA. Establish a record of a complaint with your state AG that they are faking being an "attorney", on top of faking that they have "sued".
Not to mention, the call from the "process server's office" was from 406-203-0356 and is in Montana.. *boggle*.. That's a rather long drive to serve me these papers, eh?
I know the guy isn't an attorney, you actually have to demonstrate a certain knowledge of the law to be able to pass the bar exam, and even if he were he'd be licensed to practice in Florida and not Louisiana which is where I am. Some local firm would have to be involved.
I've caught them alright, and i've let them know in no uncertain terms that i'm aware there is no pending lawsuit and that I believe them to be scammers.
We'll see how it goes and if i'm contacted again.
That is typically how they play this game. The "process server" and "case number" were all intended to lead you to believe that you WERE being sued. that deception was intentional, not some "misunderstanding" like he is trying to now claim. All these scams do it the same way, deliberately misleading you as they try to con you, while being ready with an excuse if caught.
You have enough to file complaints, so you might as well do so.
Other reports of using multiple names is consistent with a common scam tactic of trying to diffuse the complaints across multiple names, to try to fly below the radar of the authorities. You counter this by ALWAYS reporting all violations.
1) Fake calls from "process servers", supposedly trying to "serve papers", but actually used to get the victim to call back.
2) Fake calls from "process servers" to relatives, often distant or ex's.
3) Reports of alleged "debts" known to be unowed.
4) Reports that on checking with the local courthouse, no lawsuit had been filed.
5) Reports that when contacted, they claimed to be "attorneys", despite the numerous illegalities.
6) Use of implied threats to coerce payment, in place of validation.
7) No complaints report receiving any FDCPA "g" letter.
8) Contact is by phone only.
9) There is an apparent attempt to create the appearance that they exist, through listing the company name on various online directory sites.
10) Use of shill posts to attempt to counter consumer complaints and reports that they are a scam.
11) Shills attempt to deceive by misportraying normal validation.
12) Address is a mail drop.
13) Reports of using multiple "company" names, tied to the same opeeration.
As these complaints show up within weeks of the startup date of 7-11-11, complete with the full range of fake "debt" scam characteristics found in complaints against other known fake "debt" scams, we may assume that the people behind this con have past experience, including experience with using shill posts. "Thurston" may even be just another alias for an already existing scam outfit.
None of this has anything to do with "real debts", or "financial obligations".
Shill.
File opened 9-13-11, so they probably got at least one complaint but it is too early to see the response.
http://www.bbb.org/central-florida/business-r ... ndo-fl-90137125
What phone number?
What names (aliases) did they use?
(Just helps other victims confirm their suspicions.)
888 242-1315. Also talked to Sophia Torres and she let me speak to director Steven Richards extension 125. I was scared and felt I was being harassed..Please reply.......I did call Fl AG office.
If not, file fraud complaints against this fake "debt" extortion racket with FTC, your state Attorney General, the Florida Attorney General, and BBB.
In addition, pull your credit reports to see if they have any recent inquiries from these idiots.
Did it sound similar to an old account?
Were there any inaccuracies in their information, or did they claim they didn't have some information?
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-304-586-0691
Appears to be used by the fake "process server" part of the scam. No company identification is reported.