Victim Location 28792
Type of a scam Debt Collections
Received an unidentified call to cell phone, did not answer it, female left a message. Message said we needed to call to verify when we would be home to be served with notice of a court appearance by a courier today due to a lawsuit over a debt owed. Left a phone # in the local area code to call back and a reference number.
When we called back the # given, here is what happened:
The number connected, and the person asked for our reference #. We told the #, and were transferred to "Thomas Bates" who claimed to be a "mediation agent" for a debt supposedly owed – about $6800. He had SS #, DOB, current, and previous address, so it sounded legit.
He said they had sent written notice of the debt about 6 weeks prior – we never received this and told him this. When we asked why didn’t they send it certified mail, he said they were not legally required to. The fellow did not stop talking to take a breath and repeatedly said we would have to go to court, get a lawyer, and try to make a settlement before it went to court. BUT, NO debt is or was owed. He tried to sound like a law firm and tried to get us to pay money over the phone. He kept saying the settlement "their client" might take was about half $3600. We asked for info in writing, and he asked for email address. After multiple multiple requests about when this notice would supposedly be delivered, he said 5-6pm. No one ever showed. They later sent an email with a "payment contract". DO NOT AGREE TO ANYTHING THESE PEOPLE SAY! TOTAL SCAM! We immediately placed fraud alerts and credit freeze with all three bureaus.