New Scam? REALLY Unnerved

[Ash]

Ok... Today at work I got the WEIRDEST phone call. I've been on edge ever since and can't figure this out.

I got a phone call from a "lawyer" saying I was being criminally sued for (around) $5500 by a payday loan company. You know, those companies that give you basically a cash advance on your paycheck? They kept saying that they would be sending investigators to my work within 48 hours, and that I needed to inform my employer of my "wrongful actions" and that my employer had in part approved the loan. Now, they had my address, the last 4 of my SSN, but didn't have my correct work address (although they had the phone number, when I asked for the address they would be going to, they provided me with the CVS address closest to my former home address, not my REAL work address). They also said that I had received notifications via email of the company trying to recollect the payment.

Now, as I'm thinking about this all day (and I even informed my manager just in case someone WERE to show up), it seems like some sort of a scam. The "law firm" was based in Washington, I live in Pennsylvania. First off, can you sue someone criminally from across the country? Second, they supposedly made their attempt to collect the debt in April, which was rejected due to "insufficient funds", which was when I got my car loan through my credit union. If I'd had some sort of outstanding loan, they wouldn't have given me a $10k loan for a car. As it was, I had to bring my credit car balance below a certain limit before they would approve my loan. Next, when I asked who I could call back with questions, the "lawyer" kept telling me I could direct any questions to the investigational team when they showed up. He couldn't give me a date of when these funds were supposedly deposited into my bank account, and when I asked what bank the funds were submitted to, he hung up (after asking me if I had any more questions?).

Finally, out of pure curiosity and to put my mind slightly at ease... I pulled up all 3 of my credit reports. The ONLY items on there are my 2 loans (car and personal), and 3 credit cards. Everything is in good standing. Also, I have overdraft protection on my bank account. Anything that's withdrawn from my account when the funds aren't there is paid BY my bank, and I'm charged a $35 fee, regardless of amount.

I really wish I would have thought to double check what "law firm" he was calling from, but I was so frustrated, and then when he hung up on me... Well that pissed me off even more. Thoughts? Suggestions?


ETA: Also, wouldn't any legal notices also have been sent to my home, rather than email, in an attempt to collect a debt?

 

[Jazicat]

There's a lot of scamming going on the internet. My email was hacked two days ago and an email was sent to all my family and friends for money. Luckily my friends know I have too many pets to take off for an European holiday. My heart goes out to you and I hope that you can change passwords to protect your assets.

 

[Ash]

This wasn't on line. This person called my WORK. Keith and a friend of mine said I should file a police report, which I may go do tomorrow. I just don't understand what I say to them... "So, some whacko called me at work saying I was being sued for $5k.... don't have a name/number or anything..." Ugh. I don't need this stress right now!

 

[Annieo]

It's always good to file a report of a scam the police. I know here in San Diego, you can do it online. I always figure if it's happening to me, it has happened to someone else, maybe someone not as confident.

 

[Laurie]

To rest your mind at complete ease you need to know if you ever took out a payday loan. If you did call the place you took the loan out from and ask them about your account.

If you never took out a payday loan then you have nothing to worry about.

Lesson learned WHENEVER someone calls for you and asks for you by name, always ask whom is calling first.

 

[Ash]

I've looked into them, but I never received anything. Which is why I'm wondering if it's not just a scam or if it's some sort of identity theft? But it leans more and more towards a scam as I think about it, especially with nothing coming up on my credit report.

He told me who he was calling, but by the time the conversation was over, I'd forgotten who he'd said, and when he wasn't giving me a phone number to call back for questions, I just kept getting more and more frustrated.

And as much as I don't WANT to sound biased/prejudiced/whatever, the fact that he was accented with some sort of Eastern accent, leaves me more prone to a scam. It's just frustrating and confusing...

 

[Laurie]

Well as far as it being a scam how much did he say you have to pay? by going to court you could settle on an amount less than owed I believe. Or was he saying you would have to pay the $5500.

 

[Ash]

He didn't say I had to pay anything because I kept asking when the money was deposited into my account and kept telling me that he didn't have that information, his investigation team did. I wouldn't let go of the fact that there had NEVER been money put into my bank account from anything other than CVS or the IRS at income time.

 

[3CsMommy]

Getting your credit report was the best first step. They only had the last 4 of your SS#, which a lot of different websites (banking etc.) use; I'd suspect that's how they got hold of you, hoping they could annoy/threaten you into giving up more information.

Either that, or if your name is fairly common, it might be another person with the same first/last and they got part of your information trolling the 'Net about her. Try looking yourself up here: http://howmanyofme.com/ and *definitely* go to the police.

 

[greychins]

I dunno bout other states, but at least here, to be sued criminally... well, on the govt can do that. Criminal suits are for things like murder, rape, and so on... where it's not the person suing you, but it's the state. At least here, a private company (like a loan place) could not criminally sue you - they could file a civil lawsuit against you.

Yes, typically you would get some sort of notices in the mail or calls by the company you owed the loan to, before they'd turn it over to a lawyer to sue...

I would say it sounds like a scam, mainly because a good lawyer should know that you can't sue criminally, only the govt can. Now, if it was the prosecutor's office calling you, that'd be another matter. Sounds like a bit of a mess. Hope this all works out for you.

 

[InkedupTara]

You can be sued cross state, the lawyer doesnt have to be in the same state. That being said, it sounds really fishy to me, really fishy.....

I am sorry you are dealing with that hun. I agree if he calls back, get all his info and call the police or take the info to a lawyer yourself. I would also have your work inform him he is not to call there anymore, if he calls back and you get his info.

 

[starleomach]

I think it is BS contact the police

 

[VolunteerChin22]

I would not worry about it Ash. i am sure it's a scam - if the person calls back tell them you have contacted the police and give them the number to a lawyer to contact with anymore information and hang up.

 

[caiti]

Yep, sounds like a scam. Maybe you can call the phone company and get the logs to figure out what the guy's number is. That way if/when you go to the police you can give them as much info as you can. And like someone said before, a lot of websites require the last four numbers of your SSN. I've never heard of a company or collection agency emailing someone, that would just be stupid. Calling you 953 times a day, yes, but not emailing.

That would freak me out too even though I honestly don't think you need to be worried. I can't really figure out what they are scamming for, though, but I don't really know the inner workings of scamming so...

 

[eroomlorac]

Several years ago I got a very nasty phone call on my answering machine asking me to pay up on a payday type loan. The caller was very rude but never mentioned my name. I knew I had never taken out a payday loan but I worried that maybe someone had gone through my recycling to get information on me or stolen my identity somehow. After a couple days of thinking about it I called the number back. It turns out the rude caller had reversed a couple numbers on the phone number and called me by accident. I ripped into the caller/collector for leaving a very rude and aggressive message on a wrong number.

 

[ticklechin]

Sounds like it was a collection agency, some lawyers buy deliquent debt and try to collect. I would be worried about identity theft since they had most of your correct info. They need to sue you and get a judgement, unlikely they will come to your state and do it.

 

[Ash]

There is nothing on my credit report though, dawn, so I don't think someone stole my identity and took out a loan in my name.

 

[minrex]

A couple of months ago, I got a voicemail on my cell phone from a guy with a heavy "foreign" accent (which I couldn't place), telling me he was a lawyer. He didn't say what firm he was with, but he informed me that he needed to talk to me about a lawsuit involving a good friend of mine. He told me I needed to call him back and that I needed to have my friend call him as well, and that if I didn't call back I would "be in big trouble!". For a minute I was nonplussed, then I just had to laugh, because no real lawyer would say that. I also looked up the phone number that he called me from, and it was a number from upstate New York. I did not call him back. (Stuff like this is why I never answer my cell phone if I don't recognize the number.)

Anyway, your story reminded me of that. Especially since you mentioned that the "lawyer" had an accent and was from a completely different part of the country. I'd say it's a scam. It is troubling that the guy apparently knew part of your social security number.

 

[Laurie]

My nephew got into some trouble with payday loans. Not sure if they all work the same way or not, but it seems very unlikely to me to get all the info needed from the trash. For him he had to provide bank info as well as work info. The bank had to verify his account was in fact open and work had to verify he was indeed employed there. I know someone might get your social security from the trash but not the other info.

 

[chinnychinchinchilla]

this reminds me of when my brother got a call like that. it was someone with a really strong accent that left a voice mail on his phone. i dont remember all the details but the guy said he was sueing him for some reason i dont remember. it turns out it was just a scam but it scared him pretty bad!