Voicemail threatening legal documents

[AlrightGuy]

So I was getting calls from scammers for awhile but as of the last few months, maybe 4 to 5 months, they’ve stopped. Just yesterday I got a voicemail from a woman. I have copied the voicemail from the transcription so some of the words may be off but it gets the point across I think.

“this is Tosha Brown I'm contacting you regarding your pending claim being filed I do have to make you aware once claim number (number omitted) is completed it will become a matter of public record and there will be an order of location issued for you requiring a signature on your behalf since I was unable to reach you by phone today and I've been instructed to contact your employer as it does seem like this can be the next possible place of location for you. now you have a legal right to contact the office thats handling your claim once your claim is officially filed all other options are to be forfeit. the number provided on the paperwork to contact them is 833-734-2881 you are being notified by telephone and you will be located unless contacted otherwise.” 

They apparently called 2 of my friends (past roommates) as well, saying it was Enterprise and they gave them the same claim number. Like I said, I’ve dealt plenty with scammers and if I had just gotten the voicemail not followed by my two friends calling claiming they were contacted as well? I would’ve ignored and written it off immediately as a scam. But they’ve never contacted anyone else I knew before so it’s different. I’ve gotten advice from many intelligent individuals here before so I thought no harm in asking again. Thanks

[nobk4me]

SCAM!  The strange wording is a tip off.  Just ignore it, and tell your friends to ignore it too.

[AlrightGuy]

See I figured them telling my friends the claim number was the give away? I thought that they weren’t allowed to reveal any information on you to other people? They could only ask general questions regarding your whereabouts.

[BV80]

34 minutes ago, AlrightGuy said:

See I figured them telling my friends the claim number was the give away? I thought that they weren’t allowed to reveal any information on you to other people? They could only ask general questions regarding your whereabouts.

They definitely violated the FDCPA, but they are the bottom-of-the-barrel, basement-dwelling type of collectors that one would never be able to locate in order to file a lawsuit against them.  They tend to move on quickly in order to locate unsuspecting consumers who are unaware of the scam and will pay.

[BackFromTheDebt]

1 hour ago, BV80 said:

They definitely violated the FDCPA, but they are the bottom-of-the-barrel, basement-dwelling type of collectors that one would never be able to locate in order to file a lawsuit against them.  They tend to move on quickly in order to locate unsuspecting consumers who are unaware of the scam and will pay.

In addition, many of these scammers aren’t even in the US.  I often notice foreign accents and improper grammar from scammers.  

[BV80]

46 minutes ago, BackFromTheDebt said:

In addition, many of these scammers aren’t even in the US.  I often notice foreign accents and improper grammar from scammers.  

Very good point.

[AlrightGuy]

Guys, it was copied and pasted from the transcript in my voicemails. You know, iPhones (and maybe androids, I’m not sure) will now have a written transcript under the play button by a individual voicemail left on your phone. That’s where the bad grammar comes from. iPhones just don’t translate it well. The women who left it had no foreign accent and was not responsible for the bad wording for what I presented to you. I put that in my original description. I do understand what you are both saying but it’s irrelevant here. No need to focus on that single part of it. I still think you are right about it being a scam. 

[WhoCares1000]

4 hours ago, AlrightGuy said:

Guys, it was copied and pasted from the transcript in my voicemails. You know, iPhones (and maybe androids, I’m not sure) will now have a written transcript under the play button by a individual voicemail left on your phone. That’s where the bad grammar comes from. iPhones just don’t translate it well. The women who left it had no foreign accent and was not responsible for the bad wording for what I presented to you. I put that in my original description. I do understand what you are both saying but it’s irrelevant here. No need to focus on that single part of it. I still think you are right about it being a scam. 

If you are about to be served, do you think the person doing the serving would call you before performing service? Who would be home or at their employer?

Also, have then tried to contact you at your employer yet in person as they threatened?

My bet is that you never see a service processor either at your home or place of business. Service processors never call you to warn you that you are about to be served. Instead, they just show up and serve you. Also, they never call your friends and tell them that they have papers to serve and why. They would only ask your friends where to find you.

If you want to be sure, look for a case under your name on the county court website where you live. If no case shows up, that should tell you what the situation is. If your county court does not allow for case lookups online, call the court clerk and ask them, the clerks will tell you.

So yes, we do think it is a scam because what they say does not follow the process on how courts and lawsuits work. You are free to call the number and tell them that you want to be served at the courthouse steps and see how they act. A real process server will ask for a day and time and be willing to do that (because their performance is based on getting people served). A scammer will argue against it. That will tell you what you are dealing with.

[AlrightGuy]

17 minutes ago, WhoCares1000 said:

If you are about to be served, do you think the person doing the serving would call you before performing service? Who would be home or at their employer?

Also, have then tried to contact you at your employer yet in person as they threatened?

My bet is that you never see a service processor either at your home or place of business. Service processors never call you to warn you that you are about to be served. Instead, they just show up and serve you. Also, they never call your friends and tell them that they have papers to serve and why. They would only ask your friends where to find you.

If you want to be sure, look for a case under your name on the county court website where you live. If no case shows up, that should tell you what the situation is. If your county court does not allow for case lookups online, call the court clerk and ask them, the clerks will tell you.

So yes, we do think it is a scam because what they say does not follow the process on how courts and lawsuits work. You are free to call the number and tell them that you want to be served at the courthouse steps and see how they act. A real process server will ask for a day and time and be willing to do that (because their performance is based on getting people served). A scammer will argue against it. That will tell you what you are dealing with.

You’re right. I know you are. And they are right as well. I just didn’t want any miscommunication in the thread just in case someone sees this in reference to their own situation. You’re absolutely right about the why they would call before hand. That was always the logic I applied. They want you to be caught off guard so they can actually serve you. If you know before hand you might leave or move. 
I live in the state of Missouri and there is nothing under my name in any participating courts of Missouri when I search case.net 

like I said for me the giveaway was them contacting my friends and telling them nothing but a call back number and a case number. Never asked where I was or how to find me. I figured they thought that if my friend called me up all panicking that I’d believe it and make it seem more real. I just told them to ignore it and block the number.

[shadow99]

55 minutes ago, AlrightGuy said:

like I said for me the giveaway was them contacting my friends and telling them nothing but a call back number and a case number

How did they get your friends' numbers?

I once had a debt collector call me 3 or 4 times a week for about 2 months.  They left messages not identifying themselves, with only a callback number, saying if I didn't call back they would send my account for garnishment.  I knew they couldn't do that without suing me first.  I ignored it, because I was ignoring everything short of lawsuits at the time.  At first, it was a gruff male voice - I guess that was the scary person.  Then, it transitioned to a kinder female voice after a few weeks. Finally, it was an automated voice. Even the real voices were recorded - it was exactly the same wording, tone, etc. each time.

A few weeks after it stopped, I received a letter from the attorney followed about 6 months later by the court paperwork.

I'm not suggesting you call them back - just saying that I've gotten some really strange messages from debt collectors. Strange or not, I don't call them back.

[Clydesmom]

15 minutes ago, shadow99 said:

How did they get your friends' numbers?

Easy peasy.  There are several ways but the short answer is in the digital era NOTHING is private anymore.

[WhoCares1000]

2 hours ago, Clydesmom said:

Easy peasy.  There are several ways but the short answer is in the digital era NOTHING is private anymore.

Agree, even a simple search on a free site shows who a person's acquaintances are. Not hard to get phone numbers for friends.

[WhoCares1000]

The thing is, if it is a real debt collector and they are intent on suing you, someone will eventually show up at your door with court papers. The fact that they are using threatening language to try to scare you is more of a turn off than anything else. Then again, most people are scared of the prospect of being sued because they have no clue how things work and to be honest, they really owe the debt. Even most people on this board who know how the system works and use it to fight debt collectors technically owe the debt.

[Flyingifr]

On 3/24/2022 at 9:36 AM, AlrightGuy said:

So I was getting calls from scammers for awhile but as of the last few months, maybe 4 to 5 months, they’ve stopped. Just yesterday I got a voicemail from a woman. I have copied the voicemail from the transcription so some of the words may be off but it gets the point across I think.

“this is Tosha Brown I'm contacting you regarding your pending claim being filed I do have to make you aware once claim number (number omitted) is completed it will become a matter of public record and there will be an order of location issued for you requiring a signature on your behalf since I was unable to reach you by phone today and I've been instructed to contact your employer as it does seem like this can be the next possible place of location for you. now you have a legal right to contact the office thats handling your claim once your claim is officially filed all other options are to be forfeit. the number provided on the paperwork to contact them is 833-734-2881 you are being notified by telephone and you will be located unless contacted otherwise.” 

They apparently called 2 of my friends (past roommates) as well, saying it was Enterprise and they gave them the same claim number. Like I said, I’ve dealt plenty with scammers and if I had just gotten the voicemail not followed by my two friends calling claiming they were contacted as well? I would’ve ignored and written it off immediately as a scam. But they’ve never contacted anyone else I knew before so it’s different. I’ve gotten advice from many intelligent individuals here before so I thought no harm in asking again. Thanks

I called them just to see if it was in fact a scam. The person I spoke with spoke American English flawlessly, and while she would not give me the actual name of the company (Enterprise Services sounds real vague and says nothing about the company or what it does), she did say it was a "Mediation Company" that does "Asset Location" and "Employment Verification".

Simply put, she knew all the key weasel words to say that would try to scare an actual debtor. Had it been a scam she would have said that I owed them money, that my file was being uploaded to some court house and the police were on their way to my home to arrest me, and then ask if I wanted to avoid all this and pay them $XXXX.

Sounds like a USA based Collection Agency to me so I doubt it was a scammer.

[Flyingifr]

7 minutes ago, WhoCares1000 said:

The thing is, if it is a real debt collector and they are intent on suing you, someone will eventually show up at your door with court papers. The fact that they are using threatening language to try to scare you is more of a turn off than anything else. Then again, most people are scared of the prospect of being sued because they have no clue how things work and to be honest, they really owe the debt. Even most people on this board who know how the system works and use it to fight debt collectors technically owe the debt.

Phone calls are a lot cheaper than process servers. I speak as a former debt collector.

7 minutes ago, WhoCares1000 said:

 

 

[AlrightGuy]

1 hour ago, Flyingifr said:

I called them just to see if it was in fact a scam. The person I spoke with spoke American English flawlessly, and while she would not give me the actual name of the company (Enterprise Services sounds real vague and says nothing about the company or what it does), she did say it was a "Mediation Company" that does "Asset Location" and "Employment Verification".

Simply put, she knew all the key weasel words to say that would try to scare an actual debtor. Had it been a scam she would have said that I owed them money, that my file was being uploaded to some court house and the police were on their way to my home to arrest me, and then ask if I wanted to avoid all this and pay them $XXXX.

Sounds like a USA based Collection Agency to me so I doubt it was a scammer.

You’re saying they’re a legit company? As far as I know I don’t owe anybody anything. My cars paid off(I own it) my single credit card is paid. Taxes are paid. All bills paid. Also if they are real then to my knowledge they violated the FDCPA by giving my “claim number” to other people. Correct? 
again as far as I know I don’t owe any money to anyone.

[BV80]

25 minutes ago, AlrightGuy said:

You’re saying they’re a legit company? As far as I know I don’t owe anybody anything. My cars paid off(I own it) my single credit card is paid. Taxes are paid. All bills paid. Also if they are real then to my knowledge they violated the FDCPA by giving my “claim number” to other people. Correct? 
again as far as I know I don’t owe any money to anyone.

Check your court to make sure there is no lawsuit filed against you or no judgment issued against you.  If none, it’s a scam. I’ve gotten calls from “mediation services” before and they’ve all been scams.  Also, debt collectors don’t give “claim numbers”.  

[AlrightGuy]

7 minutes ago, BV80 said:

Check your court to make sure there is no lawsuit filed against you or no judgment issued against you.  If none, it’s a scam. I’ve gotten calls from “mediation services” before and they’ve all been scams.  Also, debt collectors don’t give “claim numbers”.  

Already did. There’s nothing in the courts for me about any lawsuits or judgements. Also I had no idea they didn’t do claims numbers. I’ve never actually dealt with a real debt collector before so that’s good to know. 

[shadow99]

Just now, AlrightGuy said:

Already did. There’s nothing in the courts for me about any lawsuits or judgements. Also I had no idea they didn’t do claims numbers. I’ve never actually dealt with a real debt collector before so that’s good to know. 

I can't find the post now, but didn't you say you called them and they refused to tell you who the original creditor was?

That's the first clue it's a scam.  It's the first thing these people spit out if they can get you on the phone. 

If you're sure you don't owe anything, there's nothing pending on court, and you've checked your credit report to make sure you're not a victim of identity theft, you're probably good.

The other possibility - if you have a common name, maybe someone else is being sued and their phishing for the person trying to trick them into paying them?  Someone with the same name as a family member was sued and every lawyer in town sent us letters about it.  I went to the court website and looked it up, then called to make sure it wasn't him.

[AlrightGuy]

18 minutes ago, shadow99 said:

I can't find the post now, but didn't you say you called them and they refused to tell you who the original creditor was?

That's the first clue it's a scam.  It's the first thing these people spit out if they can get you on the phone. 

If you're sure you don't owe anything, there's nothing pending on court, and you've checked your credit report to make sure you're not a victim of identity theft, you're probably good.

The other possibility - if you have a common name, maybe someone else is being sued and their phishing for the person trying to trick them into paying them?  Someone with the same name as a family member was sued and every lawyer in town sent us letters about it.  I went to the court website and looked it up, then called to make sure it wasn't him.

No I never called them back myself. I suppose I could. At this point I continue the thread out of pure curiosity and in the spirit of learning new things, not because I actually think the caller was an actual debt collector. I honestly just like discussing legalities and how things actually work and don’t work. 
They never said in the voicemail who their company was or who the alleged original creditor was. They did however tell my friend they were Enterprise. That’s it.

Nothing pending in court. My credit report looks nice and clean. I use credit Karma and  check it often. 
I wouldn’t say my name is super common. Especially in the states. More common in parts of Europe. 

[shadow99]

18 minutes ago, AlrightGuy said:

At this point I continue the thread out of pure curiosity and in the spirit of learning new things

I like that too.

Google says Enterprise Recovery Systems and National Enterprise Systems are debt collectors.

Did you Google the phone number to see if it comes back to any known scam numbers or to a legitimate business?

As far as the case number goes, it might not be a court case number.  Debt Collectors assign their own identifying number to a debt once they are handling it or own it.  They usually call it an account number, but I've seen it referred to as a case number, a file number, probably a few other things on various things.

If it's not a scam, maybe they're trying to skip trace someone who's information is close to yours. 

When things were normal, you wouldn't have thought twice about calling the number and telling them they must have the wrong person. Now, you just never know.  I agree it's best not to call and see if they mail you anything.  You'd think if they could find your friends phone numbers, they could find your address if they were looking for you and not someone else.

 

[shadow99]

I googled the phone number - most likely spam.

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-833-734-2758

[AlrightGuy]

53 minutes ago, shadow99 said:

I googled the phone number - most likely spam.

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-833-734-2758

The call back number they gave was 833-734-2881

I tried googling it as well but nothing really came back for the number. But in that thread people mention enterprise, getting the same kind of messages I got and being scammed by them so I mean the coincidences there are interesting. 

[shadow99]

21 minutes ago, AlrightGuy said:

The call back number they gave was 833-734-2881

I tried googling it as well but nothing really came back for the number. But in that thread people mention enterprise, getting the same kind of messages I got and being scammed by them so I mean the coincidences there are interesting. 

ha!  I didn't notice the number I googled and the number returned were different - but you're right, lots of similarities - that's why I just assumed it was the same.

[AlrightGuy]

2 hours ago, shadow99 said:

Google says Enterprise Recovery Systems and National Enterprise Systems are debt collectors.

Doesn’t appear that either the number that called me or the call back number has any connection to either of those.