Got a call from this number. It was a debt collector.

They called my phone stating they were from the sheriffs department but never identified what sheriffs department they were from and i could barely understand them, they just stated that i owe money from an advancement loan online which I have never done nor plan to do. They knew the last four of my social, my name, and my cell phone number. They tried to get me to pay for this supposed advancement loan but never told me what it is for, this area code is from Alabama which I have never had any dealings with or been to for that matter. I refused, of course, and they said they will be taking legal procedures and hung up. The first time i called back they hung up and called back 5 seconds later. My mother called from her phone and she heard a tv and they hung up on her. I am pretty sure they are trying to scam people, please don't let them get away with it!!!

Your job will be not to let them get away with it by letting them know they are attempting to extort money for a non-existent debt and have reported them to the authorities. If that does not work, tell them your phone line has been tapped and is being monitored by the FBI. Call their bluff!

This is a criminal extortion scam operating out of India. They are making the calls utilizing VOIP and the names of legitimate firms to make it appear the calls are originating from within the US. There is NO "company" or "debt" and you will NOT be arrested. They are harvesting and/or buying consumers' personal identifying information from unscrupulous websites like the one you may have filled out an application with, and you need to do whatever you can to protect yourself. This includes: Notifying the FTC: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/, placing fraud alerts with all three credit bureaus, notifying your bank and employer and letting these criminals know you are aware they are attempting to extort money for a non-existent debt and have alerted the authorities.

ABC News released an investigative report on this scam in June. The FTC has indicted one of its ringleaders for criminal fraud:

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/phantom-debt-co ... 16512428&page=1

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2012/08/bgm.shtm

Oh I am not going to, my mother is very familiar with the law and I contacted her immediately. We both spoke to the sheriff's department in Birmingham who helped us by contacting them, themselves. They call again I will be calling their bluff, plus I live in a state where it is unlawful to contact you by phone for debts, it has to be done by mail. I will get them either way. And thank you.

I called the sheriffs department from the area the area code is from and they do not know that number nor do they have anyone by the names they gave me. When the actual sheriff's department called them multiple times they kept hanging up. The sheriff's department told us if they continue to pursue it, it could be a scam or some collection agency obviously doing something illegal acting as an officer - which is against the law. Please call the sherriff's department in Birmingham, AL if they continue to harrass you.