Best report
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Jun 10, 2011
Impersonating a Federal Agent is a felony. Call the local FBI field office and ask to file a complaint. It probably won't go anywhere, but it might make you feel better.
Did they call you on your cell phone? On Android cell phones (perhaps others as well) there is a program you can download that automatically makes recordings of all inbound and outbound calls. See if you can get that, and record all incoming calls. If you can get them to say they are federal agents, that is a felony. If you can get them to say they are going to file criminal charges, that is a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Find a lawyer in your town who specializes in consumer law. They will take the case on contingency (you don't pay unless you win), will get the debt discharged, and collect $1000 for you. The $1000 is by statute, and that is the amount you will receive. Your lawyer will also collect attorney's fees from the creditor, separate from your $1000.
If you do get them on a recording impersonating a Federal Agent, take that recording to your local FBI office. Someone will go to Prison for that.
The legality of recording calls without permission is a complicated matter. Whether or not the recording is admissible as evidence or not depends on a few things, such as what expectation of privacy there is. However, most collections agencies screw up and say "this call may be recorded." The use of the word "may" can be construed to imply that they are giving you permission to record it. :)
Did they call you on your cell phone? On Android cell phones (perhaps others as well) there is a program you can download that automatically makes recordings of all inbound and outbound calls. See if you can get that, and record all incoming calls. If you can get them to say they are federal agents, that is a felony. If you can get them to say they are going to file criminal charges, that is a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Find a lawyer in your town who specializes in consumer law. They will take the case on contingency (you don't pay unless you win), will get the debt discharged, and collect $1000 for you. The $1000 is by statute, and that is the amount you will receive. Your lawyer will also collect attorney's fees from the creditor, separate from your $1000.
If you do get them on a recording impersonating a Federal Agent, take that recording to your local FBI office. Someone will go to Prison for that.
The legality of recording calls without permission is a complicated matter. Whether or not the recording is admissible as evidence or not depends on a few things, such as what expectation of privacy there is. However, most collections agencies screw up and say "this call may be recorded." The use of the word "may" can be construed to imply that they are giving you permission to record it. :)