Interesting occurance today

[Reckoner]

So I come home and get a message on the answering machine from a law firm saying that I owe $3,600 in college loans and if I didn't pay, they would take legal action against me. Not only this, but they call my relatives and ask them how they can get into touch with me. When I call them back, I tell them that I don't have any late loan payments and everything has been paid off up to this point. They ask me for my social security number, which I provide. It turns out they were looking for someone else with the last name. Needless to say, I'm pretty pissed off about all this. Shouldn't a law firm do it's homework before harassing someone?

 

[nakedfrog]

Ideally, yes.

 

[KLin]

You gave your social security number out over the phone?

 

[OrByte]

so...

you gave them your SS#?

smooth move..better start calling the credit bureaus.

you should have had them fax/mail proof that you owe them that much.

my .02

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
So I come home and get a message on the answering machine from a law firm saying that I owe $3,600 in college loans and if I didn't pay, they would take legal action against me. Not only this, but they call my relatives and ask them how they can get into touch with me. When I call them back, I tell them that I don't have any late loan payments and everything has been paid off up to this point. They ask me for my social security number, which I provide. It turns out they were looking for someone else with the last name. Needless to say, I'm pretty pissed off about all this. Shouldn't a law firm do it's homework before harassing someone?

Good to know that you so easily give your SS# over the phone.

 

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: KLin
You gave your social security number out over the phone?

Yeah, they wanted to compare my SS# to the one they had on file for the person they were going after. It seemed like the easiest way to clear up the matter.

 

[Kalvin00]

Originally posted by: KLin
You gave your social security number out over the phone?

:thumbsdown:

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats

Originally posted by: KLin
You gave your social security number out over the phone?

Yeah, they wanted to compare my SS# to the one they had on file for the person they were going after. It seemed like the easiest way to clear up the matter.

they give it to you first.

Honestly, put a fraud watch out against your credit... someone put up the phone #, stat.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats

Originally posted by: KLin
You gave your social security number out over the phone?

Yeah, they wanted to compare my SS# to the one they had on file for the person they were going after. It seemed like the easiest way to clear up the matter.

That was just idiotic.

That's a common scam, BTW, to say that there's some "unresolved matter" then they need to confirm your SS#.

 

[Armitage]

I doubt it was a law firm - more likely a collection agency
Next time just give em the last 4 of your SSN - or better yet, ask them for the SSN of the person they are looking for.

 

[Baked]

You just got SCAMMED fool. That was not some law firm, it was a nigerian scammer.

 

[axelfox]

Hey, what's your phone number?

 

[mobobuff]

Originally posted by: Baked
You just got SCAMMED fool. That was not some law firm, it was a nigerian scammer.

 

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: Baked
You just got SCAMMED fool. That was not some law firm, it was a nigerian scammer.

They have a website with the number that I called posted. It was local firm in my state, so they checked out.

 

[quakefiend420]

Originally posted by: mobobuff

Originally posted by: Baked
You just got SCAMMED fool. That was not some law firm, it was a nigerian scammer.

quoted again for emphasis...better start taking precautions now!

 

[Gurck]

I have the most uncommon last name I've ever heard of :thumbsup:

 

[mobobuff]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats

Originally posted by: Baked
You just got SCAMMED fool. That was not some law firm, it was a nigerian scammer.

They have a website with the number that I called posted. It was local firm in my state, so they checked out.

Post the link so we can all see how fake it is.

 

[OrByte]

Originally posted by: mobobuff

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats

Originally posted by: Baked
You just got SCAMMED fool. That was not some law firm, it was a nigerian scammer.

They have a website with the number that I called posted. It was local firm in my state, so they checked out.

Post the link so we can all see how fake it is.

yeah post it I wanna see too!


oh and are you going to call the credit bureaus now? you REALLLY should. put a warning on your SS#

you REALLY REALLY REALLY should.

 

[Nikamichi]

Wow, pure ownage.

:thumbsdown:

 

[Reckoner]

It was a branch of the US Stafford Loan Agency. I guess they have a local law branch that deals with these matters. I called and spoke with someone with Stafford loan who told me that this was a legit company I was speaking with.

 

[mobobuff]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
It was a branch of the US Stafford Loan Agency. I guess they have a local law branch that deals with these matters. I called and spoke with someone with Stafford loan who told me that this was a legit company I was speaking with.

Stop taking away the ownage!

 

[DaTT]

You owe me money...I think. Lemme have your SSN to verify if its you.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats

Originally posted by: Baked
You just got SCAMMED fool. That was not some law firm, it was a nigerian scammer.

They have a website with the number that I called posted. It was local firm in my state, so they checked out.

Did you actually call the firm and ask about the matter? I'm not as sure that you got scammed as others here are, but they could have pulled that firm & # off the web & fed it to you. I've never heard of law firms being directly involved in debt collection - at least not for $3600. That's what collection agencies do.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: Gurck
I have the most uncommon last name I've ever heard of :thumbsup:

I had problems a few years ago with somebody in town with my first & last name passing bad checks, defaulting on gym memberships, etc. Fscking collection agencies were calling constantly :|

 

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: Armitage

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats

Originally posted by: Baked
You just got SCAMMED fool. That was not some law firm, it was a nigerian scammer.

They have a website with the number that I called posted. It was local firm in my state, so they checked out.

Did you actually call the firm and ask about the matter? I'm not as sure that you got scammed as others here are, but they could have pulled that firm & # off the web & fed it to you. I've never heard of law firms being directly involved in debt collection - at least not for $3600. That's what collection agencies do.

Yeah, it is rather strange that a law firm was involved. My relatives were called (relatives from out of state included) and said they were contacted by them as well, but they weren't asked for any private information, besides asking how they could get into contact with me.
It's not like I'm going around handing out flyers of my SS#, it just seemed that with all these different occurences, plus the confirmation from Stafford, that they were legit.