303-951-4754

Russell Bill with the legal department about some phony legal claim.  Another scammer wanting your info.  May all the bad things in the universe come down on these morons and their ilk.

How can I verify whether or not a debt collector is legitimate?
Here are a few warning signs that could signal a debt collection scam:

The debt collector threatens you. Legitimate debt collectors probably won't claim that they'll have you arrested or claim that they or their employees are law enforcement officers.

The debt collector refuses to give you information about your debt or is trying to collect a debt you do not recognize. You have certain rights to ask a debt collector to verify the debt. You can use this sample letter to request this information. Ask for an explanation in writing before you pay.

The debt collector refuses to give you a mailing address or phone number.

The debt collector asks you for sensitive personal financial information. You should never provide anyone with your personal financial information unless you are sure they're legitimate.
If you think that a caller may be a fake debt collector:

Ask the caller for his or her name, company, street address, telephone number, and professional license number. Many states require debt collectors to be licensed. Check the information the caller provides you with your state officials, or the state in which the debt collector holds a license. If the caller refuses or is unable to provide you with information about his company, or if you can’t verify the information he provides, do not give money to the caller or company.

Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice." This notice must include:
The amount of the debt
The name of the creditor you owe
A description of certain rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
If a caller refuses to give you all of this information, consider requesting this information in writing or seeking assistance before paying the debt to make sure the debt, and the company, are valid.

Tip: You can consider sending the collector a letter requesting the information by using one of the CFPB's sample letters. You can also submit a complaint to the CFPB or you can contact your state Attorney General’s office.

Do not give the caller personal financial or other sensitive information. Never give out or confirm personal financial or other sensitive information like your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number unless you know the company or person you are talking with is a real debt collector. Scam artists, like fake debt collectors, can use your information to commit identity theft such as:
Charging your existing credit cards
Opening new credit card or checking accounts
Writing fraudulent checks
Taking out loans in your name

Contact your creditor. If the debt is legitimate – but you think the collector may not be – contact your creditor about the calls. Share the information you have about the suspicious calls and find out who, if anyone, the creditor has authorized to collect the debt.

Report the call. Submit a complaint with the CFPB or get in touch with your state Attorney General's office with information about suspicious callers.

Stop speaking with the caller.If nothing else works and you believe the calls are fraudulent, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files.

Tip: You can use this sample letter to write a letter demanding the debt collector stop contacting you. By law, real debt collectors must stop calling you if you ask them to in writing.

Tip: If you're having trouble with debt collection, you can submit a complaint with the CFPB online or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/

Yes I just received the same call.  Said he is with legal medication divsaion 2.17.  Talking about financing transactions in court and so on and so on.

yep, Russell Bill with Legal Mediation division 217 has called me twice today and left messages. Funny thing is, he's calling my work cell phone which is not connected to ANYTHING I have with any of my personal financial information. Total Scam!!!

I have never heard of a name Russell Bill?  How long did it take him to think of this name.  Two first names WOW!  He has gotten my info from probably some pay day loan company that I already paid off or something.  And this would be years and years ago.  I am not answering him for sure.

Russell Bill He has called me twice today and let a message. From the message he leaves you can tell be is a scam. If you try long back you get this weird answering service definitely not a company.

this phone number calls claiming i have a financial legal issue in court and i am suppose to call him or his associates on 303-951-4754,same number that called from Colorado and his name is Resso or something like that.even my two year old daughter knows the court will serve you not on some phony phone call.you got the wrong girl.

Russell Bill, huh? I got the same call today. There's a comedian named Bill Russell - a play on names, perhaps? It's a scam for sure. I have LifeLock and if it was a problem, I would have heard from them personally.

You can tell it's a scam because they don't say the call is intended for whoever they're calling. It's always a legal matter. And the bulk of the calls come through when people are filing taxes. Ridiculous! I just block the calls and will call LifeLock to let them know.

thanks for all your posts.
I got similar phone call an reassured by posts it a scam
Thanks all who posted

i receive this call as well today, but they never seem to address you by name.
does anyone know of an address or anything for this "company"

Damn [***] hick trying to scam people.

Thank you for posting this as a scam... He just called me with I've got some kind of illegal transaction with my phone number & social security number involved... Saying I needed to stay on the line to defend my actions...

Russell Bill just called me too.  Legal issue associated with this cell phone number.  I blocked the number.

SCAM, Yes, they have been harassing me from Miami, then the East Coast, now Colorado. They have different phone numbers they will call you from. It's always the same type of recording regarding a legal matter and my ss, name, and tele number is associated. Well I do a lot of marketing online with my business, they probably picked it up from there. I pay my bills and have nothing outstanding for many years. I finally got mad, and stayed on line to talk. They said same as above, I said I don't owe, or have any legal court matter going on where I owe money! So, I said: IN THE NAME OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS I COMMAND THE DEMONS AND SATAN TO COME OUT OF YOUR SORRY FOUL SMELLING SOUL, AND MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOU! Before I could say more, well they hung up on me. Still irritated I called back twice, give them some of their own medicine, left them message the above prayer,.. well they blocked my number, I guess for now. Happened just a few min ago.. LOL. Geez..

This is the message that was left on my phone: Hello, my name is Russell Bell with Legal Mediation Division 217. I'm showing this telephone # is associated with a financial transaction that is now in question. If you own this telephone # it is possible that your social security # could be involved as well. I have a couple questions regarding this legal matter, please contact me or any of my associates at telephone # 303-951-4754

Caller ID shows as "Goodnight S"  the  message was:

"Hello this is James Johnson with legal mediation division 217.  I'm showing this telephone number is associates with the financial  transactions that is now in question.  if you own this telephoine number.  it is possible that your social security number could be involved as well.  I have a couple of questions regarding this legal matter.  Plase contact me or many of my associates immediately at 720-222-1501"

Sadly.... this one wasn't an obvious "out of the country" thick accent which means either they are perfecting thier English skills or they have been able to recruit people to help them.

I think I will call back and leave the above prayer for them.

Caller ID shows as "Goodnight S"  the  message was:

"Hello this is James Johnson with legal mediation division 217.  I'm showing this telephone number is associates with the financial  transactions that is now in question.  if you own this telephoine number.  it is possible that your social security number could be involved as well.  I have a couple of questions regarding this legal matter.  Plase contact me or many of my associates immediately at 720-222-1501"

Sadly.... this one wasn't an obvious "out of the country" thick accent which means either they are perfecting thier English skills or they have been able to recruit people to help them.

I think I will call back and leave the above prayer for them.

District 217 scammers strike again!

Some crazy scamming operation.  It has a  history on 800notes.   Somebody always calls saying they from  district 217 and start their debt scamming at that point.   No idea where they are located.  Basically I think they are attempting to give the impression that they are part of some governmental agency.
District 217 Scam Numbers

202-706-6163
202-827-0663
202-827-1620
206-973-0589
224-704-0653
253-220-5511
402-218-4660
402-218-4663
402-952-4444
512-827-3784
512-582-7677
512-949-3666
713-331-9159
901-217-8974