844-234-9986

This number called me say I own money for a bounced check and if I don't pay, I have to go to court for check fraud

Is a scam or not?

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/

Scam.  If you had written a bad check the bank in question would call you first.  Usually the bank will make arrangements with the check writer and that's the end of it.  The bank, however has the option to make a police complaint.   If you were being investigated for such a crime you would have been interviewed face-to-face by a member of law enforcement.  You would NOT have heard about this from some scammery-scummery debt collector who cold calls you and starts asking for money.  Debt collectors have no influence on law enforcement at all.  This is just a scam to try to scare you into paying them money. Do not fall for it.

Just because a voice on the telephone claims you owe a debt does not mean you owe it
If a voice on the telephone claims you owe a debt:

1.    Demand the person give you his or her name, company name, and address
2.     Demand a debt validation letter by US mail.  E-mail no good.
3.    Do not pay  the collection agent or anyone else a  DIME  until the debt is validated.

Of course they won’t do this, no scammer ever will, so simply block their calls and ignore them.

If they are bothering you,

Report them:

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0149-debt-collection  (Threatening criminal prosecution to collect a civil debt is a clear violation of the Federal Fair Debt Collection Act)

Also contact your local attorney general

If they continue to bother you, and you know you do not owe any money,  tell them that you know this is  a debt scam and that you are making a complaint to the police for extortion.  You might have to yell at the scammer and talk over him or her.  Once you get a copy of the police report and they call you again , just read out the  file number and the name of the PD or Sheriff’s office involved.   Tell them you’ll be glad to send a copy to them at whatever address the jack***es are working out of now.

Total scam.   They call themselves East Brook group or Eastbrook or some such variation.   No idea where they are located.  Read the other posts.  They call from several other numbers.

Yes I received the same call stating that I owe money on an old account from years ago, can I go to jail?  They gave me a case number

No!  There are no debtors prisons in the US!  Read alfalfa's and CWG40's posts for tons of useful information.

Being in ordinary civil debt is NOT a crime and you cannot be arrested or jailed for it.  We don't have debtors prisons in the US and haven't since the 1830s.

Its a scam. They called my sister bc I had previously used her as a reference. They claimed I defaulted on a payday loan and received the funds from overseas. They said it was for 600 dollars and I now owe 1200 and with their fees its 2012.87...they said i am scheduled to be served on Tuesdat but then later she said Monday. They take bank cards or prepaid cards as payment. They also said I lived at my moms house in 2012 but i moved in 2011 when we got married. This is a scam. I called both the civil as well as criminal divisons of our sherrifs office and the criminal lady even said it wouldnt be a normal day if she didnt get this same call at least 5x a day. When in doubt research and call numbers you know...call your bank too. I knew it was fraud with 99% chance but still wanted to make sure. Also you can file against them via the state attorney generals office as well.

Exactly...u can only be put in prison for a debt if it is a court ordered fine or debt and u break the order (chuld support etc...)

Someone called my mother's home phone in another state asking for me leaving a threatening message regarding a docket #.  When I called back,  could not leave voice mail!  Answered as Eastbrook Group.

Some woman trying to sound important and legal, calling for my dead sister, giving 2nd 24 hour notice. I am sure my sister used it as an emergency contact number. Which means secondary collection call number. Rat [***]! I would call and tell them she has passed, but I would rather have the rats keep chasing their tail for ZERO chance of getting anything.

Read Alfalfa 's and CWG40's post above.  Most likely this is a group of criminals using the "panic" operandi.  they call all the relatives and friends other than the intended victim in order to create panic and have the victim call and pay their extortion money without thinking.
Read up on your rights here, get template letters to send and also make a complaint at this government site:  http://www.consumerfinance.gov/

Also file a complaint with your State Attorney General's office.
List of State AG’s offices:  http://consumerfraudreporting.org/stateattorneygenerallist.php