850-546-6444

Call blocker might be of some help.  Also don't pick up on numbers you do not recognize, or where there are caller IDs that seem odd.  Or where there is no caller ID.

Go to the local police and make a report.  This looks like extortion.

Report them:

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/Complaint/#debt-collection

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

Also contact your local attorney general

I too keep getting these vm msgs from them from a local # 786-405-8851, its even been a few years now. They stop when I harass them back with legal action but they'll start all over again months later and a different local number. This needs to be stopped!

if it's a VoIP then how do we get the IP address of the VoIP?

Received call today from local number with the same message that is posted previously and to call Thomas Bates @ 850-546-6444 reference case# 994XXX.  Press one for immediate assistance and I did.  Did not confirm any of my information and told them that I knew this was a scam and would report them.  SCAM!!

I got the same type of call with the same message threatening to garnish my wages I have settled everything I owe

Wages are garnished by a court order - not because a bottom feeding debt collector says so.  Did you know it is illegal to make threats like that??  Report them to your state attorney general's office.

Most likely you were taken.  Did they give you a debt validation letter sent through the post office?  No E mail, or fax, or phone, those are not legal.  Did they prove to you that you owe the debt (again in writing by US mail)?  Because if they didn't do any of those things, then they stole your money.  And to make matters worse, you are now on their "easy marks" list which will be sold to other criminal debt collectors and you will receive a ton more calls about the same or some other nonexistent debt.
This is a common ploy by criminals attempting to extort money from people by scaring you into believing that you will be criminally charged, go to jail, lose your driver’s license, have wages garnished, be sued, and a variety of other variations on this,  all for an alleged or nonexistent debt.  They also use the “process server” who calls and claims he is going to serve you, but then says you could avoid it by calling another number.  Now why would a “process server” want to do you, a stranger, a favor, and at the same time not get paid to deliver the papers?

Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter (US MAIL ONLY) within 5 days of their first contact that contains their name, physical address, the creditor’s name, and the amount of the alleged debt.  It also must contains “mini-Miranda” telling you that it is an attempt to collect a debt and that all information will be used for those purposes.  The one other important thing that this letter must also have in it is that you have a right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receipt of the letter and if you do so, all collection activity must be stopped until the debt is verified.
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

I got the same phone call this morning but the number they call was a 408 area code. 408-740-6456 but the message was exactly the same as everyone else here. they tell me i have a llegal matter pending 24 hour...to call 850-546-6444. they didn't leave there company name or what law office they were calling from. just to contact a mr. thomas bates. i dont trust this....

I've gotten several calls from these people in the last few months.  The message is exactly as described in other posts, with the threat of legal action, case number, Thomas Bates, etc.  They should spend more time and energy earning an honest living than trying to scam people out of their money!

Just got the same call that a court judgement was just made against me and to call Thomas Bates at 850-546-6444 and the case reference is my first name. The number that it shows calling me is a local number. They said they have tried numerous times to reach me.

I received this number as the callback number in a message sent from caller Id 248-537-9302, very similar to the previous reports here.

For brevity, here is the link to my report from number that called me:

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-248-537-9302/2#p928907049163854296

These scammers are UNBELIEVABLE! They call you first from local area codes (I live in Utah and got a call from 801-614-1879, they seem to call me every Wednesday) I didn't answer and got the exact same message as everyone else is reporting. "This message is to inform you blah blah blah" and to call Thomas (?) at 850-546-6444. I called these people back and gave them a piece of my mind. I am so tired of these low life's thinking that this is okay! GET A JOB LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!

call came up somewhat local: 419-496-4057 (Ashland, OH).    "This confidential message is to inform you that you have a legal matter pending to be filed against you within the next 24 hours.  To make your statement against this claim, which could result in garnishment or civil judgment, you must call Thomas Bates at (850) 546-6444. Your Case No. is ______. For immediate assistance, please press 1."
Message was left in regards to my maiden name which I haven't used for over 7 years.  Deleted & Blocked.

Got the exact same call and message. Same 850 # but from a local number calling.

You have to find them first.  Nobody knows where they are located.

Calls from the agency identified as Legal Mediation Solutions saying I have an outstanding debt from Ace Cash Express. Caller states I owe an outstanding balance and then threatens me with court proceedings if I am not prepared to pay now. Soon as I challenge him on this (since I never did business with Ace Cash Express) he says goodbye and hangs up. Have received many calls from this number.

thanks to everyone because I get the same BS and phone number and if not for all of you listing scams, there might of been others who might of got screwed over for these ridiculous threats  thanks

-I received the same voicemail from 757-255-1085

They call me at least 3 times a week. It comes up as 414-888-4042. They give me a case number and tell me to call the 850-546-6444 number and ask to speak to Thomas Bates. Getting tired of the harassment...