855-718-4170

Given this number to call about a legal document. A man answered immediately saying Johnson Smith and Associates. THIS IS A DEBT COLLECTION SCAM!!! Avoid and block.

Debt collection scam!!

Received a private call today stating that legal documents was going to be filed against me in a law suit and they wanted to make sure that someone was going to be at my house the following day to sign for certified mail. She went on to stating that there is an ongoing asset investigation on me. When I questioned them about what the suite was concerning, the woman "Catherine Thompson Ex:207 @ 855-718-4170" could give me any info without transferring me to a case manager. She was polite enough to transfer me to "Andrew Thomas @978-961-0946". He was telling me that the case was concerning a medical debt that happened 13 years ago and the amount owed was federally insured. He was going to file the suit the next day unless I paid in full. I asked for some type of document showing me proof that this was indeed a real legal matter, and then he asked for my email or fax line. I reluctantly gave him my email address and he sent me over a shady document stating some basic info like "My Name & Address, Original Creditor & Account #, New Account #, balance below $500.00, and Settlement Offer". The bottom of the doc was labeled with the generic info like "THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT BY A DEBT COLLECTOR AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE".
He then told me that he would give me 24 hours to call him back or he would file the law suit against me.
I can't find any records at all about this and it is all a little hard to swallow. I believe that this is a sophisticated scam. Even the website is shady with no secure https:// connection. "www.jsmithassociates.com". I made up my mind to tell them to file away tomorrow... Does anyone have any advice? I would appreciate it.

This scam is going around the central  valley. Same exact scenario

Same exact scenario as above. I do not believe I owe anything. Really "nice" sounding woman asking if someone would be home at noon tomorrow to receive the legal documents. When I inquired, she said, "I only work in the file department. You have to call our legal department."

Same thing here. Nice sounding message about wanting to deliver some papers to the house. I can't imagine I owe anything this has to be a scam. After reading these comments I won't be returning to call

.. he RECEIVED A CALL that documents were going to be filed and he received an EMAIL document PLUS he was threatened with a suit.  What is legal or official about that???

Yes, this is a known debt scamming operation.  That email did not contain everything the law requires.  If you read my post here you will find out that they are operating illegally:  https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-816-8637#p1366199512652809330

Yes, and debt collectors have to mail that validation of debt. Not email. That's the law.

Conveniently the JSA thugs who place their bully calls and patrol their threads here have not mentioned what else your initial dunning should have. It should inform you of your right to dispute this flimsy claim within 30 days of receipt. This right conflicts with the demand to "pay today or get sued". Their cute little emailed mockery of a dunning letter is really Compliance Theater. They have no intention of honoring your rights or what any law says.

CFPB Q&A: Can a debt collector try to deceive me to collect on a debt?
FTC alert: Fake Debt Collectors
FTC blog: Don’t recognize that debt? Here’s what to do.

Johnson Smith & Associates - I remember their ads in comic books, where they sold X-ray Specs, hand buzzers, fake dog poop, squirting flowers, magic tricks...

Yes, that eerie name similarity was hard to resist in shill rebuttals back in April 2017. I wonder now if the mail order company ever sold a "Phony Summons and Complaint -- Complete with long columns of almost legal-ish prose. Startle your friends! Scare your enemies!"

I got a call from this people, what happened next did they send you the paperwork?

I have the same story as others here. Two threatening voicemails, claiming to be Johnson, Smith and Associates at 400 West Cummings Park Suite 1725 Woburn, MA, 01801, and a very generic letter sent to my home. A “Jessica Sanders” left these messages from a blocked number, and gave me the number of 866-290-0891 for a call back, stating that papers would be delivered to my home. She even claimed that they were attempted to be delivered the day before, which is a lie, because I was home, nothing was left on the front door/mailbox, and no one even approached my house to officially “deliver” anything (thanks security cameras. “Delivered” would make one believe it was a certified letter. Not the case). A few things going on so that you all know it’s a scam:

1). The physical office address they gave me is a UPS store (after being specifically asked for a physical location, this is the one I was given). 2). The alleged debt they say I owed is from a company I have never even had a credit card through. I called, spoke to an associate and they confirmed I do not (nor have I ever had) any accounts with them. And, the clincher, 3). The “attorney”, Chad Armstrong, is not registered with the Massachusetts Bar Association (I called and spoke directly to someone, who said that he is nowhere to be found).

This stressed me out and made me unreasonably angry that I would get voicemails and a letter. I hope these people crash and burn badly.