866-775-1601

Say documents for me to appear in court have been returned by process serving department from address on file. Must contact attorneys office, "the firm", immediately at 866.775.1601. No name given, no attorneys name, no reason calling. Refer to case number ......... CR, when calling. CR means criminal case. Scared the crap out of me. I have no criminal history!!!

The fake process server/location finder extortion SCAM usually consists of the following:

They mention that they have received a Fax document or some sort of complaint and that there is a pending legal matter or action about to filed against you to create the sense of urgency.  They tell you that they are a “process server” and cannot give you the particulars of the case since the file is sealed. This is simply ruse to get you to call another number (often with a made-up case number) where they will ask for money to “make it go away” (this is actually the same place, they work in teams, one pretending to be the server, and the other usually pretends to be a lawyer).  They threaten to serve you at home or at work.  They tell you that if they serve you at work then they will need a supervisor, security, or HR person there as a witness, hoping that will cause you to panic over the alleged embarrassment of being served at work.  They also tell you that you will need two forms of ID.  None of which is true.  Process servers do not ever call ahead so that you can dodge them.  Process servers get paid to serve papers, nothing else.  They certainly are not going to pass up a paycheck by telling you that you can avoid being served, they are not going to give you an extra day or even a few hours to get a “stop order”.  Court documents are time sensitive and must be served within a certain amount of time.  Remember that you can always call the local courthouse to see if there really is a lawsuit that has been filed against you.

  It is incumbent upon them under the law to prove that the debt exists and that you owe it, and (this is the important part) that they have the legal right to collect it.  You are not obligated under the law to prove that you don’t owe or that it is paid.  

Federal law (FDCPA) requires them to send you a letter, email, or text (postmarked in the case of a letter) within 5 days of their first contact that contains their name, physical address, the creditor’s name, and the amount of the alleged debt. Unless they have communicated it to you verbally at the beginning of your conversation.  It also must contain the “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 communication 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.  If and when you get that communication you should immediately send that debt validation letter by certified, return receipt mail.

First, you should make a complaint at this Federal Agency, and while there you should also read up on how debt collection is supposed to work as well as what your rights in this matter are: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/

Also file complaints with the FTC: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#crnt&panel1-1

Also file a complaint with your State Attorney General's office.
List of State AG’s offices:   https://800notes.com/faq/attorney-general

Caller said that they were trying to serve me and asked me to call Anthony Brown. About something from a county 150 miles away.

Caller ID was unknown. They left a voicemail saying it was Alex Ellis calling to serve legal docs to appear in court, to call the attorney in charge, but no court on attorney’s name given only this 866 number

My mother got a similar call from that same number asking for me? I’ve searched the case number given and it doesn’t even make sense to any count case number in California. Guessing it’s a scam at this point as I don’t have any criminal past of any kind.

Called and left a message, this is Adam from EDS we attempted to deliver legal papers that were returned as undeliverable you must call us to avoid a warrant for failure to appear "for example" please call this number and reference this case number. All malarkey. Deleted the call. They prey upon insecurities of people. If you don't know the number, don't answer. Legitimate callers will useothe4 means to contact you.

Left voicemail w exact script others have posted stating Jackie smith and even called my emergency contacts!! W same menacing call!! Left the same "case number"

this is a message for my legal name my name is Alex Ellis calling on behalf of the county processors office. We will re- something, legal documents to appear in court the documents show undeliverable to the address that we have on file, to avoid any legal complications or failure to appear in court plkease contact the attorney ( no Name) phone number is 866-775-1601. once you call in refer back to your case number--------- (which makes no sense as I have never heard or scene a case number like this and have no legal matters pending). THIS IS [***]!!!!!