877-596-0257

They said they were John Smith & Assoc. And they will be bringing me something on tuesday and we need someone over the age of 18 there? Is this a scam

100% scam.. just ignore them.

I received the same call this week and asked the caller to serve me the papers. He mentioned that I never dealt with. When I asked him to provide me the license number to operate in the City of New York didn't have an answer for me. He said that they outsource with lawyers... I hung up the phone because I was at work and it sounds like a fraudulent call. He kept telling me that would see me in court.

This is the process server extortion scam.  One other poster gave a name, but I think it might actually be Johnson, Smith and Associates, a scam outfit allegedly located in Massachusetts.  In any case you should read this:

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 they 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 have to be served within a certain amount of time.  Remember that you can always call the local courthouse to see if there is actually 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 (US MAIL ONLY) postmarked 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.

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

File a complaint at the NY State AG's Office here:  http://www.ag.ny.gov/

Received a call from this number this morning.  The weird thing is they did not want me, they wanted my husband?????  We both have our own phones and do not give out each others numbers.  I told them that my husband wasn't available because he had just had surgery. She called from a number that said no caller id but she gave me this number and told me to have my husband call them that it was concerning a legal matter and some legal documents.  She would not give me anymore information.

Sorry, I forgot to put the company that they said they were with.  It was Johnson, Smith & Associates

Thank YOU!

You are very welcome!

Ah, those people, well known around here as a criminal organization.  Please take the time to read what I have gathered on them so far:  https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-978-961-0946#p1308809961058329007

Received a call from them. CALLER ID showed "Private Number." A man left a message saying he was calling for a complaint and that legal documents will be served in the next couple of days. He  said he was from, as stated above, Johnson Smith and Associates. What raised a red flag for me was that he asked for my deceased  ex-husband's(divorced over 20 years) grandmother(passed away 2 years ago). Thank you to all who posted. Caller will be blocked and I hope whoever is reading this will also block them and not fall for their scam.

Similar VM that everyone appears to be getting indicating they received some legal papers and want to deliver it 1/19/18 but gave callback number as 877-596-0257. I would suggest filing every call as a complaint with the CFPB.

Same here, just this afternoon.

From a related phone: 877-596-0279

I received a call about papers being delivered to my address and if someone would be there to sign for them.  I questioned what this was about.  They gave me a number to call.  I called.  They are trying to collect a debt that was discharged on a bankruptcy from 20002.  Not only is the debt discharged but is has been too many years to be able to try to collect on it.  They have listed themselves on my credit as a debtor and put me as behind.  I am seeking legal help now.  People please keep reporting your experiences.  There must be a way to stop illegal harassment of people who are trying to get their lives together.

Well known debt scammers around here.  Illegally operating with a fake address and well, fake everything.

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 (US MAIL ONLY) postmarked 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.

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