877-733-9302

came across my phone as "spam risk"......message says they are calling from "The Hartford Group" about some legal proceeding.   A Debra Smith left a message trying to sound all legal and stuff when we know full well it's a total SCAM call...... just don't answer it.

Same as mentioned above! Said her name was Debra Smith and rambled some legal mumbo.

Got the same call but said it was ms Spencer

I got the same call from Ms. Spencer who works in the paralegal department

Got a voicemail regarding a petition that is placed against me.

Call shows as SPAM RISK, first vm message saying she’s Deborah Smith from Hartford Group and I should call her back in regards to a lawsuit filed against me. Second vm message was the same voice but her name now is Tammy. I called their number at night time, no one answered but said leave a message to Mark.

same here from the "hartford group". a "legal action" has been placed against me.

Called from The Hartford Group, said that there are transactions tied to my name and ssn, told me to call back before she "makes a recommendation" smh these people are dumb.

A Ms. Spencer from the "Hartford Group" called looking for my daughter. Said she had some legal papers that my daughter should know about. I called the real Hartford Group and reported to them that scammers was using their name. They turned it over to their fraud department.

I have gotten two calls from this number, one yesterday and again this morning, women on the voice mail said her name was "Ms.Kingston" she did try to sound like a legal representative and aggressively said "she was calling from the Hartford Group and needed to speak with me or my legal representative immediately regarding a petition, gave me extension 320. SCAM DO NOT CALL.

You want to know if there is an "active/ Pending" case against you go to the Clerk of Court in your area

Same as all above. Jerks I wish something legally can be done to them.  Can you imagine the calls that are returned and people scammed out of their money. Shameful.  Karma will get thwm

Thank you for posting this! I received the same phone call yesterday and I started to get a little worried that something happened that I wasn’t aware of. She said the exact same thing on my voicemail.
I really appreciate you posting this.

The fake process server extortion attempt 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 (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.  If and when you get that letter 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

Received the same call from Miss Kingston, The Hartford Group.  She states a petition has been filed against you and you need to call them back immediately.  Bet they're more than willing to settle out of court with just your credit card number.

Same as everyone above call from Tammy about a legal petition against me.

I got a voicemail saying the Hartford group and this is a time sensitive matter call us immediately.

Just received a call from Deborah Smith at The Hartford Group; however, the new number they are using is 888-703-3043.  I don't give them a chance to speak any longer.  I just hang up and block the number.  These calls are getting worse.  So sick of it.