888-228-1614

I got a text and they said to call them about a case and when I call the number, they answer saying legal department.

This appears to be a "Fake Debt Collector" scam, if you talk to them they will claim that there is some outstanding "debt" that they are trying to collect on.  The claimed debt will usually be very old (beyond the Statute of Limitations) and a fairly sizeable sum.  They will offer to let you settle the debt for a fraction of that amount and avoid being sued in court if you pay then and there over the phone.  They will be very aggressive and try to browbeat and threaten you to make a payment.  They will refuse to give any details about the debt beyond generalizations and will also refuse to agree to send any documents supporting their claim, often claiming that they were already sent at some earlier time.

When dealing with any debt collector the following information is useful:
(Information oft posted by regular poster BigA)
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 contain a “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 dispute/debt validation request 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/complaint/

Also file complaints with the FTC:  https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/

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

Debt collection that doesnt exist

A case number from Douglas county courthouse NE was used in a text message sent to my phone.

I have received multiple text messages from this number.  Each time it says my full name, to please contact them during business hours 8:00-5:00pm and the toll free number.  The case number mentioned doesn't seem realistic to include the 2026-XXXXXX.   If this was true collector, why is the number they are calling from not the same mentioned in text?  Scammers waste so much time viewing public information just to scam us out of what we work hard for.  Funny they probably more profitable at it too.