888-684-2375

I received a call from a New Jersey number. The woman was very friendly & polite, she claimed to represent DDS ("Direct Delivery Svcs" according to her) and asked if I'd be home between 8-5 to receive & sign for a packet of documents. I told her no, so she said I would have to contact the SENDER to reschedule the delivery.  I asked the name of the sender & she claimed she didn't have the name, her DRIVER didn't give her that info, but it was a law firm.  "We only deliver for law firms."  She provided a claim number 2021-xxxxx and phone number 888-684-2375.  I tried looking up the 888 number, I got nothing in my search.  So, my thoughts are (1) why wouldn't a dispatcher be the one to reschedule a delivery,  (2) why wouldn't said dispatcher have more details regarding delivery (like the name of sender), (3) why wouldn't a law firm's number show up ANYWHERE in a web search, (4) why would a nationwide courier service limit themselves to only law firms (she's in NJ, I'm in TX).   Also note worthy is the fact that I received a voicemail last month containg a similar claim but the reference number was slightly different & gave a different 888 number to contact regarding this "Urgent matter concerning claim against me for possible legal action".  This reminds me of a scam years ago where you called a number & that was either a number that ended up charging you outrageous international fees or rerouted to such a number.  Those charges were difficult to dispute with phone carriers since it was obvious that you initiated the call. But this scam could be different, possibly when you call the 888 number they somehow convince you to pay them for a bogus debt to avoid some feigned pending legal action? I'm certainly not going to call either of the numbers.

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 (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