978-961-0946

I received from Johnson & Smith (private number) stating that I owe over 3,000 to a bank and had to call 877 596 0257. The lady said that I was going to be served papers and wanted to make sure that someone over 18 was going to be home to sign and I should call  to get further information. The person who answered said that his name was Thomas and I should write down his number (978)961-0946. He wanted to verify my address and I told him to send me the papers and he started threatening that it was my account and they will see me in court. He started giggling and I told him he wasn't professional and said that I shouldn't be telling him how to do his job. I called the City of New York information number and was advised not to give any information and wait for the papers. When I looked up the 877 596 0257 there are a lot of complaints and it seems these are scammers. Thomas wouldn't give me the license number to operate in the City of New York.

It sounds like this outfit here:

JOHNSON, SMITH & ASSOCIATES AKA JS&A
Number threads associated with these crooks:  https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-789-2498/3
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-549-5930#p1197406718605500569
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-978-513-8265
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-986-8675
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-693-3504
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-723-6224
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-718-4098/2
Website says they are in Massachusetts:  http://jsmithassociates.com/index.htm
Website was created in March of 2017 according to Whois.
The BBB has no page on them under that name
The address is a UPS store, but another criminal debt collector by the name of Receivable Management Corporation aka RMC is listed at that address with a “suite” number
They are not registered under that name with the Massachusetts Dept. of State or registered as a debt collection agency, which legally preclude them from doing business.

Other complaints:
https://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/contacted- ... 31-2391468.html

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

Also file a complaint with the Massachusetts Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation:  http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/government/oca-agen ... -complaint.html

And the Massachusetts AG office:  http://www.mass.gov/ago/

Got a VM today from them asking me to call 877-596-0257. Same old scam. I plan on filing a complaint with the CFPB - any reputable company will respond within 30 days but I bet these won't.

What if they have the last 4 of your social and ur birthday

Then you should consider yourself a victim of identity theft and do this:

If you feel your SSN has been compromised, in addition to putting a fraud alert at the 3 credit bureaus, you may want to notify the IRS.  Here is the link, fill out the proper form (probably 14039):
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/How-Do-You-Rep ... aud-Activity%3F
https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/report-identity-theft

My mother received a call from this company telling her they were getting ready to file a civil complaint against her for money she owed a hospital from 2002 and 2011. I talked to an Andrew Thomas who said that she owed $2976.13 but since we seemed to be cooperating they talked to their supervisor and reduced it to $1305.50. They seemed to have my mothers DOB and her address, which I plan to report against the Hospital for privacy info disclosure. They even gave her a case# and Andrews direct line was 978-961-0946. I looked up the address they used, which belongs to an UPS store in Massachusetts. This is the company info they sent me by email: JOHNSON, SMITH & ASSOCIATES, 400 West Cummings Park, Suite 1725-135, Woburn, MA 01801. www.jsmithassociates.com. Called the real estate company that was listed for this building and they said they never heard of them. So please don’t let your elderly parent be fooled by this scam.

Yes, we covered all of that already.  Getting anyone's address and DOB is child's play these days.

My wife received a call from Johnson &Smith associatos starting there was a  legal  matter that they need to talk to her about, they stated that a lawsuits had been filed against  her and they wanted to settle  it by her making payments