This is strange.

[Dan208]

I'm trying to figure this one out. My wife and I have lived in our house for almost seven years now. Every once in a while we will still get mail for people that used to live here. We have gotten mail for this one individual that neither of us have ever heard of (we live in a town of about 3000, so pretty much everyone knows everyone). The weird thing is that the other day there was a message on our phone that was for this individual above. The person said that she needed to call him back immediately reguarding an important legal matter. The caller ID had a phone number and name listed so I Googled them. This is what I got: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/...Off0167417.htm

My question is, I can see how we might get mail for this person if she once lived here, but how is she linked to our phone number? Could she have just looked in the phone book for some address and phone number to use and we were the lucky winners? I'm not worried about it, just curious. Any thoughts?

[mobrien316]

Collection agencies are pretty good at finding information.

It sounds like someone may have listed your address on some type of account, even though they never lived there. It could also be a typo somewhere, but it is more likely to be identity fraud.

Once the collection agency got the address (even though it was bogus) it is not that much of a stretch to get the phone number.

Next time they call, tell them there is no one living there by that name, and there never has been, and that you do not want them calling ever again. Speak to a supervisor if possible and get them to note that in the account log. Tell them that any subsequent calls after you have told them they are mistaken and that the subject they are looking has never lived there will be considered harassment.


A similar thing happened to me and my wife last year. We kept getting phone calls from a collection agency for someone with the same first name as my wife (though a different spelling) and a similar sounding last name to her maiden name (though it was clearly two different names.) The dates of birth were off by more than ten years as well.

I was polite the first time, somewhat less so the second time, and the third time they called I got the name of the supervisor, told him that I knew he was calling from New Jersey, and told him that he was violating Connecticut state law by continuing to phone me after I told him his calls were made in error and were harassing me. I didn't mention I was a cop, but I gave him enough detail as to how he could be arrested for these phone calls that he must have believed me. The calls stopped and we haven't received any since.

[Darin]

If the subject had your address all anyone has to do is look in the phonebook or do a search of the address.

[Dan208]

Well, we got another message from them earlier this week asking for the same person. After doing some more searching it seems like they are a scam company. Like I said, I'm not worried about it. The woman's name they are looking for sounds or looks nothing like my wife's name (other than the fact that they both contain letters :p ). I'll probably write down the number and put it next to the phone so the next time they call I can answer and say the nobody by that name lives here and they need to stop calling.

[greenhead]

We have been receiving collection phone calls for "Shawna Collins" since we moved here almost 6 years ago. These collectors get very agressive. The address they have is incorrect. It is irritating though because they call sometimes starting at 8 am. MM and I get pretty aggressive ourselves on the phone with them. I pulled my credit last year and discovered that there is a BIG phone bill in my name, with my social security number. The only problem is, it's in some place in Florida that I couldn't even point out on a map. No idea! Scary how these things can happen!
Take care.

[Dan208]

We have been receiving collection phone calls for "Shawna Collins" since we moved here almost 6 years ago. These collectors get very agressive. The address they have is incorrect. It is irritating though because they call sometimes starting at 8 am. MM and I get pretty aggressive ourselves on the phone with them. I pulled my credit last year and discovered that there is a BIG phone bill in my name, with my social security number. The only problem is, it's in some place in Florida that I couldn't even point out on a map. No idea! Scary how these things can happen!
Take care.

The strange thing is that we've been at this address for seven years now and we just recently (probably the last few years) have started getting mail for this person. Not a lot. Maybe a half a dozen things. I know what you mean about how scary it is. Somone stole our credit card info a few years ago and bought several big ticket items. Luckily, we caught it in time and got it taken care of.

[normal1]

Look into the FDCPA, collection agencies know it well. A few quotes from it to an agent will usually make them stop. Otherwise if the calls continue file a complaint with the FTC.

[Dan208]

After not quite a month we got another message from them. I've looked them up (see the first post) and they are from Salt Lake City. I want to call them up and tell them that they have the wrong number, but my wife seems to think that it is a scam and we will get charged with some high priced international or long distance call on our phone bill. Would it be wise for me to call them? It's getting very irritating.

Dan