I received this original email from them
From: COLLECTION ACS
Date:05/09/2014 9:44 AM (GMT-06:00)
To: COLLECTION ACS
Subject: Case File # : 0509AM; Subject - Lawsuit
Due to: ACS INC
Amount Due: $955.75
Case File #: 0509AM
Dear Debtor,
Our company (ACS INC) has authorized us to recover the full amount due to them.
As we put your Social Security Number into our National Checking Database System, we found that you have never been charged for a fraud activity & that’s the reason Court House has decided to give you a chance to take care of this issue outside the Court without having a report on your Credit History and Social Security Number.
We regret that if we do not receive your response within the next 48 hours, we shall have no alternative but to take action through your local County Courthouse to recover the amount due together with court costs and legal fees which is approximately $4252.86.
AS YOU ARE A DEFAULTER ON THIS CREDIT UNITED LEGAL INVESTIGATION BUREAU HAS STATED 3 SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST YOU AND THEY ARE:
(1) VIOLATION OF FEDERAL BANKING REGULATION
(2) COLLATERAL CHECK FRAUD
(3) THEFT BY DECEPTION
If Court action is taken and Judgment / Decree obtained against you to recover the sum due, we may need to ask the court to make one of the following orders should the debt remain unpaid:-
· Warrant of Execution (Exceptional Attachment Order). Seizure and sale of movable non-essential assets / property by a County Court Bailiff or Sheriff Officer
· Attachment of Earnings base (Earnings Arrestment). Deduction from your wages by your employer or arrestment of part of your salary to satisfy the debt
The Factual Basis for the complaints is as follows:-
You agreed to return the funds from the aforementioned income advancement as per contract.
And as per the agreement the funds have yet to be returned and the collateral has proven to be null that is to say of no value.
At present, ACS INC is seeking either of the following remedies:-
All funds to be returned as per terms of initial contract
Dear Customer as we were investigating your profile, we found you to be a genuine person so it is our duty to help you out but for that we need some right answers from your side. Also we would like to know your intentions
If you have recently settled this account, please contact us immediately to avoid further action. Otherwise, payment options are set out overleaf or alternatively call us or email us right now to pay or agree to a payment plan with us.
AGAIN IF YOU WANT TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER THAN CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY THRU AN EMAIL OR CALL US DURING WORKING HOURS (From Monday To Friday 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM EST) on 1-561 283 2526
NOTE: THIS CASE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION UNDER MAJOR CREDIT BUREAUS.
Yours sincer
Collections & Legal Department
Itold them I would be happy to pay this or make a pmt arrangement. I requested they provide me with original account info for what this was regarding so I know this is not a scam. Also that I wouldn't tell them any personal info because they should have that from the original acct. They said they could not give original info and if I do not pay now then they will prosecute.
Thank you,
Samantha Winton
(((redacted)))
FloridaNative
Palm Beach Gardens,#2Consumer Comment
Fri, May 30, 2014
Do not contact these people again. Because you called them already and had a discussion it is possible they will call you again. Do not give them any personal information or money. They are scammers. You can tell just by reading the email they sent you. Even if you owed a payday lender money, you would not pay these scammers because it would not clear the debt!
Go to FTC(dot)gov website and read up on consumer scams. This is called the Payday Loan Collection scam. The scammer says whatever they can to frighten you into giving them money and making payment arrangements. Don't do it. They have no power to do anything to you.
You can not be prosecuted for non-payment of a personal loan. It is not a criminal offense to owe money. These scammers are taking advantage of those people that are not familiar with the debt and collections system we have here in the US. Take the time to learn all about debt and collections so you can't be scammed.