Fraudlent collection agency

[Ed62]

One of my daughters bought things on different websites several times. Evidently her personal information had been compromised somewhere along the line. She received a letter via snail mail, telling her she had an outstanding balance at some place she never ordered from. They said they had the exclusive right to get the account settled, and threatened her with credit bureau reports if it was not paid. Knowing she did not owe the money they said she owed, she sent them a certified letter with a receipt to be returned to her after someone signed for it. She never received the receipt, evidently because nobody would sign for delivery. After researching the collection company online, she found there were many others who had been contacted by them for payment of bogus bills. The name of the collection agency is AFNI Collections. If you hear of anyone getting correspondence from them, you can tell them it is a phony collection agency.

Ed

[onedash]

did they have anything besides here name and adress?
I get things to extend my warenty or "renew" subscriptions I don't have. While they might be legit companies they use some pretty crooked marketing. Not as bad as saying i defaulted on credit i never got though...

[Ed62]

They had the last 4 numbers of her social security number. Not sure if they had the rest.

Ed

[MilDoc]

She should report any and all information she has to her state's Attorney Generals Office, the FTC, etc. Also send a report to her ISP provider. And check her credit reports in a few months, just in case.

[Ed62]

She's already taken care of everything. Thanks. She was really upset about this.

Ed

[alpha]

Has she bought anything from TJ Maxx?

Bob

[Ed62]

I don't know who she bought from, just know it was different places.

Ed

[eezlock]

collection agencies

One of my daughters bought things on different websites several times. Evidently her personal information had been compromised somewhere along the line. She received a letter via snail mail, telling her she had an outstanding balance at some place she never ordered from. They said they had the exclusive right to get the account settled, and threatened her with credit bureau reports if it was not paid. Knowing she did not owe the money they said she owed, she sent them a certified letter with a receipt to be returned to her after someone signed for it. She never received the receipt, evidently because nobody would sign for delivery. After researching the collection company online, she found there were many others who had been contacted by them for payment of bogus bills. The name of the collection agency is AFNI Collections. If you hear of anyone getting correspondence from them, you can tell them it is a phony collection agency.

Ed

These kind of "people" are the real bottom feeders of society
anyway. Most are to sorry,worthless and no count, can't get a real job and
earn their keep! They are the scum of modern society !

[Mrs. Wallnut]

Ed, I was watching the news the other day and there was a similar story on about a collection company. The woman said a company called her at work and was saying that she owed them money on a purchase of some kind and while she was on the phone with the company I believe it was Macys called her and asked about a two or three thousand dollar purchase that they had just received on her CC. She said no that it wasn't her and when she went back to the collection company and asked for a supervisor they denied her request and hung up.

These are the kind of people that make all of us worried about and give us good people a bad name.

[leehljp]

I am a member of a list called Scambusters http://www.scambusters.org/ They report this kind of scam and offer lots of great information on just such things. I have been receiving their every other week email lists for several years now.

It is different from Hoax sites in that this one focuses on scams against people. I email my copies to my daughters all the time. Great list to be on.

At this time of the year, they are warning about phone calls from fake IRS agents requesting verification for information, SS numbers.

Lots of people getting scammed by the "supposed" local governments and police offices asking for verification on supposed violations or information lost.

Subscribing to them is free.


Below is a sample of their advice:

Let's check out today's advice from subscribers...

<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<> ~<>
ATM Pin Reversal and ATM Theft Scams
<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<>~<> ~<>

This first suggestion on the ATM pin reversal legend comes
from Addys and it refers to the ATM theft article here:

http://www.scambusters.org/atmtheft.html

First of all, thank you for posting the urban legend of the
"ATM pin reversal." I had received this ATM pin reversal
email, but did not forward it until checking if it was true or
not.

I read the recommendations to avoid ATM theft regarding the
gadgets used for trapping money or cards in the ATM machine so
that when you leave, the thief takes the money.

I have one more suggestion to add: If the person has no choice
but to withdraw money at an unknown ATM machine, why not put
in the card as if you were going to make a transaction, but
before putting in the ATM pin number, cancel the transaction
so the machine spits the card out?

This would help ensure that the ATM is not rigged to keep the
card. And the person has not gone as far as feeding the ATM
pin number into the fake machine or gadget. If the card is
stuck inside, at least the thief won't have an ATM pin number
to use it!!!

Thanks for all the information you provide.

[Ed62]

Hank, thank you for what looks to be a very useful site. I'll be passing the info on to others. Thanks again.

Ed