Am I being scammed? Collection agency..

[tridim]

Okay, here's what happened.. I got a call last week from a company called "The Attention Company" that was trying to verify if I was the right person they were looking for, they wanted me to verify my address and social security number. Obviously they had my correct name and phone number. The caller kept reading information off and I basically said that I'm not going to answer personal questions from an unsolicited caller. All the information was wrong anyway. I kept asking why they're asking these questions, and the guy wouldn't answer unless it was verified that I was who they thought I was. I finally said that you have the wrong guy, and hung up.

I received two more calls from the same company over the past week and I just kept hanging up.

This morning I got another call that was more specific. He said his company was calling on behalf of "Sky Ridge Medical Center" (which does exist) regarding a $2000 debt I haven't payed. I told him I haven't been in any hospital for 20 years and that he had the wrong guy. Then he said someone might have stolen my identity. I then said, "Okay, and?", then HE hung up.

What the hell is going on here? Am I being overly paranoid? The phone number I requested from him works, but the recording says the representatives are busy every time I call. I've placed a call to the hospital, but it's outside normal billing hours. I plan to call Monday. It seems like a scam to me, but if someone did steal my ID, I could easily have that debt on my credit report. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Matariki]

1. sounds like a scam

you should call your state attorney general's office. they handle fraud like that.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Call your state Attorney General

and report this. Sounds like a scam to me. If they were legit, they'd be mailing you something. DON'T GIVE THEM ANY INFORMATION!

[Califooyah Operative]

3. yea,

careful, i wouldn't give out information over the phone, especially if there getting things wrong. im sure someone else on here knows better than me, but theres probably laws to make them prove their credibility. If they said your identity has been stolen, i'd contact the police or something to find out what to do, even to just check on it.

[CBGLuthier]

4. I got one of those

Not the same company name but trying to verify birthdate and SS number. The info they had was wrong but I made a few choice protestations and told the guy to try his f******* games on someone else.


As for the credit report. Apply for a credit card. If it is denied then you have the right to request a free copy of your credit report.

Whatever you do, do not use the services of a certain company that offers free credit reports online. They will take a credit card number and before you know it they will be billing you for their service.

[AllyCat]

5. Oh that's very wrong!

You did well not to answer anything and you should call an authority

[Solitaire]

6. sounds like scam

Call your State Attorney's office, or your local Police.

Call the hospital on Monday.

Never ever give out your SS# or any information, unless you know who you are talking to, i.e, if YOU call your credit card company, doctor's office, etc.

You did the right thing. :)

[candy]

A scam----no doubt about it!!!

Don't waste your time calling the hospital,just get updated credit report from the 3 credit reporting agencies.

In Mass we are entitled to 1 per year,free,so check your state laws.

My son got calls like this for about 3 months,he'd hang up,and eventually they stopped.

Don't talk to them at all-----just hang up.

[serryjw]

7. YES, scam!

first call the hospital, next pull a credit report from all 3 agencies online, next when they call ASK for WRITTEN documentation of the debt. You did good! NEVER give SS to idiots whom you don't know. Do you have a common name?

[skygazer]

8. Here's what I would do

I would check with the Better Business Bureau and/or the local DA's office to see if this is a legit company. I would continue to try to reach the hospital. I would not give them any info over the phone. If it is identity theft, the DA's office can give you info on what to do.

[mcscajun]

9. Something is definitely 'fishy' here...

...and just in case you are being victimized here, check out the following on Identify Theft:

http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/

The steps to take are all detailed there.

Good luck!

[The Spirit of JFK]

10. As a recent victim of indenty theft..

You are NOT being overly paranoid.

Did the Attention Company have your SS#? If so, you should call your credit card companies immediately, as well as your banks...and even utility companies. The people that stole my ID changed my phone account to be able to charge 3rd party calls (to an untraceable cell phone) to my account.

If they were asking for your SS#, then they are probably shady themselves as no reputable agency would ask for it....it's a popular scam. You should report it.

It sounds pretty shady to begin with as the medical center would have billed you directly for anything to begin with and THEN would have passed you on to a collection agaency.

You CAN have that debt appear on your credit report. When you talk to the hospital, you should ask if they reported you to any collection agencies..and if they did for some reason...make sure they call the same agencies and have them correct it. Get it in writing....because this could come back to haunt you.

[jdots]

11. Always say hold on a second i am going to record this

always ask for names,adresses of the caller and tons of info,like the shit they ask you......call your bank (if you can get a human) ask about the place,if they exist go for them,police bunco squad,the whole bit. I wouldn't take it personally,This is one of the jobs Bushkin brags about .The week after he stole 2000 the calls & spams started ..... people are desperately out of work so become crooks to live......when in dought blame *.....you bank will know if anything is fishy and they want to know scammers,let them report it and don't waste your time.I had a bunch of letter and phone calls from some scum that said they had found some money owed to me and would only take 25 %,i told them i would rather die than give them 25% of anything when they told me they wouldn't tell me where the money was coming from except it was in a bank account i never had. They hate the recording trick.

[tridim]

12. Thanks for the help DU!

I have to wait until Monday to make the calls to the DA, but I certainly will.

I'm a little weirded out that there are no hits for "The Attention Company collection agency" on the web. Usually scams are covered fairly well.

[AlCzervik]

13. Here is something else about them

i pretty sure it's the same company. There is a phone number as well.
http://www.my3cents.com/showReview.cgi?id=6931&wrapper=

[tridim]

15. Thanks..

Any additional info helps.

[TexasSissy]

14. You can get your credit report directly from

Equifax online for about $12.00. It will show any unpaid debts or weird stuff, if they exist.

Report the call(s) to your Attorney General (hopefully there's a toll free #). You can probably e-mail the AG through a government website.

[Cheswick2.0]

16. scam

he was trying to get your personal information.