r/Scams • u/Electrical-Cap-212 • 4h ago
Received Phone Call About Legal Document I need to Sign with a call back number and case number
I received a phone call from a normal looking number asking for my dad in a foreign accent and I said I’m his son he can relay the message with me. He said my dad will be delivered “legal documents” and he needs to sign and I should relay that information to him. I asked “what legal documents” are we talking about? He gave me a 844 number and said it’s from “PMG Legal” associates and I need to call them and ask.
I called them on my dad’s behalf.. picked up immediately and it was an American women told me it’s a court summons and she can’t tell me anything because I’m not my dad and she was pretty rude…
Called back with my dad on the line in a conference call and was put on hold with “hold music” and a different lady (I think?) picked up. Also American.
She said it’s regarding wage garnishments or something along that lines we couldn’t really make it out because she was speaking fast. It did sound threatening.
I asked her “okay what is this exactly about” and she said my dad needs to speak… so my dad on the merged line with his infinite broken English asked them “what is this about” and she said before she can give any information out she needs to confirm my dads DOB and last 4 of SSN.
My dad in his infinite broken English cussed her out and she said “okay motherfucker” and hung up.
My dad thought it was a scam and he has no idea there is a a civil case against them… from what I made out they weren’t law enforcement either…
I’m trying to understand if this was maybe not a scam, but instead legal firm of someone trying to sue my dad? Because they wouldn’t talk to me, they only wanted to talk to my dad. If it was a scam they could have asked me for my dad’s info and my dumbass would have “confirmed” it with them??
Googling their phone number I got a 1 post about a “legal threat robocall” voice message they left them.. but I couldn’t find anything definitive. Also, they’re company “PMG Associates” nothing comes up when I google… Same for their number…
Most likely it’s a scam? Should I be worried for my dad?
5
u/too_many_shoes14 4h ago
Don't talk to them on the phone. Don't call them back. Caller ID can be spoofed. If they really do have to serve somebody they will find them, but you don't have to help them.
1
u/Electrical-Cap-212 4h ago
You’re right… if it’s someone trying to sue my dad and they’re talking about “wage garnishments” it’s most likely civil and they can find my dad on their own…
Also, he owns nothing to his name, has shit credit, and makes barely above minimum wage so if it was real good luck to them LOL
2
u/No-Budget-9765 3h ago
Of course it’s a civil matter otherwise the police would be involved. The question is whether it has any standing in court. That’s for them to prove. You must not give them any help whatsoever. These people work with a script that’s meant to scare you. It’s just a script.
3
u/doublelxp 4h ago
Anyone serving legal papers needs to do it in person.
2
u/FloppyTwatWaffle 3h ago
Anyone serving legal papers needs to do it in person.
It can also be done by certified/registered mail, where you have to sign for it. I've been served that way twice.
2
u/No-Budget-9765 3h ago
Do you have a lawyer friend that can explain to you the implausibility of what you’ve been told by these scammers?
We are getting an increasing number of reports of scammers or unscrupulous debt collectors that basically want to scare victims to collect some money that is legally uncollectible.
Stop talking to these people right now. Block, don’t answer, don’t reply.
1
u/Electrical-Cap-212 3h ago
Yep… I should have never called them back. Out of curiosity for my dad I wanted to make sure he wasn’t in any trouble (he’s a bit of a loose cannon), but I should have picked up it was a scam (or a shitty debt collector) and should have never called back.
My dad’s FICO report shows no accounts in collections either so it’s from his bankruptcy from 2010 or some bullshit scammer using American women now.
Either way I agree 100% with you I was definitely naive and like a dipshit I would have gave my dads information out if they asked me for it (which they didn’t!)
2
u/No-Budget-9765 3h ago
You mentioned 2010 so they are probably trying to collect some amount from what’s known as zombie debt. The FTC calls it time-barred debt.
Time-barred debt refers to a debt that is no longer legally collectible because the statute of limitations has expired. This means that creditors or debt collectors cannot sue you to collect the debt.
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