Scam Collectors

John Fugate specializes in tracking down and suing hard to locate debt collection scams. Most of his clients do not even realize until they call him that the collector is a scam and has stolen money. Most of the cases I handle involve the collection of stolen accounts, fake accounts, or accounts that have already been paid or are too old to sue upon. Most of the collectors that Mr. Fugate sues are using false threats, fake names, non-existing addresses to illegally hide who and where they really are. Some even have fake law firm websites. Often it is hard to know you are being scammed. Many are polite and seem legitimate. If it was obvious they were a scam, no one would pay them!

The typical case begins when a collector falsely pretends to be a process server serving a non-existing lawsuit. The victim is then told to call a number to prevent being served with a lawsuit. The collector then lies about who they are and what can happen if money is not immediately paid. Sometimes they even falsely threaten arrest or prosecution. They usually have illegally obtained the victim’s social security number and other personal identifying information making it risky to simply ignore the calls.

If you live in Texas and are receiving calls like these please call John Fugate before you are further victimized by a financial scam by paying them. Even if you owe the debt, you have rights. Remember that just because you owed a debt it doesn’t mean that the current collector has the legal right to collect it. 

You can tell Mr. Fugate about your collecting calls without obligation and he can determine if he can help you. 

If he handles your case, he will force the bad collector to pay his fees incurred suing them or you will not owe him. You will speak to John Fugate personally, not staff members.

Abusive Collectors

Owing a debt does not give a collector the right to use abusive tactics. Often debt collectors collect real debts by using illegal and abusive tactics. Some abusive tactics are threatening to call your employer, friends, family or others about your debt. Mr. Fugate has even sued collectors for pretending to be emergency medical workers informing family of a non-existing car wreck to get someone to the phone. Some collectors falsely pretend to be the Court or law enforcement, or immigration officers. Some use telephone number “spoofing” which makes it appear someone you recognize is calling you. The Court’s phone number (or whichever number they chose) can appear on your caller I.D. to trick you into paying money. 

Other Collection Issues

Sometimes a real collection agency contacts you using otherwise reasonable tactics, but you just don’t owe them, or they have the wrong person. Mr. Fugate handles these cases.