# Brazen telephone scammer spoofing District Court caller ID **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 20, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833 "2010-12-20T14:15:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/1 "2010-12-20T14:15:19Z")
Saturday I got a call, and the caller ID says PLAISTOW TOWN, and a local number. Plaistow is a nearby community, but nobody calls it Plaistow Town, so my spidey sense immediately goes off. But my curiosity overcame my wariness, and I answered the call. A guy answers, and identifies himself as “Tommy James” a local process server who has some legal papers to serve me. He is in my area serving other papers, and will be at my house in 30 minutes. He says, “Let me pull over here, I will tell you who is serving legal papers on you.” Now, it is obvious he is using some kind of voice modulator, because he sounds like a cartoon impersonation of Barry White. Uh huh. Anyway, he continues, saying, “Do you know what this is regarding”," and he is required by law to give me a telephone number (an 877 number) to call to find out what this is about. He cannot give me any more information, besides the telephone number and the name of the party serving the papers, identified only as “AFI”. At this point I am pretty sure it is a scam, so I told him to serve the papers, I will be waiting. He repeats that I should call the number so that I will know what this is about before he arrives. Uh huh. So he hangs up, and I immediately google the local number he called from. UH OH. It is the local number for the Plaistow District Court. Maybe I was wrong; maybe I am getting sued; mind starts racing, trying to figure out who “AFI” is. So I google the 877 number he gave me, and breathe a sigh of relief when I find the following on a telemarketer log site: “AFI Financial Process Server Scam - Dont fall for it - there is no court case”. Needless to say, I did not call the number. Ten minutes later, I get a call from “Sloan M” and an 864 area code number (Anderson, SC). Knowing this is a scam, I answer, just to see if I can trip them up. This time, the voice is modulated way up, like Betty Rubble from the Flintstones, and “she” says she is calling from AFI, and that they were serving legal papers to me. She says the process server called her and said it sounded like I didn’t know what it was all about, and did I want her to explain it? So I said, “Oh, I know what it is about.” She pauses, and says, “You do? Do you want me to explain it further?” I reply, “No, I know exactly what this is all about. I am just going to wait for the papers to be served. OK?” She says, rather confused, “OK, thank you” and hangs up. Needless to say, no one ever served me with any papers, and they haven’t called back. There were so many red flags, it is hard to believe that this kind of scam actually works. “Tommy James?” Where are the Shondells? And the generic “legal papers” was a pretty obvious tip-off. And the land line in his car. On the other hand, it was pretty sophisticated for the genre. They were able to spoof the caller ID to make it look like they were calling from the local District Court (but he implied he was in his car serving other legal papers, and the number in the caller ID was a land line exchange). They were using voice modulation technology to disguise their voice. They had an 877 number to receive the calls from marks, and they were (presumably) spoofing the number in SC. I will admit, when I googled the local number and saw the District Court pop up, they had me going for two seconds, so I guess I can imagine others falling for it. Should I report this to the district attorney? If they are spoofing the number of the district court, they are probably pulling this on others in my area. Isn’t that criminal impersonation of an officer of the court? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/2 "2010-12-20T14:42:28Z")
How does the scam work? Are they trying to get you to call a number that charges your phone bill $20 a minute or something? Would somebody have actually shown up and tried to get you to sign some paper that turned out to be some kind of rip off contract? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/3 "2010-12-20T14:52:46Z")
I assume they are going to try to collect some kind of debt, and try to get my credit card number. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/4 "2010-12-20T15:13:02Z")
If they are trying to collect a debt, it’s not a scam. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/5 "2010-12-20T15:23:52Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > If they are trying to collect a debt, it’s not a scam. Yeah, but the debt may not be legitimate. I had dealings with a collection agency that bought a very, very old debt for pennies on the dollar and tried to put the squeeze on me to pay thousands of dollars for a debt that, when it was still legally collectible, was a few hundred dollars. I had to challenge the asshole to sue me in order to make them go away. In any event, a legitimate debt collection agency has to identify itself as such, and they have to tell you what the debt is. They can’t hide behind vague language and no identification. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/6 "2010-12-20T15:25:22Z")
The fact he identified himself as Tommy James should have led you to realize there was some sort of hanky panky involved. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/7 "2010-12-20T15:53:02Z")
_“Cri…im…son and clo…over We’re gonna screw you oo-ver”_ ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/8 "2010-12-20T16:14:52Z")
I would absolutely report it to the district attorney. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/9 "2010-12-20T16:59:19Z")
Your state attorney general’s office may also have someplace to report this type of thing. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/10 "2010-12-20T17:18:59Z")
> [@](#): > > She says the process server called her and said it sounded like I didn’t know what it was all about, and did I want her to explain it? So I said, “Oh, I know what it is about.” Well, I for one have no clue what this is about. Maybe I’m just tired, but the whole scenario doesn’t make a lick of sense to me. Could the OP, or someone, please explain what the point is of faking the serving of a court summons, and how the scammers presumably would make money off this? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/11 "2010-12-20T17:29:50Z")
They’re hoping they’ll hit on someone who actually owes somebody money. Then they’ll claim to be collecting the debt, take the cash and disappear. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/12 "2010-12-20T17:44:23Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Well, I for one have no clue what this is about. Maybe I’m just tired, but the whole scenario doesn’t make a lick of sense to me. > > Could the OP, or someone, please explain what the point is of faking the serving of a court summons, and how the scammers presumably would make money off this? I’d bet that the 877 number, even though it’s a toll-free number, will then forward your call to a 900 number, where you’ll be charged $$$-per-minute while it recites some legal-babble to keep you on the line. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/13 "2010-12-20T17:50:20Z")
> [@AWB](#): > > I’d bet that the 877 number, even though it’s a toll-free number, will then forward your call to a 900 number, where you’ll be charged $$$-per-minute while it recites some legal-babble to keep you on the line. Just for fun, call the 877 number from a payphone and see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/14 "2010-12-20T18:37:07Z")
Possibly it’s just to get you to listen to a sales pitch? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/15 "2010-12-20T19:13:37Z")
> [@AWB](#): > > I’d bet that the 877 number, even though it’s a toll-free number, will then forward your call to a 900 number, where you’ll be charged $$$-per-minute while it recites some legal-babble to keep you on the line. I bet it’s more to do with calling the number and them trying to milk personal and financial information out of you. ---
**Author:** ![Gilliver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5fc32e/32.png) [@Gilliver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gilliver)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/16 "2010-12-20T20:24:48Z")
I saw a television show on this last year. They are debt collectors of the most unscrupulous nature. The debt may or may not be yours, or may or may not be paid but they use scare tactics to get money from anybody. They will pull the serving legal papers or even worse, pretend to be with the sheriffs office on their way to pick you up on a fraud warrant. Again, they give the 877- number that you can call and get it straightened out before they get there. They usually always give a name like the one you got, Ricky Martin, Tommy Jones etc. Most of the people they contact are law abiding citizens who are terrified that they are about to go to jail and many pay money they dont owe just to avoid it. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/17 "2010-12-20T21:11:32Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > If they are trying to collect a debt, it’s not a scam. I have no outstanding debts in collection. Even if it were a valid debt, under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act they cannot pretend to be a process server, and they cannot imply there is legal action pending if there is not. That is a violation of the law. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/18 "2010-12-20T21:33:22Z")
Isn’t this the one where when you call, you find out that you’re being “sued” for a gazillion dollars and they’re going to put a lien on your home and repossess your stove and hold your children as collateral, but they’re willing to “settle” with you for the low low fee of $500? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/19 "2010-12-20T22:49:51Z")
Oh, so that’s what that message last week was all about! Except it was someone pretending to be from a law firm. I would have deleted it immediately since the name they wanted is the name of one of my sisters, and I thought I should hear it out, just in case. But all my scam alarms were going off by the end. “An important matter has come to our law firm’s attention,” and such shit. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833/20 "2010-12-20T22:58:02Z")
> [@AWB](#): > > I’d bet that the 877 number, even though it’s a toll-free number, will then forward your call to a 900 number, where you’ll be charged $$$-per-minute while it recites some legal-babble to keep you on the line. Is that even possible? I thought the whole point of having toll-free and pay area codes was so that you’d know what you’re in for when you make the call. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazen-telephone-scammer-spoofing-district-court-caller-id/564833.md?page=2)