Product: Debt collection

On XX/XX/2021 my mother called me stating that she was being harassed by a company named XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, looking for me. I got the phone call from my mother at XXXX, XXXX time. I currently live in California. My mother was hysterical, disclosing that the company was calling, threatening to serve me a civil lawsuit at my job. The number she gave me to call them back was a XXXX number, which of course, is no longer in service now. I returned the call because I was scared that this company was really going to take legal action against me. When I called them, a representative answered the phone and mentioned that I had a debt owed from XXXX XXXX. The representative informed me that if I did not pay, I would be taken to court as a result. I informed her that I had not received any notice in the mail about this debt. However, she insisted that they had sent me a few notices. Anyways, the representative passed me onto another representative who claimed the same thing, that I needed to pay or be sued. Even more so, he had all of my personal information as he verified it all to make a point that the debt " supposedly was still being pursued ''. Now, I usually can detect a scam. But being in the midst of the pandemic and having new debt, I was so bogged down with a lot of personal matters. I was caught off guard. I thought it was for real. To confirm, I also believed this was real because I did once have an account through XXXX XXXX. I had a XXXX credit card with them way a few years prior. So, I couldn't recall paying the company back then. I am guessing these scammers managed to go through public records, or something, to get my old account information and use that as means to pose as a real debt collector. However, the guy representative then claimed that my debt was in mediation and that if I paid {$1100.00} they would not come after me. I told him that I did not have that kind of money. So, then he suggested I settle for {$520.00}. Part of me was skeptical, but my back was against the wall. I then arranged to settle, thinking I really owed this debt. So, he took my debit card information that I provided him over the phone. The payment was made and I still felt as though something was not quite right. Even worse, I took the last bit of money out of my savings to make the payment. I was banking with XXXX XXXX at the time and the payment came out immediately. When I checked my transactions, the payment was under the category XXXX XXXX '. Also, XXXX 's name was titled XXXX XXXX XXXX under my bank transactions. Nothing was adding up. Later that day, I received an email from a XXXX XXXX of a credit authorization form to sign. I was directed to XXXX to sign the form. The name of this company on the receipt was a XXXX XXXX XXXX. I was even more confused because on the form, the address stated that they were based in XXXX, IL. All I could think was maybe it was some kind of debt collection ring. I was perplexed in that moment. It didn't stop there though. A few days later, I contacted XXXX XXXX. I managed to get a hold of a representative there and they mentioned that I did once have a a debt on the account, but that the debt was purchased by United Holding Group. Having that information, I then called United Holding Group a few weeks later, but could not get in touch with anyone that day. So I left a voicemail -- desperate to find out what was really going on. Some days later, United Holding Group returned my call. A voicemail left by a XXXX XXXX, asking to call him back, which I did. We spoke and he informed me email a XXXX to have her send me a letter about the account for update. He provided me with XXXX 's XXXX email. On XX/XX/2021, XXXX wrote back, with a letter attached via email, stating that the debt was paid and account closed XXXX years prior. However, the letter sent via email looked very suspicious. From address to phone number to fax number -- -it just looked sketchy. For months now, I have been desperately working to get a refund. I submitted a claim to the FTC. I just really want my money back. I would prefer it in the form of direct deposit to my new bank account if and when this issue is resolved.