Consumer complaint received 2021-11-24
Company: CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
State: MN
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action
Sub-issue: Threatened to sue you for very old debt

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX I received a phone call/voicemail from ( XXXX ) XXXX ( number is located in XXXX, MN. The woman who left the voicemail said she was contacting me as " they '' have been retained in regards to a " Civil Complaint '' that named me as the " respondent '' and that it was protocol for her to contact me at my employer or contact me directly in order for me to be " charged '' : Voicemail Transcript : " This message is intended for XXXX XXXX, we have been retained to process and facilitate a civil complaint which named you as the respondent. It is protocol to locate you at either your place of employment or your residence in order for you to be charged. Prior to our client taking legal action we are attempting to contact you first directly. In order for you to get a statement of success through mediation, please contact the mediation department at XXXX otherwise we'll have to list this as a direct refusal and you will be notified through appeal. This is your official notification. '' After being very concerned I contacted the mediation number they provided ( XXXX ). The woman I spoke with had the last XXXX digits of my social security number and previous addresses. She stated that this was in regards to a credit card from XXXX bank that I had taken out in XXXX. She provided me with a card number XXXX ( which proved to be fake ). She told me the amount owed was {$1600.00}, I asked her why I had not received paperwork in regards to this and she indicated it was being sent to an old address ( which I confirmed with my mother she hasn't received any mail for me in years ). I asked her for the documentation so I could see it prior validate this, she informed me that in that case I would have to wait until I go to court. I panicked and she offered me a settlement offer, if I paid the amount today she would cut the amount from {$1600.00} down to {$1000.00}. She said she would transfer me to a payment department, they would provide me a receipt and documentation indicating the amount was paid and would not impact my credit. After being transferred I was sent a link, where I was to sign a document in regards to disputing the charge, I completed the transaction and they gave me a confirmation number XXXX. 

I then took a look at their emails and tried to look them up to ensure that they were a legitimate organization what I found was : XXXX Investment Group - Doesn't exist as a credit agency XXXX XXXX - Doesn't exist as a credit agency The below doesn't exist, the address is a parking lot in XXXX, GA. The phone number is a known robocall. 

Restitution Clerk XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX, GA XXXX TEL : XXXX I then contacted XXXX, whom this group said they represent. I asked if this was a legitimate charge and could they validate this company was associated with them and the below information was accurate : RE : XXXX XXXX Original Lender : XXXX Account Number : *XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Reference Number : XXXX Balance Paid : {$1000.00} Balance Due : {$0.00} The agent I spoke verified this was not a valid account number or card number, I was not in the system and that none of the phone numbers these people provided, were listed in their directory, this was indeed a Scam. 

I also contacted Capital One immediately to report that this was a fraudulent charge and that I wanted it disputed and reported, they canceled my credit card, issued me a new card and issued a temporary credit, under a XXXX Complaint. 

I then contacted the XXXX, MN police department and filed a police report ( Case # : XXXX ). The XXXX I spoke with, XXXX XXXX, advised me that it is a normal practice for scammers to seek out companies who sell information and purchase the last XXXX digits of consumers XXXX & prior addresses ( usually obtained from past utility bills ). 

I then contacted Capital One today ( XX/XX/XXXX ) to report my follow up actions. My concern is that although they issued a temporary credit, the woman I spoke with said the charge wasn't necessarily disputed and it could still potentially post to my account. She said if the transaction does post to my account, then I should dispute it. So I have to potentially go through this entire process again. She indicated that because a XXXX Complaint was filed it could be deemed that I was a willing participant in this scam. How is that possible when these people falsely represented themselves on behalf of XXXX, threatened legal action against me in a civil complaint, told me I would have to go to court, and also threatened to impact my credit. 

PLEASE HELP!!!!

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation