Caller Type: Debt Collector
Phone Number Owner: Portfolio Recovery Services
Phone Number Report: Called by this number many times. Didn't recognize it, so didn't answer. Googled & found many complaints. I am apparently on some spam list, so I've been getting lots of spam calls and now spam texts on my cell phone.
Spammers masquerade as various things: Scam phone texting fees (added onto your legitimate phone bill--AT&T, Verizon, or others), debt collectors, coupon sites, quizzes, games, even single's sites. The worst is MOBILE MESSENGER.
NOTE: They may call you & ask for "CRYSTAL," as they did me (not my name).
Compiled this list to help everyone watch for them (some are same companies with multiple phone numbers):
WORST ONE:
800-235-7105 &
800-416-6129 (MOBILE MESSENGER)
206-674-7507
250-260-3907
320-202-7001
731-256-7106
757-275-8578
757-506-0177
877-317-1200
808-948-9575 (Another company calling for "CRYSTAL"--not my name)
Check your phone. REPORT if you've received calls from any of these numbers!
Some spammers have multimillion-dollar lawsuit settlements in multiple states, going back SEVERAL YEARS. They've not admitted any wrongdoing, they've received millions of dollars, & they keep doing it. The only thing we can do is KEEP REPORTING THEM.
When they call, get a REAL phone number which you can use to call them back. Call & INSIST:
1. They provide you with their COMPANY NAME.
2. They provide you with the NAME OF THE PERSON you are talking to.
3. They immediately put you on their "Do Not Call List."
If possible, record your conversation with them. If they didn't leave you a phone number or they used a fake number, google whatever information you can (address, other phone numbers, names) so that you can do the above.
Then REPORT THEM; Reporting them is the only recourse we have, so please take the time to do it!!!
1. To phone carrier (i.e., AT&T. Call them, make your report, and ask them to REVERSE ANY CHARGES YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND on your bill. IMMEDIATELY BLOCK these numbers on your phone through your carrier. Otherwise, charges start showing up. These charges are fraudulent, but only YOU can contest them. Even though your carrier won't actually investigate or help you track down spammers, you have to prove that you attempted to settle it with carrier before you can take bigger steps. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING--dates, times, names, numbers of spammers and same with phone carrier. Document who you talked to and what they did or did not do to help you.
2. To the Public Utilities Commission in state where spamming company is located (for example, for MOBILE MESSENGER, call the CALIFORNIA Public Utilities Commission): CPUC: 1-800-649-7570. If you have unexplained/questionable phone charges on your phone, you may be a victim of "cramming." For example, if you think you have a flat-rate plan including texting but see a charge for $4.99 or $9.99 for texting, DO NOT PAY IT. Call your phone carrier. Your carrier may or may not reverse the charges, but they won't go after the offending spammer. They won't help, especially if they are AT&T, but you have to do this step first to be able to complain about them to the CPUC. The CPUC knows about this; they will report it and go after the spammers, but ONLY IF YOU REPORT that you tried to get satisfaction from your carrier and that they aren't willing to track down the culprits and stop them. I can't get the CPUC online complaint form site to work (http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/CEC/e_complaint/), so here's the phone number (1-800-649-7570).
3. To the BBB Online Complaints (ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT): https://www.bbb.org/consumer-complaints/file-a-complaint/get-started This report will hurt their company (bravo!), but most people don't bother to do this step. You have to find out where the spamming company is located in order to make a complaint, but it's well worth it. It affects their company rating.
4. To the FCC: http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm (follow instructions)
5. To the FTC Do Not Call Registry: https://donotcall.gov/
