Goldstein and Associates Received disturbing call from (517) 489-2259 Private Investigator who wouldn't give me full name, staying that he is attempting to serve me with some papers for mediation hearing if I don't call 877-527-9594 (during another call that number was 888-323-7874) they would call my family friends and work place.I feel helpless and don't even know who these people are. I am begging for some help here. Internet

This is a common scam right now, i.e. scam artists calling, pretending to be private investigators, police officers, the FBI. They are trying to scare and harass you into paying them money.  Next time they call, tell them you did some research, you know they are trying to scam you, and you have filed a police report and a report with the FBI. (per several online news article, the FBI has gotten so many complaints about scammers pretending to work for them, they are currently investigating). After that, just don't answer calls from numbers you don't recognize. Eventually, they will go away and harass someone else.

 They are just scammers and when they call back tell the you KNOW they are scammers, tell them you have put a curse on them and hang up.

Go to the FTC(dot)gov website and read up on the payday collections loan scam. This entire scheme is a set up to have you send the scammer money.

You may or may not have had a payday loan balance outstanding, but it has nothing to do with these people claiming to be from Goldstein and Associates. These scammers borrow the names of other companies and individuals. They are all fake. The numbers are short term or spoofed. Don't fall for it. If they were a legitimate collections company then they would have to follow the precribed collections laws. The FTC(dot)gov website tells you what red flags to watch out for when determining if it is a scammer or a legitimate collections type company. Just from your report, they are clearly scammers.

Don't send these people any money. It won't make them go away. In fact, you will then be on a list of people that they know they can pressure into sending funds and you will be further inundated with calls.  Don't continue to talk with them. The scammer is yelling to intimidate you into paying them directly. One of the tools these scammers use is 'embarrassment'. That is why they are calling friends and neighbors and your workplace. Just explain to everyone that they are scammers and you aren't going to fall for their game. Any money you send to them is gone, so don't do it.

When they call, let them know you know they are scammers and hang up. If they get nothing from you, eventually they will stop calling.