FORSTER & GARBUS put a hold of a few thousand dollar on my bank account for another persons debt Farmingdale, New York

The story is as follows: I walked into my bank to withdraw money from my checking account. The teller advised me that there is a hold on my account. I went to the bank manager who told me that there is a hold from the state of NY and gave me a phone # with a reference number to call.

I called the phone # and reached Forster and Garbus. I spoke to Ms. Ortiz she asked me for my name so i gave her my name, so she asked me why i never paid the settlement that was made, I advised her i never had a outstanding debts or any debts. (Since I am watching my credit very carefully and have credit protection for many years with a credit score of over 780). I further advised her I  never spoke to anybody about settlement never got any letters dont know what she is talking about. So she asked me if this and this is my address and i told her no so she rattle off 2 social security numbers and asked me which of the 2 are mine so i told her which one. Then she told me that i opened an account with bank of America and never paid it. I told i never had an account with bank of America (because it was never on my credit report). So she told me she will fax in papers i should fill it out, make a police report and fax it back to her and she will investigate it.

She faxed me the papers which i am very reluctant fill it out (as well as i was advised by a lawyer and my county clerk not to do so) since it requests every single detail about me and also on the bottom of each page in bold letters is a message as follows "do not send affidavit to the FTC or any other government agency.

First I decided to make a police report for identity theft as Ms. Ortiz told me. I went to the police station and the police officer called Forster and Garbus to confirm my claim and this is what he was told the account was opened as my name care of my name (e:John Smith care of John Smith) with 2 social security numbers. That being the case there are 2 people owing this debt.

Not being able to get the police report I went home and tried to figure out by myself what this is all about. I realized it must be the following: I have a cousin with the same name as me he lives in a different city approximately ten minutes from me; he is a few years younger than I am and has a store that incurred many debts. Since he never paid his debts and we share the same name, a very rare name, the collection agency  (Arrow Financial) was desperate to get money they probably did a scam and somehow got my social security number and are pinning the debt to me.

To find out if this is the case I myself called Bank of America the original company the debt is owed to and recorded the conversation. I introduced myself by my name with the account number that I got from Forster and Garbus. I asked her if this account was opened with a social security number. She told me the account was opened as a company name with one personal guarantor. She gave me the last four digits of the social security number and of course it wasnt mine. I went on to ask her how in terms of names this account was opened and she told me Company care of Name (e; ABC imports care of John Smith). I asked her was there another social security on the account and she clearly stated no.

With this recording I went back to the police officer who couldnt believe what Forster and Garbus did such fraud for not such a big amount of money. I finally got the right police report.

With all this info I decided to go to the county clerk to see the supporting documents in the judgments against me. A helpful employee at the county clerks office after looking at all court documents said there was definitely something done illegally somewhere and I should pursue this till the end. I should not fight it with a civil lawsuit at whatever the cost, because in the end I will get it all back. He also told me that just retrieving my money and taking the lien off my bank account wont be to helpful since this other person has many unpaid debts and before I know it many more companies will be pursuing me. Every attorney is afraid of a paper but it has to be the right one and when you win this lawsuit nobody will want to start up with you.

Sure enough 2 days later another company put an inquiry on my social security number, which shows me I have no choice but to fight this to the end.

Finally I am looking for an attorney who will get my money back as well as compensation for ruining my top credit score. Also for all the aggravation of the last few weeks, for all the hours spent trying to find out how to get my money back, what to do etc