Garnishment wage garnishment question

[acook]

Several years ago, I was full time caregiver for my mother who had cancer. After her death, I defaulted on a couple of credit cards. Then my identity was stolen, and I was thrown into a financial nightmare. My bank account had to be closed, and although the bank had an identity theft protection, it did not cover MY losses...only theirs..anyway, I contacted the credit card companies, and although most of them just wrote the debt off, one did not. I made arrangements to pay them, but then they have continued to hound me and harass me about the debt. I lost my job shortly afterwards, lost my house, my car...everything. I have another job, but no where near the income I had. I recently received an "official looking" court document, it is a photocopy, and it came by regular mail in a debt collectors envelope. It contained a "court document" from another county, one I have NEVER resided in or had any relatives in, it is signed by an official of a sheriff's dept, and stated my wages were to be garnished. I NEVER received a court summons for this debt, I have never been contacted by this county in any way...I am unsure if this is legal or an illegal wage garnishment...any advice?

 

[army judge]

Contact the clerk of court in the nearby county and inquire as to the document's authenticity.
I'm guessing its a scam, but that's just a GUESS.

 

[Betty3]

It sounds like a scam to me also. However, do as suggested & check with the court to be sure a wage garnishment order was issued to be on the safe side.

 

[Proserpina]

I'm not convinced it's a scam. Scammers generally try to avoid doing things that may actually land them in Federal prison.

So. Call the sheriff's office, and better yet, see if you can find any case online. Many courts have their records open to the public, and it's very easy to check.

 

[army judge]

I'm not convinced it's a scam. Scammers generally try to avoid doing things that may actually land them in Federal prison.

So. Call the sheriff's office, and better yet, see if you can find any case online. Many courts have their records open to the public, and it's very easy to check.

Pro, over the past three months, I've personally received four such letters.
They appear to be authentic lawsuits.
They were easily prepared using a computer and laser or inkjet printer,
After making a couple calls, they were proven to be scams.
These days people are pretending to be secret service agents, IRS agents, US Marshals in feeble attempts to scam people.

They use prepaid MasterCards or Visa cards to assist in the bilking.

I found these recent articles to be eye opening and jaw dropping. The scammers are even spoofing the IRS' known "800" number.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/263694741.html

http://www.9news.com/story/money/pe.../2014/06/27/new-scam-deputies-money/11490183/

http://consumerist.com/2014/06/11/people-still-falling-for-fake-irs-phone-demand-scam/

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/fake-irs-collectors-are-calling

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/fake-feds-get-people-pay

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS...r-2014;-Identity-Theft,-Phone-Scams-Lead-List



I also find the gullibility of the US populace to be startling.

 

[Proserpina]

Alrighty then.

(Character thing)

 

[acook]

Thank you all for your responses. I will contact the county from where the "court" documents are supposed to come from and verify everything. Identity theft is a nightmare to say the least..

 

[army judge]

Thank you all for your responses. I will contact the county from where the "court" documents are supposed to come from and verify everything. Identity theft is a nightmare to say the least..

Super, I hope it turns out to be nothing. If you get time, please let us know what you learned.