Q: I received the following email and was wondering if I should pay or if it is a scam.
CASH NET USA DEPARTMENT
Attention,
LAWSUIT COURT CASE FILES NO: K13858464
LAWSUIT COST - $1771.75 (INCLUDING ATTORNEY FEE/COURT FEE/ALL TAXES)
SETTLEMENT AMOUNT - $1275.63
CONTACT AT: xxxx
1. If you can make a one-time payment of $750.75 (same day payment) we can close your case file with this amount only.
2. If you are looking for a weekly payment then you have to pay the total amount of $1275.63 with payment arrangement and you can pay $255.00 weekly till paid in full.
Account Status: WARRANT IS ACTIVE FOR SEARCH AND SEIZE (Violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Defamation of Character.)
"Debtor (You) has been declared as a guilty by Authorized Law Enforcement Department, Seizure Warrant has been activated under 15 USC 1692g Sec. 809 (b) of the FDCPA”
A: This email appears to be a scam. First, the case number is not a valid Missouri number. Second, there would not be a "Warrant for Search and Seize", or anything like that, issued in a civil collections case. Finally, it is a dead giveaway when these scams use language like "guilty" and "warrant" to try and scare unsuspecting individuals. People are not "declared guilty" in civil cases and there are not warrants issued by some unnamed "Authorized Law Enforcement Department". If you ever question if there is a pending case against you in a Missouri Court, you can search under your name on "courts.mo.gov/cnet".
Tim Akpinar agrees with this answer
1 user found this answer helpful
A:
Some of the legal terms appear to be used out of context and incorrectly.
Follow my colleague's guidance - look up cases on your state's court system.
Good luck
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