Original subtitles

MY NAME IS STEVE SCHIRRIPA,

AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT REVENGE.

HELLO?

MAN: I'm trying to reach Diana, the [bleep]

Yeah, I heard you like to get [bleep] right up the [bleep]

WHAT?

IMAGINE YOU'VE BEEN CHEATED ON OR LIED TO.

I WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED.

Schirripa: YOU'VE BEEN FLAT-OUT PLAYED.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS. HE'S WIPED US OUT.

NATURALLY, YOU WANT TO GET EVEN.

I WANTED HIM TO FACE CONSEQUENCES.

BUT WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND.

THAT'S CALLED "KARMA," AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY...

--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

SO IMAGINE,

YOU'VE BEEN MARRIED TO A GUY

YOU'RE CRAZY ABOUT FOR 16 BEAUTIFUL YEARS.

YOU GOT THREE DOGS, ONE CAT,

AND A VERY HEALTHY BANK ACCOUNT.

BUT THEN YOU WAKE UP, AND YOU DISCOVER,

NONE OF IT IS REAL,

AND YOUR DREAM BECOMES A LIVING NIGHTMARE.

MEET LISA ARENDS, 31 YEARS OLD,

AND HAPPILY MARRIED TO HER HIGH-SCHOOL SWEETHEART

WHO WE'LL CALL "T."

FOR LISA, LIFE COULDN'T GET MUCH BETTER.

I MET MY HUSBAND AT A MUSIC FESTIVAL NORTH OF SAN ANTONIO

WHEN WE WERE BOTH 15 YEARS OLD.

WE WERE VERY MUCH HIGH-SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS.

HE AND I HAD A WONDERFUL LIFE TOGETHER.

WE WERE BEST FRIENDS.

WE PARENTED THREE DOGS TOGETHER.

WE DID EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

HE WAS THE PERFECT GUY FOR ME.

Schirripa: AND WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE,

YOU NEVER WANT TO BE APART,

BUT LISA HAS A TRIP PLANNED TO VISIT HER DAD,

WHO'S DIVORCED AND LIVING IN SEATTLE.

MISS YOU.I'LL MISS YOU, TOO.

Lisa: WE HAD THIS BIG EMBRACE AND BIG KISS,

AND HE SAID, "DON'T WORRY.

IT'S ONLY A WEEK. IT WON'T BE LONG."

I'M REALLY GLAD YOU GUYS HAD A GOOD TIME.

THE PICTURES ARE GREAT.

Schirripa: LISA'S BEEN WITH HER DAD JUST A FEW DAYS WHEN,

OUT OF THE BLUE, SHE GETS A BIZARRE TEXT FROM HER HUSBAND

TELLING HER HE'S LEAVING HER FOR GOOD.

T.: I'M SORRY TO BE SUCH A COWARD LEAVING YOU THIS WAY.

I AM LEAVING. PLEASE REACH OUT TO SOMEONE.

LET THE DOGS OUT AS I AM LEAVING THE STATE.

THE CODE FOR THE GARAGE IS 5914.

DAD, PLEASE, PLEASE GET MOM. I NEED TO TALK TO HER.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND. WHAT IS THAT?

I'M IN COMPLETE SHOCK WHEN I SEE THIS TEXT

BECAUSE IT JUST MADE ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE TO ME.

IT DIDN'T FIT ANYTHING

ABOUT WHAT I KNEW OUR RELATIONSHIP WAS.

Caterina: I HAVE IMAGES.

HER BODY THOSE FIRST FEW DAYS,

FIRST SEVERAL WEEKS, WAS JUST SHAKING.

SHE COULD NOT STOP SHAKING.

IT WAS AWFUL.

AS A MOM WITH A DAUGHTER, YOU'D RATHER GO THROUGH IT YOURSELF.

[ Beep ]T.

SO, I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM.

I STARTED TEXTING HIM, CALLING HIM,

AND HE NEVER RESPONDED.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

WHAT WAS THAT TEXT MESSAGE ABOUT?

DON'T DO THIS.

JUST CALL ME, PLEASE.

Caterina: HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO LISA?

IT BECAME SO SURREAL.

WHAT IN THE HELL HAPPENED TO THE PERSON I THOUGHT I KNEW?

NOW, IT WAS PRETTY OFFENSIVE THAT T. JUST TOOK OFF,

BUT ENDING IT WITH A TEXT?

I MEAN, REALLY.

DOES IT GET ANY MORE CRIMINAL THAN THAT?

WELL, ACTUALLY, IT DOES.

24 HOURS LATER, LISA'S BACK HOME IN ATLANTA.

Lisa: I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS GOING TO FIND.

I WAS SCARED TO DEATH TO OPEN THAT DOOR

AND WALK INTO MY HOME AND SEE WHAT WAS LEFT OF MY LIFE.

THE FIRST THING THAT I NOTICE IS A TYPED LETTER,

AND IT'S BASICALLY SORT OF A "DEAR JOHN" LETTER,

NOT EVEN SIGNED.

AND THAT'S ALL THAT'S OUT THERE.

THERE'S NO EASY WAY TO SAY THIS.

I'M LEAVING.

WE HAD A RICH LIFE TOGETHER,

BUT I CAN NO LONGER LIVE IT WITH YOU.

I CAN'T KEEP LIVING THIS LIE.

IT'S NOT FAIR TO EITHER OF US.

THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO INDICATION OF WHERE HE LEFT.

HE TOLD ME HE WAS LEAVING, AND THAT WAS ALL THAT I KNEW.

IT MADE NO SENSE TO ME AT ALL.

THERE WERE ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING SIGNS THAT THIS WAS COMING.

Schirripa: T.'s TEXT BROKE HER HEART,

BUT THIS LETTER, IT CUT HER RIGHT TO THE BONE.

NOTHING MAKES SENSE, SO LISA GOES LOOKING FOR ANSWERS,

AND THAT'S WHEN SHE DISCOVERS HER HEART

ISN'T THE ONLY THING HE RAN OFF WITH.

THEIR FINANCIAL RECORDS ARE GONE, TOO.

WHERE ARE THEY?

THE ALARM BELLS ARE RINGING,

AND WHEN LISA GOES ONLINE TO CHECK THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS,

SHE GETS THE ULTIMATE SUCKER PUNCH.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

HE'S WIPED THEM OUT AND TAKEN ALL THEIR LIFE SAVINGS.

Lisa: IT WAS JUST DISBELIEF,

AND I STARTED TO DOUBT MY OWN SANITY.

I DOUBTED REALITY.

LITERALLY EVERYTHING THAT I HAD

WAS FALLING AWAY FROM ME WITHIN HOURS.

IT WAS LIKE GETTING T-BONED BY A TSUNAMI.

HE HAD DRAINED THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS,

MAXED OUT THEIR CREDIT CARDS, AND T. HIMSELF --

HE'S LONG GONE.

LISA NEVER SAW IT COMING.

BUT NOW THAT HER EYES ARE WIDE OPEN,

KARMA'S GONNA GIVE HER 20/20 VISION.

WHAT THE HELL'S THIS?

YOU SON OF A BITCH!

LISA ARENDS MET "T.,"

THE MAN OF HER DREAMS, WHEN SHE WAS JUST 15.

I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT T. HE WAS GENEROUS.

HE WAS ALWAYS SO SUPPORTIVE OF ME.

Schirripa: BUT 16 YEARS LATER,

HE DUMPS HER AND DISAPPEARS INTO THIN AIR,

BUT NOT BEFORE WIPING OUT THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS.

Lisa: I WAS VERY VULNERABLE FINANCIALLY.

HE KNEW MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, MY BIRTHDAY.

HE KNEW EVERYTHING.

WE NO LONGER TRUSTED HIM AT ALL.

SO AT THIS POINT, ANYTHING WAS POSSIBLE.

Schirripa: LISA'S DESPERATE.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHY SOMEONE SHE THOUGHT SHE KNEW SO WELL

COULD SUDDENLY BETRAY AND ABANDON HER.

GOT ON THE COMPUTER AND STARTED SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS.

Schirripa: SIFTING THROUGH THEIR ACCOUNTS AND CREDIT CARDS,

SHE DISCOVERS THAT HER HUSBAND'S BEEN A VERY NAUGHTY BOY.

FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS,

HE'S BEEN HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH ANOTHER WOMAN.

THERE WERE DINNERS OUT, JEWELRY PURCHASES, THAT SORT OF THING.

AND I ALSO COULD TELL

THAT SEVERAL OF THE SUPPOSED BUSINESS TRIPS WERE NOT.

THAT SON OF A BITCH.

Schirripa: NOW LISA'S REALLY ANGRY

AND IMMEDIATELY CALLS THE COPS.

I MEAN, THE GUY'S ROBBED HER BLIND.

SHE WANTS HIM BEHIND BARS.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S NOT FRAUD IF YOU'RE MARRIED?

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS. ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?

BUT IN THE EYES OF THE LAW,

IF YOU'RE MARRIED,

IT'S WHAT'S MINE IS YOURS.

Lisa: I WAS JUST SO FURIOUS THAT HE DID THIS TO ME,

AND I WANTED HIM TO FACE CONSEQUENCES.

Schirripa: LISA WANTS PAYBACK ON HER TWO-FACED HUSBAND,

AND THAT'S WHEN KARMA COMES KNOCKING ON HER DOOR.

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?

I REALIZED THAT HE WAS TAKING MONEY FROM THE MARRIAGE.

I REALIZED THERE WAS ANOTHER WOMAN.

BUT THEN I HAPPENED TO INTERCEPT AN E-MAIL

THAT WENT INTO HIS JUNK E-MAIL BOX,

AND IT WAS FROM A BAND, AND IT WAS A BAND

THAT PLAYED AT HIS WEDDING.

Schirripa: NOW I'M CONFUSED.

ISN'T THIS LOWLIFE ALREADY MARRIED?

THEY E-MAILED HIM BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT YET RECEIVED PAYMENT,

AND THE WEDDING DATE WAS ONLY SIX DAYS AFTER HE LEFT ME,

AND WE WERE STILL VERY MUCH MARRIED.

IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE AN AFFAIR.

IT'S QUITE ANOTHER THING TO MARRY THE WOMAN

YOU'RE HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH WHILE YOU'RE ALREADY MARRIED.

NOW, THAT'S WHAT I CALL A FAST REBOUND.

I MEAN, THE GUY WASN'T EVEN DIVORCED.

HEY, ISN'T THAT ILLEGAL?

SO FAR, LISA CAN'T GET T. ARRESTED FOR FRAUD.

EVERYTHING THAT I HAD SEEN THAT HE HAD DONE WAS DESPICABLE,

BUT IT WASN'T ILLEGAL.

Schirripa: BUT NOW SHE'S FOUND A WAY

TO THROW HIS SORRY ASS IN JAIL.

Lisa: ONCE I SAW THE BIGAMY, IT WAS LIKE,

FINALLY THERE'S SOMETHING HERE THAT I CAN TAKE TO THE POLICE,

AND THAT MAYBE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE.

SO I CONTACTED THE POLICE AND ALERTED THEM TO THE BIGAMY,

AND THEY PULLED HIM IN FOR QUESTIONING.

THEY ALSO PULLED IN HIS OTHER WIFE.

IT WAS ANOTHER -- IT WAS ANOTHER MARRIAGE FROM ANOTHER TIME.

IT WAS ANOTHER TIME.

THAT'S 16 YEARS OLD. THAT MARRIAGE IS 16 YEARS OLD.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE STILL MARRIED.

Schirripa: WELL, ACTUALLY, T., IN THE EYES OF THE LAW, YOU ARE.

Lisa: THEY QUICKLY ASCERTAINED THAT SHE WAS A VICTIM, AS WELL.

SHE HAD NO IDEA, AND THEY LET HER GO,

AND THEY ENDED UP ARRESTING HIM WITH THE BIGAMY.

BABY, DON'T GO!

Schirripa: POOR GUY.

TWO WIVES TO NO WIVES, JUST LIKE THAT,

AND NOW KARMA'S GOT HIM RIGHT WHERE SHE WANTS HIM.

AND LISA?

WELL, SHE GOT ANOTHER LIFE, TOO.

SHE STARTED WRITING ABOUT HER LIFE ON THE REBOUND

FROM A BIGAMIST,

AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE GOOD THERAPY AND GOOD KARMA.

AT FIRST THE JOURNALING WAS JUST PURGING THE ANGER

AND TRYING TO WORK THROUGH ALL THE CRAZINESS

THAT WAS HAPPENING IN MY LIFE.

BUT SOON IT STARTED TO TAKE A NARRATIVE FORM

AND SORT OF BECOME A STORY.

Schirripa: LISA'S NOTEBOOK TURNED INTO A POPULAR BLOG

AND A SAVVY BOOK

ON HOW TO OVERCOME THE WORST DISASTERS IN YOUR LIFE.

BUT THE BEST PART IS, FOUR YEARS LATER,

SHE'S REMARRIED TO A GREAT GUY.

AND T.? WELL, HE'S OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.

SO, T., IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, HERE'S A LITTLE HEADS-UP.

KARMA, SHE'S A REAL BITCH.

ONE OF LIFE'S GREAT MYSTERIES

IS WHY COLD CALLS FROM DEBT COLLECTORS ARE EVEN LEGAL.

I MEAN, WHY DO THEY HAVE TO BE SO THREATENING OR ABUSIVE

JUST TO SQUEEZE A FEW BUCKS

OUT OF SOMEONE WHO'S HAVING A TOUGH TIME?

WELCOME TO WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA,

HOME OF DIANA MEY,

WIFE, MOTHER, AND BUDDING ENTREPRENEUR

WHO'S ABOUT TO REALIZE A LIFELONG DREAM

OF STARTING UP HER OWN BUSINESS.

Mey: I WANTED TO OPEN A COFFEE SHOP.

I WANTED A PLACE

WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE COULD GATHER AND PLAY MUSIC,

AND WE WERE MERE DAYS AWAY

FROM, ACTUALLY, THE OPENING OF THE BUSINESS.

Schirripa: FOR DIANA, THIS WAS AN INTENSE, EMOTIONAL TIME.

Mey: I FELT VERY EXCITED,

AND I WAS SPENDING EVERY DAY, EVERY WAKING MOMENT,

WORKING AT THE BUSINESS.

I WAS EXHAUSTED.

Schirripa: SO THE LAST THING SHE'S EXPECTING IS FOR HER LIFE

TO TAKE A SUDDEN AND VERY TWISTED TURN.

Mey: I COME HOME,

AND I FIND MY ANSWERING MACHINE HAS A MESSAGE WAITING FOR ME.

Woman: HELLO, I'M CALLING IN REGARDS

TO A PRELIMINARY ASSET LIABILITY INVESTIGATION.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SERVING YOU COURT DOCUMENTS.

THE MESSAGE SAYS THAT THEY HAVE LEGAL ACTION

IN REFERENCE TO OUR PROPERTY,

AND THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO CALL THEM BACK.

Schirripa: IN OTHER WORDS, SOMEONE

IS THREATENING TO TAKE DIANA'S HOME AWAY FROM HER.

TO FUND THE COFFEE SHOP,

I HAD PUT MY HOUSE UP AS COLLATERAL FOR THE LOAN,

SO THERE WAS A LOT AT STAKE.

YOU'RE LIABLE FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PENALTIES.

DON'T TAKE NO.

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO CONTACT 866-764-9779.

Mey: I WAS TERRIFIED.

I WAS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED,

SO I REMEMBER JUST LITERALLY STANDING THERE AND JUST SHAKING.

IT WAS BIZARRE BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I

HAVE NO DELINQUENT DEBT.

OUR CREDIT IS PRISTINE, AND YET HERE WAS A DEBT COLLECTOR

THREATENING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THIS PROPERTY.

Schirripa: WITH HER HOME AND NEW BUSINESS SUDDENLY AT RISK,

DIANA'S SCARED AND CONFUSED, SO RIGHT AWAY,

SHE CALLS THE NUMBER BACK.

HELLO, YOU LEFT ME A MESSAGE.

WHAT COMPANY AM I CALLING, PLEASE?

WHO IS THIS? WHAT ARE YOU CALLING ABOUT?

I'm Diana Mey.

YOU CALLED ME ABOUT A DEBT I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.

CAN I HAVE YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE?

DIANA WANTS TO WRITE AN OFFICIAL LETTER,

TELLING THE COLLECTION AGENCY THEY'VE MADE A MISTAKE.

NO, WE DON'T RELEASE OUR ADDRESS.

JUST PAY YOUR DEBT, ALL RIGHT?

There's already a lawsuit filed against you.

WHAT LAWSU--[ Dial tone ]

Schirripa: DIANA'S NOT GETTING ANY STRAIGHT ANSWERS.

EVEN WORSE,

SHE STILL DOESN'T KNOW WHO OR WHY SHE'S BEING SUED.

Mey: IT MADE ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE BECAUSE I DIDN'T OWE ANY MONEY.

I PRIDE MYSELF ON HAVING GREAT CREDIT.

Schirripa: NOW, DIANA'S THINKING WHAT I'M THINKING.

DEBT COLLECTORS HAVE A NASTY REPUTATION

OF TARGETING PEOPLE FOR NO REASON

AND THEN SCARING THEM INTO BELIEVING THEY OWE MONEY.

I THINK THAT THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO,

YOU KNOW, HIT WHOEVER THEY CAN AND GET WHOEVER THEY CAN.

Schirripa: TO DIANA, THIS WHOLE THING

IS STARTING TO SMELL LIKE A SCAM.

YOU JUST COULDN'T PIN THEM DOWN AS TO WHO THEY REALLY WERE,

AND THEY WOULDN'T GIVE AN ADDRESS.

Schirripa: BUT THIS THREAT IS FOR REAL,

AND HER CREDIT RATING AND BUSINESS

COULD BE ON THE LINE.

DIANA NEEDS SOME ANSWERS FAST.

THE BEST PLACE TO START IS HER OWN CREDIT REPORT.

MAYBE SOMEONE'S BEEN CHECKING HER OUT.

I CONSIDER MYSELF A FAIRLY SAVVY CONSUMER.

Schirripa: AND WHAT DOES SHE FIND OUT?

ON THE VERY SAME DAY THAT I GOT THAT FIRST THREATENING MESSAGE

ON MY ANSWERING MACHINE,

THAT'S WHEN I SAW THIS COMPANY'S NAME

AS HAVING ACCESSED MY CREDIT REPORT

WITH AN ADDRESS IN CALIFORNIA.

Schirripa: BINGO --

MEET RELIANT FINANCIAL ASSOCIATES,

A LEGITIMATE DEBT COLLECTION AGENCY.

OH, THERE YOU ARE.

FINALLY, DIANA'S GOT A REAL NAME AND A REAL ADDRESS.

NOW SHE CAN GET DOWN TO BUSINESS AND MAKE THIS PROBLEM GO AWAY.

Mey: I SIT DOWN,

AND I WRITE THIS STERNLY WORDED CEASE-AND-DESIST LETTER.

IT BASICALLY SAID, YOU KNOW,

"IF YOU FILE AN ACTION AGAINST MY PROPERTY,

"I WILL TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST YOU

UNDER THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT."

SO I SENT IT CERTIFIED MAIL, BASICALLY,

SO I COULD TRACK WHEN THEY HAD RECEIVED IT.

AFTER SENDING HER LETTER,

DIANA THOUGHT THIS WHOLE CRAZY BUSINESS WAS BEHIND HER.

A FEW DAYS LATER, SHE OPENS HER COFFEE SHOP

AND FORGETS ALL ABOUT THIS DEBT COLLECTOR.

IT LOOKS LIKE LIFE'S BACK ON TRACK,

BUT JUST A FEW DAYS LATER, DIANA GETS ANOTHER STRANGE PHONE CALL.

[ Dial tone ][ SIGHS ]

I SAW ON MY CALLER I.D. THIS NUMBER

THAT WAS THE OHIO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

AND SO I CALLED THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT,

AND I SAID SOMEBODY THERE, I THINK,

HAS BEEN TRYING TO CALL ME.

AND THEY ASKED AROUND,

AND THEY SAID, "NOBODY HERE HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET YOU."

IT WAS REALLY PUZZLING TO ME.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHY THEY WOULD BE CALLING ME.

Schirripa: THE NEXT DAY, THE PHONE RINGS AGAIN.

THIS TIME, DIANA'S HOME TO ANSWER IT.

IT'S A CALL THAT SHE'LL NEVER FORGET.

Mey: I CAN SEE THE CALLER I.D., AND IT'S THE SAME NUMBER.

AND I THINK, FINALLY, I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO FINALLY FIGURE OUT

WHO IT IS THAT'S TRYING TO GET AHOLD OF ME

FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

HELLO?

MAN: Yes, I'm trying to reach Diana, the [bleep]

HE SAYS, "IS THIS DIANA, THE..." C-WORD?

PARDON ME?

Yeah, I heard you liked to get [bleep] right up the [bleep]

WHAT?

AND HE SPENT THE NEXT TWO MINUTES

THREATENING TO SEXUALLY ASSAULT ME

IN SOME OF THE MOST VILEST, VULGAR WAYS.

I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND

HOW SOMEONE COULD SPEAK TO ANOTHER HUMAN BEING LIKE THAT.

HE WAS VERY CREEPY, AND, YOU KNOW,

HE JUST WANTED THE FULL IMPACT OF TERRORIZING ME.

I MEAN, HE TERRORIZED ME IS WHAT HE DID.

AND EVENTUALLY, HE HANGS UP, AND I IMMEDIATELY DIAL 911.

HELLO?

SOMEONE FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE

JUST CALLED ME AND THREATENED TO SEXUALLY ASSAULT ME.

Schirripa: TERRORIZED, VIOLATED, VERBALLY ABUSED,

AND IN YOUR OWN HOME --

WELL, THAT'S ENOUGH TO PUSH ANYONE OVER THE EDGE.

I MEAN, THIS IS ONE TWISTED BASTARD.

THE COPS ARE AT DIANA'S DOOR IN MINUTES

WITH MORE DISTURBING NEWS.

YOU'RE BEING SPOOFED.

THERE ARE ACTUALLY COMPANIES OUT THERE

THAT PROVIDE SPOOFING SERVICES.

THEY GIVE YOU A NUMBER THAT YOU CAN DIAL INTO

AND CHANGE YOUR CALLER I.D. TO READ ON THE OTHER END

WHATEVER IN THE WORLD YOU WANT IT TO READ.

SO YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHO'S DOING THIS?

WELL, AT THIS MOMENT, NO.

I WAS SO FRIGHTENED.

I MEAN, I WAS HOME ALONE.

MY HUSBAND WAS OUT OF TOWN THAT DAY.

SO I GO, AND I GET HIS GUN OUT

BECAUSE I WANTED TO HAVE THAT GUN RIGHT BY MY BED

WHEN I SLEPT THAT NIGHT.

I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,

WHAT DOES THIS PERSON HAVE AGAINST ME?

I'M LITERALLY TERRIFIED THINKING, ARE THEY GOING TO,

YOU KNOW, COME UP TONIGHT, COME AFTER ME TONIGHT?

I JUST -- I JUST HAD NO IDEA.

BUT WHOEVER IT WAS,

THEY'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT THAT THEY'VE CALLED THE WRONG NUMBER.

TO FIND OUT MORE OF WHAT I THINK ABOUT THESE STORIES,

GO TO investigationdiscovery.com.

DIANA MEY HAS BEEN TARGETED BY TELEPHONE TERRORISTS.

I MEAN, WHAT ELSE DO YOU CALL A BUNCH

OF FACELESS, SPINELESS WORMS WHO ASSAULT INNOCENT PEOPLE

ON THE PHONE?

HELLO?

MAN: Yes, I'm trying to reach Diana the [bleep]

WHAT?

BUT WHEN THEY DIALED UP DIANA, MAN,

DID THEY GET THE WRONG NUMBER.

OH, DIDN'T I TELL YOU?

DIANA'S NO ORDINARY HOUSEWIFE.

SHE'S AN ANTI-TELEMARKETING CRUSADER

AND SUED SOME BIG CORPORATIONS

FOR OVERLY AGGRESSIVE PHONE CAMPAIGNS.

IF YOU'RE USING THE TELEPHONE TO HARASS PEOPLE,

THIS IS ONE WOMAN'S NUMBER YOU DON'T WANT TO CALL.

NOW, HOW'S THAT FOR KARMA?

I HAD BEEN THE VICTIM OF SOME UNWANTED TELEMARKETING CALLS

AND HAD PURSUED LEGAL ACTION

BASED ON JUST UNRELENTING TELEMARKETING CALLS,

AND I WENT ON A MISSION

TO EDUCATE MYSELF THEN ABOUT WHAT MY RIGHTS WERE.

AND AT THAT POINT,

I HAVE STARTED RECORDING TELEMARKETING CALLS.

AND IF IT'S BOGUS,

SHE USES THEIR OWN WEAPON AGAINST THEM.

THE TELEPHONE.

SO WHEN DIANA GOT THE CALL FROM THIS SICKO,

SHE WAS READY TO DEFEND HERSELF WITH HER TAPE RECORDER.

I NEED YOU TO SPEAK UP A LITTLE MORE CLEARLY.

Open your [bleep] and see how much [bleep] you can handle.

I know there's a big line, and do you right in the [bleep]

Mey: EVEN THOUGH IT'S GETTING MORE VILE,

I THINK TO MYSELF, "YOU SON OF A YOU-KNOW-WHAT,

I'M GONNA HAVE PLENTY OF YOUR VOICE ON TAPE."

THEY ABSOLUTELY MESSED WITH THE WRONG WOMAN.

BUT THIS WAS NO ANONYMOUS TELEMARKETER.

NO, THIS WAS A REAL WACKO,

AND THE WORST PART WAS,

SHE DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE WHO IT WAS.

BUT KARMA SURE DID,

AND SHE'S ABOUT TO LEAD DIANA STRAIGHT TO HIM.

DIANA DECIDES TO CHECK THE CERTIFIED LETTER

THAT SHE SENT TO THE DEBT COLLECTION AGENCY

WHO THREATENED HER PROPERTY.

I WENT ONTO THE POSTAL WEBSITE

TO SEE THE TRACKING NUMBER FOR THE CEASE-AND-DESIST LETTER,

AND I REALIZED THAT THEY HAD SIGNED FOR MY LETTER,

AND THEN 23 MINUTES LATER, I GOT THE FIRST CALL

THAT SHOWED OHIO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

ON MY CALLER I.D.

[ SCOFFS ]

AND IT'S LIKE A LIGHT BULB GOES OFF,

AND I KNOW INSTANTLY THAT IT WAS THEM.

Schirripa: BUT HANG ON A SECOND.

A HUNCH IS ONE THING.

PROVING IT IS ANOTHER, SO DIANA TAKES THE LETTER, THE TAPE,

AND HER PHONE RECORDS TO HER LAWYER, MARTIN SHEEHAN.

MAN: Yeah, I heard you like to get [bleep] right up the [bleep]

AND AS SOON AS MARTY HEARS THE SHOCKING EVIDENCE,

HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT TO DO.

HE SUBPOENAS THE COLLECTION AGENCY'S PHONE RECORDS

TO PROVE THEY MADE THE CALL,

AND GUESS WHAT.

WE HAVE THE PHONE RECORDS THAT ESTABLISH A PHONE CALL

WAS MADE FROM CALIFORNIA TO A PLACE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

IN UPSTATE NEW YORK,

THEY TRANSLATED THE CALLER I.D. INFORMATION

SO IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE SHERIFF IN THIS COUNTY

IS MAKING A CALL TO DIANA'S HOUSE

WHICH, IN FACT, WAS THE CALL ORIGINATED IN LOS ANGELES.

ATTABOY, MARTY.

THE GUN, THE BULLETS, THE SMOKE, THE WHOLE SHEBANG.

AND WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED,

A WEST VIRGINIA COURT ORDERED RELIANT FINANCIAL

TO PAY DIANA MEY --

NOW GET THIS -- $10 MILLION.

THAT I GOT A $10 MILLION JUDGMENT AGAINST THESE PEOPLE

IS A HUGE VICTORY.

MY HOPE WAS THAT IT WOULD SEND A MESSAGE

TO A LOT OF DEBT COLLECTORS

THAT YOU CAN'T TREAT PEOPLE LIKE THIS.

IT'S AGAINST THE LAW. YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO PEOPLE.

THEY SCARED ME TO DEATH,

SO I WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE THEM -- MAKE THEM PAY.

KARMA HAS ALWAYS SAID WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND.

AND THIS TIME, SHE HIT THE JACKPOT.

SO IF ANY OF YOU WEASELS EVER GET THE BRIGHT IDEA

OF CALLING DIANA MEY AGAIN,

YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK TWICE BEFORE PUSHING THAT BUTTON.

IT COULD BE ONE BITCH OF A CALL.