THIS IS AN EXTORTION SCAM!!! I received a call from Special Agent Ryan Carter of the DEA. Badge # 56813. He said that they have busted a pharmacy in the DR and that my name came up on receipts showing that I purchased drugs from this pharmacy on online. He said that a warrant was out for my arrest and that I had to pay $300.00 to keep them from arresting me. He even gave me a docket number. He told me to send this to the DR before 2:00pm. He gave an address of 410 Abraham Lincoln Blvd. Ste. A208, DR., attention: Dig Hilario. He said I must send US dollars today or they will arrest me. He was a good scammer but I didn't send him jack!
Phone msg from Special Agt Ryan Carter w/ DEA;badge#56481/unit#48;he is investigating purchase of drugs on internet;they busted a pharmacy called Rx Int'l in DR.Said they have taped conversations of me buying illegal drugs.NO WAY!He wanted me to call in at 2:00pm for hearing.I could not.He said they could suspend my drivers license and put me in jail. Then said I could just pay fine and they will reschedule hearing.Fine is $2,800.00 "U.S. dollars"...who says that? I'm suspicious.Why I would pay $2,800 if not guilty; he said that if I was found 'not guilty', I would get money back.I said this didn't sound right.He said "these are very serious charges, ma'am; and we can arrest you right now." I said I will wait for papers to be served and he said I better get a lawyer and police are coming to my work today to take me in...in handcuffs. Had a friend call this number back from his own phone, and the message said, "you have reached blah-blah PHARMACY, etc." DO NOT CALL THIS NUMBER.
THIS IS AN EXTORTION SCAM. Scammers pretend to be law enforcement (police, sheriff, Feds, AG's Office, fake cop agencies with made-up names) and may be using bought/hacked/phished loan application data to extort money or personal info for fictitious crimes.
The real DEA warns about fake-DEA extortion scams here http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/2010/denver111010.html
The real FBI warns about payday loan extortion scams here http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/paydayloanscam_120710
The real FDA warns about fake-FDA extortion scams here http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2009/ucm195814.htm
The real FDIC warns about fake-FDIC extortion scams here http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/specialalert/2010/sa10131.html
Report to the Internet Crime Complaint Center http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx , the Federal Communications Commission http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm , the Federal Trade Commission https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ and your state AG, as appropriate.
I, too, received a call from supposed agent Ryan Carter and also a supposed agent Marcusio. They said my wife had purchased the medications via internet and that to avoid arrest had to pay $2,800 (although $1,400 would suufice) to Leonidas Suarez in the Dominican Republic. Their numbers were 443-982-0572 and 757-808-8852.
DEA Warns Public of Extortion Scam by
DEA Special Agent Impersonators
The Drug Enforcement Administration is warning the public about criminals posing as DEA special agents or other law enforcement personnel as part of an international extortion scheme.
The criminals call the victims (who in most cases previously purchased drugs over the lnternet or by telephone) and identify themselves as DEA agents or law enforcement officials from other agencies. The impersonators inform their victims that purchasing drugs over the lnternet or by telephone is illegal, and that enforcement action will be taken against them unless they pay a fine. In most cases, the impersonators instruct their victims to pay the "fine" via wire transfer to a designated location, usually overseas. If victims refuse to send money, the impersonators often threaten to arrest them or search their property. Some victims who purchased their drugs using a credit card also reported fraudulent use of their credit cards.
Impersonating a federal agent is a violation of federal law. The public should be aware that no DEA agent will ever contact members of the public by telephone to demand money or any other form of payment.
The DEA reminds the public to use caution when purchasing controlled substance pharmaceuticals by telephone or through the Internet. It is illegal to purchase controlled substance pharmaceuticals online or by telephone unless very stringent requirements are met. And, all pharmacies that dispense controlled substance pharmaceuticals by means of the lnternet must be registered with DEA. By ordering any pharmaceutical medications online or by telephone from unknown entities, members of the public risk receiving unsafe, counterfeit, and/or ineffective drugs from criminals who operate outside the law. In addition, personal and financial information could be compromised.
Anyone receiving a telephone call from a person purporting to be a DEA special agent or other law enforcement official seeking money should refuse the demand and report the threat.