Over the past three weeks all weekdays and Saturdays multiple hours during the day and after 9:00pm from Monday, January 30, 2010 until February 20, 2012, a common friend of ours’ has been receiving calls from a male with an African-American speech inflection threatening an affidavit has been filed against my wife for writing bad checks and owing a 'Pay-Day' loan. The male refused to identify himself during his 20+ threatening and intimidating calls, only providing an account number and phone number (305-914-6728). My wife returned the phone call on February 17, 2012 during the afternoon to this unnamed individual in order to end the harassment to our friend, a third-party with no affiliation to any of these matters. The receiver of the call told my wife he represents WOOD FOREST (WOOD FOREST is a fictitious name), refused to give his name, told my wife he was dispatching the police to our house, said to my wife that its her '[***] is in a sling, lady!', demanded a payment of $900.00 over the phone, refused to provide an address and refused to send any documents via post to our address yet offered to email the information, before refusing to take the information and hanging-up on my wife. We remained in fear my wife was going to jail for fraudulent allegations. Fortunately, that never transpired. I began researching these individuals via the internet and calling the provided phone number during non-business hours. The answering service associated with the aforementioned phone number is associated with AMY GRANT, INVESTIGATIONS DEPARTMENT, SOUTH FLORIDA GROUP. Other associated numbers include: 305-964-9434 and 305-918-4670 and 786-528-0314. According to internet searches revealing the illegal, unethical and deleterious practices of this company, it appears other individuals associated with South Florida Group are: MICHAEL SHAW, BRIAN MERCER, CATHERINE STREIN, SAMANTHA TAYLOR, THOMAS PIERCE and JOHN MONTGOMERY, all of whom reportedly employed the same tactics with other citizens to extort monies either illegally or in direct violation of the FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT. Other additional phone numbers include: (866) 629-9947, (888) 472-6781, (888) 313-9572, Through further research, it appears South Florida Group is an affiliation of BRONSTEIN, SHAW & ASSOCIATES (888) 701-0360, aka JENKINS, SHAW & ASSOCIATES (877) 863-5647, aka BRONSTEIN, SHAW & ASSOCIATES, INC., 814 KENMORE AVENUE, BUFFALO NY 14216. The individuals appearing to be affiliated with these 'law groups' are: MR. JONES (877) 863-5647 x493, fax (716) 691-3939 and MR. MYERS (888) 701-0360 x475, fax (716) 873-2700, RENEE WILLIAMS (888) 701-0360 x473 and MR. STONE (716) 533-1569. It appears JOSEPH STONE aka JOSEPH MARLETTE (716) 533-1569 is the owner/CEO. From research, it appears Mr. Stone (aka Marlette), also, owns and runs collection agency: ICS (INTERSTATE CHECK SYSTEMS, INC., 15 HAZELWOOD DRIVE, #102, AMHERST NY 14226, (888) 358-1120, (888) 832-9845, (877) 230-2988, (716) 691-2472 and fax (716) 691-2440.) Reportedly, it appears ICS employees (RAY PADILLA, SHAWN MICHAELS and JIM DOUGLASS x335)utilize the same illegal collection tactics, and litigation and arrests alleging fraud in the State of New York exists regarding affiliates and constituents of ICS (according to some reports, this agency has been shut-down by governmental interventions.) It appears Interstate Check Systems is an entity of Northtown Capital & Associates. Northtown's web site is: http://www.northtowncap.com. Northtown's address and location is (same as Interstate Check Systems): 15 Hazelwood Drive, Suite 102, Amherst, NY 14228 - Phone: 888.358.1120 - Fax: 716.691.2122 Corporate filings found at: http://appsext8.dos.state.ny.us/corp_public/corpsearch.entity_search_entry Selected Entity Status Information Current Entity Name: INTERSTATE CHECK SYSTEMS INC. Initial DOS Filing Date: NOVEMBER 16, 2009 County: NIAGARA Jurisdiction: NEW YORK Entity Type: DOMESTIC BUSINESS CORPORATION Current Entity Status: ACTIVE Selected Entity Address Information DOS Process (Address to which DOS will mail process if accepted on behalf of the entity) INTERSTATE CHECK SYSTEMS INC. 3047 MAPLE ROAD NEWFANE, NEW YORK, 14108 Registered Agent SPIEGEL & UTRERA PA PC 1 MAIDEN LANE 5TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10038 Current Entity Name: NORTHTOWN CAPITAL & ASSOCIATES INC. Initial DOS Filing Date: OCTOBER 23, 2009 County: ERIE Jurisdiction: NEW YORK Entity Type: DOMESTIC BUSINESS CORPORATION Current Entity Status: ACTIVE Selected Entity Address Information DOS Process (Address to which DOS will mail process if accepted on behalf of the entity) NORTHTOWN CAPITAL & ASSOCIATES INC. 1 MAIDEN LANE 5TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10038 Registered Agent SPIEGEL & UTRERA P.A. P.C. 1 MAIDEN LANE 5TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10038 Additional Corporate filings show: Selected Entity Status Information Current Entity Name: BRONSTEIN, SHAW & ASSOCIATES, INC. Initial DOS Filing Date: FEBRUARY 28, 2011 County: ERIE Jurisdiction: NEW YORK Entity Type: DOMESTIC BUSINESS CORPORATION Current Entity Status: ACTIVE Selected Entity Address Information DOS Process (Address to which DOS will mail process if accepted on behalf of the entity) BRONSTEIN, SHAW AND ASSOCIATES, INC. 814 KENMORE AVENUE BUFFALO, NEW YORK, 14216 Registered Agent SPIEGEL & UTRERA PA PC 1 MAIDEN LANE 5TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10038 This scam, perpetrated by these entities, is far-reaching and preys on those, such as my wife and I, who are attempting to find stable-footing, again, in life through responsible and reputable means. All of the aforementioned individuals and entities are, reportedly and experientially, are violating laws, complicit involvement in illegal scams, willfully and knowingly, thereby harming and injuring unsuspecting and innocent victims, such as my wife and I, by their intentional acts, aiding and abetting extortion through fraudulent practices and are in direct violation of the FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT.
This is part of a network of 'debt collector's who employee ILLEGAL DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES, to include: PHYSICAL THREATS, LYING, CURSING, THREATS OF LEGAL ACTION, INTIMIDATION AND EXTORTION for actual or unsubstantiated debt. If yoi receive a call from any other the individuals listed below, lease contact the FTC (www.ftc.gov) immediately!!!! All actions of these individuals are punishable by law and in direct violation of the FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT.
Mr. Myers
Mr. Jones
Michael Shaw
Brian Mercer
Catherine Strein
Samantha Taylor
Amy Grant
Thomas Pierce
John Montgomery
Renee Williams
These individuals will call from these numbers, representing the 'collection agency':
-Wood Forest
-South Florida Group
-Bronstein, Shaw & Associates
-Jenkins, Shaw & Associates
-Bronstein, Shaw & Associates, Inc.
814 Kenmore Avenue, Buffalo NY 14216
-Spiegel & Utrera, P.A., P.C.
1 Maiden Lane, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10038
Gotta love this one. My wife got a call from her ex husband, who said that a message was left on his parents answering machine from a Travis Taylor. I heard the message. He was threatening me with legal action about check fraud. Never mind that I have not written a check in years, or ever met his parents, who live across the country from me. The number is a Magic Jack number and shows Florida, but could be from anywhere. Just once, I would like them to give me their correct address to see if they are still so brave in person. The name Travis Taylor shows up online in some fraud scams dealing with payday loans. Mr. Taylor, please answer when I call you back for about the 50th time.
I received a call from this person about an hour ago in regards to my husband about check fraud and wire internet fraud. When he told me the date of the alleged check fraud it was from 5 years ago for a bank that isn't even around anymore. Initially I was scared, but when I pressed for more info and started questioning dates and banks, he clammed up and of course hung up on me. The scary part is he made reference to an account that was held by a bank no longer in business, when it was bought by another bank and we've since gotten a new account with that bank, and I'm sure if we had anything hanging out there, they would not have given us an account, especially if it was check fraud.
The same guy just called me and before he even verified my name he said to have my attorney contact his office. When I asked what it was in reference to he claims that he is having me arrested for check fraud on a bank account that is still open. I told him if he had a check it could be presented to the bank, but he obviously didn't have it. When I told him that I had been collecting accounts longer than he had been out of diapers, he got irate and stated he would have me picked up at work by the police and then he hung up and called my supervisor at work. Naturally, my supervisor is smart enough to know, you cannot be arrested for a debt. I've been doing collection work for 30+ years and when people start throwing around threats which violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act - they are usually scum sucking bottom feeders. They will be the last ones to call the police as they are the ones breaking the law. So if you get a call from this guy - ask them to provide documentation for the debt, their phone number and address so you can mail them the payment - and watch them tell you - No, I need you to pay me today with a credit card. IT'S A SCAM, PLEASE BE CAREFUL.
I just received a voice mail on my work phone number from a Brian Mercer, who was stating that a previous co-worker who passed away two years ago, was getting a visit from the Sheriff's Department today and wanted to know if she would like to have an attorney present. Considering I am a Collections Supervisor, I knew that the message content was illegal to leave on a voice mail. When I called this person back and advised that the co-worker had passed away and to remind him that the voice mail was illegal, he had the NERVE to start cussing me!