I received a call from this company advising me that either me or my attorny who is representing needs to call back and if either one of us does not, "good luck with the issue at hand"!
So naturally I was freaked out and called this number back, the man stated that he was from some law office and that I was getting formal charges pressed against me for not paying back a cash advance that I took out. I explained that I never received a cash advance and i could prove that no money was ever deposited into my account! This went on and on for about 45 mins until he threatened to contact me employer and tell them that I was being charged for misappropriating federal funds, theft by deception, etc. When I told him that I felt like I was being threatened, he said that this call was recorded and a judge and several state attornies were listening into my call. I was never advised this at the beginning of teh call and he was extremely rude! He kept telling me that I had a court hearing the next day and I needed to show up with $5000 to give to the judge! Finally when I asked him what court house I needed to show up at he hung up on me.
I got a VM stating that I would need to call him back ASAP before he takes legal matters on me. There were 3 criminal charges against me. He wishes me the best of luck as this case unfolds.
I called the number back and spoke to Jeff Wilcox who stated that I had a payday loan advancement that I need to pay back or they are sueing me for $5834 along with the 3 charges. I advised that I dont have a credit card or anything. He told me to go to Walmart and purchase a prepaid credit card and send him $400 by this morning at 9am. I advised that I dont have a car. Just trying to mess around with him. He stated that I would need to find a way. He wanted me to fax him a letter stating my name and my SSN and that I authorize them to take the money off my card and that I would be that remaining $250 on the next week. He wanted me Name, Address, Amount going to be paid, Card #, Exp Date, The 3 number code on the back, SSN, And a picture of my ID. I spoke with some people on this issue. They stated to have something faxed reguarding the issue. I called him back and he answered the phone as a different name.. I asked for Jeff, He stated hold on. Set the phone down and picked it back up. The same person.. He stated that he can not fax me anything. He was only a messager. He then came to give me and extention on the amount due till 10am this morning. I found all this information about this being a scam this morning. He is still calling my phone leaving rude VM's.
THIS IS A SCAM. Scammers are using bought/hacked loan application data to extort payments for fictitious debts from victims and victims' families and friends.
The FBI warns about payday loan extortion scams here http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/paydayloanscam_120710
The BBB has issued several alerts on this scam, just google "bbb.org alert phony debt collector"
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.