Yes Edward it is a scam. The company Ms. Minor said I wrote the bad checks to in 2005 had no records of me or my checks and my bank said the check numbers that Ms Minor gave me were never on my acct I always had four digit check numbers not three digit. Ms. Minor was not rude until I asked her to email copies of these checks and letters I had signed and that I had spoke with my bank and the local police. She got very rude then and said I was not allowed to have or see the checks till I paid all the money. No company cant show you proof of bad checks. If they were legit, they would give you time to contact the bank and try to get to the bottom of it. But once I asked for a few more days so my bank could find these checks and I could contact the company I "worte" these checks to, she got very ugly on the phone and said the deal was off and it I didnt pay right now over the phone I was going to jail. Needless to say I havent been to jail and no warrant is out for me.
The number 202-471-2118 called me yesterday and said I owed over $600.00 for 2 checks I wrote in 2005 that equaled to the amout of $145.00. If I didnt pay it over the phone then they would but a warrent out for me and have me arrested. When I asked her to email me copies of these checks and letters I had signed she said I would get them when the police came to pick me up. I called my old bank from 2005 and thankfully they still had my records but had no records of the checks they said I wrote. I also went to the local police and reported this number and what they were trying to do me. The police also said it was a scam. The lady also would not hardly give me any info on the company she worked for only that it was called Invesitigater, she was very pushy and rude and would not answer any of my questions. The police said thats a sure sign of a scam.
This is a version of the you-have-committed-a-crime extortion scam and you are being...
1. summoned/investigated/charged/whatever with fraud/embezzlement/passing_bad_checks/whatever or
2. served with a court_summons/arrest_warrant/bench_warrant/whatever or
3. located in preparation to_be_served/for_a_lawsuit/to_be_arrested/whatever or
4. sued for cable TV usage that you've been stealing for years or
5. whatever stupid crap reasons they will think up next.
And you have to...
1. call back with your case number or
2. confirm your address/birthdate/SSN/whatever so you can be served or your papers processed or
3. pay $895 now to avoid paying $5,000 in court or
4. whatever stupid crap reasons they will think up next.
Beware extortion scams come in many flavors and they constantly evolve to stay one step ahead of the law.
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"
Never do what they tell you to do but report them 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 http://www.naag.org/current-attorneys-general.php as appropriate.
Yes it true there are many scams but what you all need to understand what is the nature of the call debts vary from payday loans etc. I had a bad experience from paydays loans by some Indian Scam artists but this number called me as well Ms. Jennifer Minor she was very nice and explained everything to me professionally. Writing a bad check in most laws is against the law this private investigaion firm also has a website to refer there is nothing fraudulent about this firm they work with a mediation firm that helps you clear the check up before it goes to court. After payment I received all the necessary paper work to clear my name for the check for my record. People if you wrote a bad check and you are given the opportunity to resolve it do so just because you had a bad experience don't risk your freedom each case is different but I think its unfair to say Ms. Minor is rude far from it she went above and beyond her call of duty. We often want to play the victim but we must be responsible for our debts she is not calling from a collection agency my attorney thouroghly researched their company.
Yes Edward it is a scam. The company Ms. Minor said I wrote the bad checks to in 2005 had no records of me or my checks and my bank said the check numbers that Ms Minor gave me were never on my acct I always had four digit check numbers not three digit. Ms. Minor was not rude until I asked her to email copies of these checks and letters I had signed and that I had spoke with my bank and the local police. She got very rude then and said I was not allowed to have or see the checks till I paid all the money. No company cant show you proof of bad checks. If they were legit, they would give you time to contact the bank and try to get to the bottom of it. But once I asked for a few more days so my bank could find these checks and I could contact the company I "worte" these checks to, she got very ugly on the phone and said the deal was off and it I didnt pay right now over the phone I was going to jail. Needless to say I havent been to jail and no warrant is out for me.