Brenda,
Don't worry about it. It is a total scam. The are being very aggressive to make you feel uncertain and insecure. Let them know you know they are a scam. They break every rule in the book. They don't care, because the are probably calling from India. They distort the truth every step of the way to keep you intimidated and confused so don't try to reason with them. They are extortionist. The bottom line is they want you to send them money. They can't take anyone to court because then they would have to expose themselves, and to begin with their claims are baseless. They do have your personal information. They either got a payday cash loan company to sell them your application, or they hacked into applications, or they set up a fake payday loan application of their own to get your information, but never give out loans. There are hundreds of different blogs about them on the internet. They try to terrorize you by calling all the time. Just remember give them no money and confirm no information. You don't even have to talk to them. They will just threaten you more and more about arresting you, taking you to court etc.... Don't worry it won't happen and it is a scam. I would report them to your local DA or AG. There is no Federal Government of Crime and Prevention. You can tell he isn't American because he refers to himself as Officer Steve with no last name.
This is the same game I got the first time they called me. I asked them to identify themselves and they said they couldn't until I confirmed personal information. Of course I didn't confirm anything personal over the phone. They also told me they weren't authorized to give me their information over the phone. I hung up.
If you are targeted by these criminals, be sure to report them to all the following federal and state law enforcement agencies (most of which you can do online or over the phone):
1. The U.S. Secret Service is responsible for protecting the country's financial infrastructure and payment systems from international and domestic threats. Call or write your local Secret Service field office to alert them to the details of this attempted extortion. The addresses and phone numbers for the local Secret Service field offices are listed at http://www.secretservice.gov/field_offices.shtml or in your phone book.
2. Alert the FBI at https://tips.fbi.gov Be sure to tell the FBI that you are being targeted by extortionists over the phone. And if the crooks claim to be law enforcement or lawyers, officers of the court or bankers, be sure to include that information in your report.
3. File a complaint with your local police. Most police departments will take a report over the phone. Be sure to tell them that you're being targeted by an extortionist and give them all the details.
4. File a complaint your state's attorney general, the contact information for whom is at www.wvago.gov
5. File a complaint online with The Federal Trade Commission at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en
If these crooks call back, promise them nothing, pay them nothing and tell them nothing other than that you know they're a scam and that you've reported them to law enforcement. (And be sure to report them to all the agencies above each time they call you.)
By the way, here's just a small sample of numbers used by this particular group of scammers. Read the reports and you'll see the same pattern time and again -- phony organization names, thick foreign accents, and oddly worded threats that are so melodramatic and ridiculous that it's laughable:
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-771-9249 Scammer posting here as GARY and GARRY JONES
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-860-4509 Scammer posting here as Mike Henderson
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-212-500-0839 Scammer posting here as Ricky
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-201-244-7722 Scammer posting as Carole, David Brown and Amanda
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-626-200-4646 Scammer false postings at this new number as silshan kanniue and Tina – preparing a new number to use.
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-424-354-4270 Scammer false postings as Rose
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-785-4479 Scammer posting as Robert
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-909-327-4870 Scammer false postings as Marry
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-646-274-1143 Scammer false postings as Karen Miller, Chichi and Tom Little
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-561-300-8018 Scammer false postings as Marco Polo (real original)
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-226-7488 Scammer false postings as SAM, David S
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-706-7463 Scammer false postings as George
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-209-349-7382 Scammer false postings as Towanda Robinson, Shannon Walsh, Jack Dawson and Cynthia
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-760-514-0132 scammer false postings as Suzy01, Johanna Hall, Cindie McMellon, Michael Dublin, Mark Williams, Carol and Rio (800notes removed some of the scammers posts because the all came from the SAME IP ADDRESS)
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-209-797-2212 scammer false posting as Jaison Connar
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-707-401-4056 Scammer false posting as John Carner, KSR
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-650-241-4604 Scammer false postings as jhon and Kevin
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-708-401-0535 Scammer false posting here as JHON
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-518-212-0219 Scammer false posting
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Consumer Alert: Attorney General warns Kansans of debt collection scam
January 29, 2010 -- Attorney General Steve Six is cautioning Kansas consumers about telephone calls from apparent fake debt collectors who are impersonating law enforcement officers in an effort to extort money from consumers. Consumers are warned to not submit payments to these fraudulent debt collectors.
When calling, the scammers most often state they are attempting to collect a debt related to an internet payday loan obtained by the consumer, but which the consumer never repaid. Consumers state they have never obtained such a loan or paid off the loan years ago. The scam artists have most recently identified themselves as ACS, National Affidavit Processing Department and United Financial Crime Division, but may use additional phony names. It appears the phone numbers used by the scammers are “spoofed” numbers, so that the number appearing on a consumer’s caller ID is not the actual number of where the call originated. It appears the calls in question may be originating from outside the United States.
When questioned, the individual calling refuses to disclose the full name or address of the collection agency they claim to represent. These scammers have been able to provide consumers with identifying information, such as the consumer’s social security number, home address, e-mail address, names of family members and the consumer’s computer IP address. Since the callers are able to provide valid personal information, consumers may become confused and believe they are being contacted in regard to a legitimate debt.
If the initial debt collection scam is unsuccessful, consumers have been re-contacted months later with the scammers posing as law enforcement officers or officers of the court. Typically, the consumer is threatened with arrest for fraud or some other fictitious crime unless the consumer agrees to immediately wire money via Western Union. The fictitious officers strive to frighten and confuse consumers into compliance by using legal sounding terms such as “We’re filing an affidavit against you” or by stating a lawsuit has been or is in the process of being filed against the consumer.
A hallmark of each scam has been calling consumers repeatedly at their place of employment. This scam hit home when an employee of the Kansas Attorney General’s Office was repeatedly called both on her cell phone and at work. Despite the employee’s repeated verbal disputes, the caller refused to provide any identifying information to allow her to send a written dispute. The scammer also continued to call her numerous times a day regarding a payday loan she denied obtaining. Two months later, she was again contacted by telephone by an individual identifying himself as an “officer”.
“I denied owing the debt and refused to pay without being provided validation of the debt. I was then told, ‘If that’s the case, I will have local law enforcement come to your place of business and drag you out kicking and screaming’,” stated the employee.
“It is important for consumers to know their rights under the law,” Attorney General Six said. “If a consumer is receiving calls from a debt collection company and believe it is a scam, I encourage them to contact our office immediately.”
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), collectors are required to send consumers a written notice within five days of the initial contact. The notification should contain information such as the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed and a statement informing the consumer they have thirty days to contact the debtor in writing to dispute the debt or request validation of the debt. In addition, legitimate debt collectors are prohibited by the FDCPA from making false or misleading representations, such as the consumer has committed a crime, implying nonpayment will result in the consumer’s arrest, or using the threat of violence.
More information is available on the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf.
To register a complaint with the Kansas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, call 1(800) 432-2310 or visit www.ksag.org.
another scammer posting and callin is "det victor brown" and a good # for ppl to call so they can feel better is the investigation # 989 497 0580 it will help ppl feel calmer about what is going on since it a federal agency tyvm for ur posts ive been dealing with these calls for 2 mos now
Thanks for all of your hard work informing the public about these extortionists. I pretty much knew it was bogus the first time they called because 1) they were so aggressive 2) they claimed things that couldn't be true, i.e. you have a court case tomorrow 3) they couldn't speak english 4) their God Bless You stuff 5) claiming to be lawyers who were stupid and 6) claiming to be from a bogus government agency.
I now feel like an expert on how to handle these things after reading all the posts and talking to government agencies. They are so dumb sometimes it is hilarious. Especially when they try to post as being somebody else and how thankful they are to have received help to pay for a loan they forgot about. They are totally low lifes who have no respect for anybody. The whole nation needs to know about these scams so their funds coming in would dry up.
for almost 2 mos ive been getting harassing calls from "officer" john,victor etc..saying i had a payday loan...well thank god i check my acct regularly and have never applied for a loan the company they say i got it from was us fast cash and they gave me this # 206 497 2738 well guess what another heavily accented man called me back (unavailable) of course his name was "rick cooper" said i owed nearly 2k but they would settle for 750 i got the # for the legitimate fast cash and she gave me the # for the investigators in the secret service investigating this that # is 989 497 0580 if u have any worries or concerns they will u calm u down and help with a little advice on what to do these ppl went as far as to tell me they would kill me and my kids and made even a potty mouth like me blush so w/e u do dont fax anything to them (unless u do like me and fax ur middle finger) i hope this helps a few ppl out the # they are using now is 202 629 9693 but they call from a 970 #