Received call from this number 4/29/08 Tue, she left message "...this is Investigator Amanda Powers...looking for Sean Hall...in regards to litigation against you...please call my office immediately...blah, blah, blah. Don't know who Sean Hall is, and this call fits with descriptions above of bottom feeder, fraudulent, schister types. Will be reported to BBB and Attorney General.
6/10/08 - I received a message on my home answering machine from an Special Investigator Anita Banks. She claimed to be representing a company called that had filled a legal complaint about non-payment of a purchased from over a year ago. She left a File Number to reference when I called back to 240-235-0635. I immediately called my Credit Card Company and confirmed that indeed on 4-26-07 a purchase was transacted to a PayPal Account and Posted on 4-27-07 - PAID IN FULL. I have requested and received a copy of my statement from my credit card company. They suggested that I contact local authorities in this matter for fraud. I also contacted the owner of the Company I made my purchase from. She confirmed that she uses PayPal and receives payment prior to sending out any orders. Well then I Googled her name Anita Banks in Maryland and discovered that there have been many complaints from not only her, but apparently several others. The postings suggested contacting the Attorney Generals Office in Maryland. I am not only going yo contact the Louisiana Attorney Generals Office - James Caldwell at 225-326-6705, buy also the Attorney Generals Office - Douglas Gansler at (410) 576-6300 in Maryland.
Glad you guys realized they were scam artists before they got any money out of you. They're a bunch of crooks -- They go by a variety of names and phone numbers -- some of the names they use include Global Asset Investigations, Worldwide Recovery Services, Worldwide Asset Investigation Services and North American Asset Investigation Bureau (NAAIB). Last year they were operating out of Cleveland, OH, until they were shut down -- the Cleveland BBB named them as one of the top ten scams of 2007: http://cleveland.bbb.org/WWWRoot/SitePage.asp ... b91931&art=1377
You can get more info here: http://www.budhibbs.com/debtcollectorpages/NAAIB.htm.
They will probably continue using this MD number until they get shut down again, then start using a new area code, but the MO is always the same: they call and identify themselves in a way that implies they are either working for a lawyer, the court system, or the police department (all of these misleading statements are illegal); tell you that there has been a civil case filed against you, they give you a case number, and tell you that you must contact them before a warrant is sworn out against you. When you contact them, they tell you that they are investigating a debt that is 10, 12, 15 or so years old; they'll name some bank you've never heard of, or a credit card you've never heard of. They'll have just enough information about you to make you nervous and they'll be phishing to find out more information. They'll tell you that the debt is some ridiculous amount -- let's say $10,200 for an example -- but if you're willing to pay today, they'll reduce it to, for example, $650. But they can't give you an address. Instead, they will ask for your bank account or credit card number. They'll tell you that if you don't settle on the phone with them that moment, a sheriff will appear at your door within 48 hours to arrest you. NONE OF THIS IS TRUE. Complaints have been filed to the AG of OH, MD, TX, NY, and IL, as well as to the FTC, FCC, and the FBI (as they are trying to illegally extort money over the phone). They often target the elderly and infirm. Do not speak with them, and save whatever messages they leave on your phone. If you get a phone call, file a complaint online with the following organizations:
http://www.oag.state.md.us/Consumer/complaint.htm
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en
http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm
as well as the Attorney General of your own state. Remember: whether the debt is yours or not, you should not be dealing with these people. They are not a legitimate organization.
PLEASE -- file a report. You were smart and savvy enough to do research on this number; not everyone is that lucky. REPORT THEM!!!