Received a call from a young lady at this number who said to call 240-764-4255 as civil litigation is about to be filed against me and I need to speak to an investigator and give him a case code. I called once and a black lady answered and said she would transfer me to the litigation department. The line went dead. I called back and went right into "Inspector Joe Furguson's" voice mail. That number is cited elsewhere in this list as being a bill collector.
Got a call from Deon Jackson saying a claim was being filed against me, blah, blah, blah. Said to call him back at 240-764-4265. Got this same type message a year ago and again last summer. Too bad this scare tactic must work for these jerks often enough they keep trying it. They use multiple phone numbers this same person called other people using 240-482-8348. I am on the Do Not Call list so I filed a complaint with them. www.donotcall.gov
Investigator Thomas McDonald, in regards to a civil complaint filed against me and being "formalized" in "my" county pursuant to affidavit case #RBD8317 where I've been named as a respondant and must appear. Myself or my attorney can contact his office at 240-696-1715. This is a time sensitive matter, "Good Day, and Good Luck!"
Good luck?!?! That was my first clue this didn't sound legit. Soon after I came home and listened to this message, my mother calls me and says this guy called there first and talked to her. She told them I haven't lived there in 15 years (which is true :P ). He responded "Yeah, OK, later."
The number on my caller ID is 240-482-8779 from Bethesda, MD. Why would any investigator from Maryland call about an issue in my county, let alone the fact that the only time I've been to Maryland was when I was 2 years old. Maybe I spilled my sippy cup on some jerk at a restaurant 28 years ago, and now he's finally ready to sue me.
So I Google'd this number and found this beautiful piece of the Internet. Thanks for confirming my suspicions that this is just another scam!
This is a group of people currently taking advantage of people across the United States. 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 ... 19642b&art=4334).
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!!!
7/16/08 10/52 AM Central Time Zone recieved a message on the answering machine from this number. A woman's voice claiming to be Special Investigator Chris Johnson left a message for my husband, though she pronounced his name wrong. She said she was "calling in regards to a Civil Complaint that's been filed against you, and it's going to be formalized through your County. Pursuant to claim affidavit case number (three letters four numbers) where you have been named as a respondant and must appear. Now you or your attourney can contact my office directly at 240 696 8255, when calling back refer to your afficavit case number which is (letter/number code repeated.)
I received a call from 1.240.482.8779 but didn't answer the call. Our answering machine picked up and a man started to talk, but the message was never recorded so I'm not sure what it said ..our volume is low. The same number called a second time immediately afterward but never left any message. Frankly, we never answer calls that we don't recognize, we allow the answering machine to get them.
All of this is very frustrating considering we're on the DO NOT CALL LIST!