Updated June 25, 2009 - this article just out by AP:
IT'S LIGHTS OUT FOR DEBT COLLECTION AGENCY RUN BY FELONS
By DAVID B. CARUSO Associated Press
June 23, 2009, 10:45PM
NEW YORK — State authorities have shut down a collection agency they said terrified people across the country into paying debts by telling them if they didn’t send money immediately, they would be thrown in jail.
Investigators said collectors working for the Buffalo company routinely posed as law enforcement officials in a bid to trick people into thinking they going to be arrested.
During one call recorded by a debtor, a man who vaguely identified himself as an investigator from “the warrant division” said one victim was about to be “picked up.”
“Make sure you have somewhere for your kids to go. Lock up your house. Get some clean clothes, because you’re not coming home anytime soon,” the caller said.
In reality, authorities said, the business was run not by law officers, but convicted felons. Its owner was former drug dealer who goes by the nickname “Bags of Money” and served 13 years for attempted robbery.
“This company was run by people who lied, bullied and preyed on vulnerable Americans struggling to resolve their financial situation,” Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said.
The collection agency, which did business under several names, including Final Claims Asset Locators, was ordered closed at least temporarily Monday by a judge.
The company was the subject of a Dateline NBC expose in March. Its owner, Tobias Boyland, was arrested Tuesday on a weapons charge after investigators found he was carrying a loaded, unlicensed pistol. The search also turned up other weapons, including an AK-47, authorities said.
I got the same call from someone named Maria Rogers. She said there was a civil complaint filed against me and that they were investingating. The caller ID on my phone showed the number 240-696-1708, but she asked me to call back 240-483-4254. Seems like a scam.
I got the same call. Did some research on the Internet and discovered they're crooks. Here's some info I uncovered:
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!!!