It's a scam that goes by such names as MoreStar Consultancy, LLC; Litigation Consulting Service, LLC; Claims & Warrants; and North American Asset Investigation Bureau, LLC (NAAIB). For details, read consumer credit advocate Bud Hibbs' report on these scammers: http://budhibbs.com/debtcollectorpages/NAAIB.htm
One thing it remember is that anytime someone calls you demanding money to prevent your arrest or criminal charges, it is ALWAYS a scam. No debt collector (let alone criminals posing as debt collectors) have the authority to have anyone arrested for anything. (And it's illegal to them to threaten such a thing.) These type of crooks also routinely impersonate FBI agents, police and other law enforcement officials, which, obviously, is illegal as well. (Besides, law enforcement officers aren't in the business of debt collection, and debt is a civil, not a criminal, matter.)
The bottom line is, these are criminals trying to steal your money. Ignore their illegal threats and report their attempts to extort money from you to all these federal and state law enforcement agencies:
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 give them all the details.
3) Maryland Attorney General http://www.oag.state.md.us/Consumer/complaint.htm (Litigation Consulting claims to be in Maryland)
4) Your state's attorney general, the contact information for whom is at www.naag.org
5) 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.
6) File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en
If these criminals call back, tell them that they aren't getting any money from you and that you've reported their scam to federal and state law enforcement. They will react with the usual moronic, false threats. If possible, try to save any voice messages they leave and, if legal in your state, record their calls if you speak with them. (Inexpensive phone recorders are available at Radio Shack-type stores.)
these people are CROOKS! very convincing. i received calls from them last week and made the mistake of giving them my act information. after i checked my credit report, i saw i did not owe anyone 3K....and i cancelled my bank act to get another. there transaction did not go through and now they called me again today at my job harassing me. Jonathan obrien and investigator cattalano are both full of [***]! do not give these people your info!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I recieved the exact same call from (240)235-5616 and they wanted me to send a payment through western union (person to person, not quick collect)because i wouldn't give my checking account #. They also refused to give me the account # and the company there collecting for and threatened me that there going to take me to court if i dont pay within 24 hrs. Who can we report this to?
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, $650. But they can't give you an address. Instead, they will ask for your bank account or credit card number. They'll tell you that if you don't settle on the phone with them that moment, a sheriff will appear at your door within 48 hours to arrest you. NONE OF THIS IS TRUE. Complaints have been filed to the AG of OH, MD, TX, NY, and IL, as well as to the FTC, FCC, and the FBI (as they are trying to illegally extort money over the phone). They often target the elderly and infirm. Do not speak with them, and save whatever messages they leave on your phone. If you get a phone call, file a complaint online with the following organizations:
http://www.oag.state.md.us/Consumer/complaint.htm
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en
http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm
as well as the Attorney General of your own state. Remember: whether the debt is yours or not, you should not be dealing with these people. They are not a legitimate organization.
PLEASE -- file a report. You were smart and savvy enough to do research on this number; not everyone is that lucky. REPORT THEM!!!
this goes to all of you . stop acting like a bunch of f#$&*ng babies . all of your reporting and sh%t your wasting your time . COLLECTIONS IS LEGAL you bunch of idiots !!!!! lets see where it gets you.
Wow, Scam Artist, someone touched a nerve. Afraid you're going to have to actually get a LEGITIMATE job? Best of luck to you. OR -- guess it's time to find a new area code to start running your scam under...it must be such a pain to burn through phone numbers like you people do.