Folks, if you get a call from this number, please alert the MD Attorney General's office and the national Do Not Call registry -- I actually called the police as well as these other two numbers -- after I called them back to inform them that I was requesting them to cease calling my number, one Daniel Hoffman left a message using the vilest language and threats -- he's apparently unconcerned about making threats that are recorded on voicemail. This tells me he's used to getting away with this kind of crap. Thanks to those of you who have alerted the authorities, and I encourage others to do the same. The thing is -- even if you do have outstanding accounts (and they must just call people randomly -- I'm obsessive about requesting credit reports four times a year and have a spotless record) they are not allowed to practice business in this way. If you do have outstanding debts you still have a right to report this kind of behavior -- threats of arrest or warrants or civil suits are illegal, predatory business practices.
You're right; it's scam. They go by various names such 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. Anyone targeted by these crooks should 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://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01
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.)
Wow, EC, you're awesome. I just came from two or other sites and saw your helpful information there as well. Thanks to your links, I've filed reports with those agencies. Also, on another site, someone was able to see that it was a Comcast phone number -- I confirmed that with Comcast, who gave me their Comcast Legal Department, and she suggested I file a report with them. Doesn't seem like a phone company should be allowed to keep aiding and abetting an illegal operation...1-800-871-6298. Thanks again for all of the info on this site and to everyone who has taken the time to report these people.
Thank goodness for Google. I hope everyone who gets a call from these people thinks to check it out before responding. Apparently, there are already a few organizations who are investigating them. Cleveland OH BBB listed them as one of the top ten scams of 2007. Check out this article for more information and all of the names they go by:
they called my home and said my wife had to appear in court and she had a complaint filed against her,with abogust claim number.when does a spcial investigater call you from out of state tell you to appear in court, i thought you were supposed to get a summons to appear in court. the tactics these people are using are off the charts i hope no one harms themself behind these threats i wonder who would be liable.