Received a similar phone call from a "Sgt. Michael Johnson" saying a warrant would be issued for failure to repay a$952.00 internet loan form "USA Fast Cash". Caller was obviously not a police officer, but a scammer. Claimed to be in Delaware and indicated a warrant would be issued. Several web sites have names similar to "USA Fast Cash". All appear to be amature web sites. Filed a report with Illinois and Delaware Attorney General offices.
Before Christmas I started receiving a phone call from this guy who had a real thick Indian accent he told me that I had been filed on due to a fraud act and that if I was not in court in San Francisco by the next day that the local authorities would arrest me. Well that turned out to be a scam. Now they are calling me again with this number saying that he is a officer of the law and that I have legalities against my name and social number. These people make me sick. I called them back on the number and gave them a good chewing. They can't even keep up with who they have already tried this with. They are stupid thieves trying to make a buck off of real people trying to make a living. Please be careful with these fools. They scared me the 1st time but they aren't going to fool me this time.
yes s, there is a lein against my name and social security no. he was a office calling from a law firm, and i need to settle this matter, it is a scram
I received a call from this person on my cell phone. I have contact the Wis. Dept of Consumer Protection to file a complaint. I will also file on the federal FTC website. And I have contacted my local newspaper to warn other people of this scam.
It sounded like a scam call so I did not call the number, 302-760-3406. I googled the number instead, and found this website. The message was the same as Kimmie described.
Consumer Alert: Attorney General warns Kansans of debt collection scam
January 29, 2010 -- Attorney General Steve Six is cautioning Kansas consumers about telephone calls from apparent fake debt collectors who are impersonating law enforcement officers in an effort to extort money from consumers. Consumers are warned to not submit payments to these fraudulent debt collectors.
When calling, the scammers most often state they are attempting to collect a debt related to an internet payday loan obtained by the consumer, but which the consumer never repaid. Consumers state they have never obtained such a loan or paid off the loan years ago. The scam artists have most recently identified themselves as ACS, National Affidavit Processing Department and United Financial Crime Division, but may use additional phony names. It appears the phone numbers used by the scammers are “spoofed” numbers, so that the number appearing on a consumer’s caller ID is not the actual number of where the call originated. It appears the calls in question may be originating from outside the United States.
When questioned, the individual calling refuses to disclose the full name or address of the collection agency they claim to represent. These scammers have been able to provide consumers with identifying information, such as the consumer’s social security number, home address, e-mail address, names of family members and the consumer’s computer IP address. Since the callers are able to provide valid personal information, consumers may become confused and believe they are being contacted in regard to a legitimate debt.
If the initial debt collection scam is unsuccessful, consumers have been re-contacted months later with the scammers posing as law enforcement officers or officers of the court. Typically, the consumer is threatened with arrest for fraud or some other fictitious crime unless the consumer agrees to immediately wire money via Western Union. The fictitious officers strive to frighten and confuse consumers into compliance by using legal sounding terms such as “We’re filing an affidavit against you” or by stating a lawsuit has been or is in the process of being filed against the consumer.
A hallmark of each scam has been calling consumers repeatedly at their place of employment. This scam hit home when an employee of the Kansas Attorney General’s Office was repeatedly called both on her cell phone and at work. Despite the employee’s repeated verbal disputes, the caller refused to provide any identifying information to allow her to send a written dispute. The scammer also continued to call her numerous times a day regarding a payday loan she denied obtaining. Two months later, she was again contacted by telephone by an individual identifying himself as an “officer”.
“I denied owing the debt and refused to pay without being provided validation of the debt. I was then told, ‘If that’s the case, I will have local law enforcement come to your place of business and drag you out kicking and screaming’,” stated the employee.
“It is important for consumers to know their rights under the law,” Attorney General Six said. “If a consumer is receiving calls from a debt collection company and believe it is a scam, I encourage them to contact our office immediately.”
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), collectors are required to send consumers a written notice within five days of the initial contact. The notification should contain information such as the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed and a statement informing the consumer they have thirty days to contact the debtor in writing to dispute the debt or request validation of the debt. In addition, legitimate debt collectors are prohibited by the FDCPA from making false or misleading representations, such as the consumer has committed a crime, implying nonpayment will result in the consumer’s arrest, or using the threat of violence.
More information is available on the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf.
To register a complaint with the Kansas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, call 1(800) 432-2310 or visit www.ksag.org.
I just received a call very similar to all of yours. I tried to call back the person who contacted me, a Don Wilson or John Black and no one existed. When I asked for the "restitution department" the man who answered had no idea what I was talking about. They told me I had taken out a loan for $300 from USA Pay Day Loans, who owns about thirty online sites where you can apply for a pay day loan. I told them I had not done so and I would like proof of this and they said they could not provide me with proof and I need to get them $412 dollars by 5:00 or they were filling my affadavit to have me arrested.