Tried sending me to some government office/financial institution to "reduce the charges" of some bs drug/Homeland Security charges and pay $3,500. I listened to his shtick just to hear how far he'd take it. Finally, I told him to just go ahead and send the police to my house. He assured me that I would be arrested by the end of the day.
He said he was a DEA officer and his name was Steven Herkins.
Yep, the same BS happened to me 8-25-10 when this same "SGT. STEVEN HERKINS" called my cellphone at work demanding a total of $4950.00 within the hour - said severe consequences would result in my not paying up at once - then tried to direct me to a Western Union location in the most sqalid area of town, after a visit to the bank for the funds, to get with his 'agent' to wire this fellow the money. This guy is the worst combination of pushy used-car salesman and abusive stepfather you can imagine. He keeps citing "You have been found in violation of Penal code 1193, Subpart 6, Part D (or whatever dreck), punishible by 3 to 5 years in the Federal Penitentary" and extremely intimidating phrases of that nature. A number apparently associated to this guy's racket is 510-984-2296, which also tried to contact me several times once I had put the phone with "SGT. HERKINS" down and was not responding satisfactorily to his line of interrogation. He had told me to proceed directly to proceed to the payment location while staying on the line with him, as he had the local police (and by inference higher ups) surrounding my house, awaiting my arrival so they could arrest me once I showed up at home. This scam I will admit did sound convincing, with the constant squawk of police radios and activity in the background, and though he did not get any money out of me, I feel pretty sure someone with that kind of bluster, spouting off those "facts and figures", is going to be bilking a few people out of some significant cash before too long, if not already. I sincerely hope the authorities get to him sooner than later.
I, too, got two calls from this number today. When I picked up the second time, the Latino male immediately began acting aggressive, identifying himself as a DEA agent, but he spoke so fast I could hardly make out what he was saying & asked him to repeat himself. Didn't quite catch which name he was using, but he addressed me as "Mister (first name)" like Mr. Jimmy or Mr. Tony, just the way the non-American, lower educated Latin people I deal with at my job refer to me. This is not an attempt on my part to slight anyone of Latin descent, just an observation that tells me what level of sophistication I am dealing with. We never got to the money, just threat after threat. Not having ordered anything over the Internet, I truly didn't know what he wanted. This follows MONTHS of calls from individuals who barely speak English trying to sell me Valium, Xanax, Percocet, Vicodin,etc. through the mail!!! I wonder if the two scams are related. Well, fortunately, my cell contract is up in 12 days. I am going to get a new phone and insist on a new number if they want to keep my business.