UPDATE: I took the call from them at 8 a.m. this morning and played into their game to get as much info as possible. They are reading from scripts, and if you ask them anything that goes off-script, they transfer you. I spoke to 3 people this morning: Louis Wilson, Heather Lawson and Ben Foster. In looking up Heather Lawson, I see complaints about this scam dating back to 2006!! Why can't we stop this?! This personal information should not be released when people apply for a payday loan.
When I asked for an address, they gave me 42 Broadway 5th Floor NY, NY 10004, and said they are the DCA Law Firm - Department of Corporate Affairs. In actuality, there IS a DCA at this address, but it is the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs.
When "Ben Foster" no longer felt like making up stories to answer my questions (such as "If this was in collections, why haven't I received a written notice within 5 days of initial contact, as per the law under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)?"), he said they would go ahead and process my file and we could deal with it at the courthouse on Monday. I sweetly answered "Oh yes, let's go ahead and do that." He was a bit surprised and then asked for my attorney's info, so I said "Yes, he definitely wants to talk to you" and gave him the info. Then I told him that we were aware this is a scam, that I have already reported him to the FTC and FBI, and that all calls were being recorded. I told him to never ever call here again or he would be the one showing up at the courthouse. I hung up. No callback yet. I am sick to my stomach with what these people are doing to scared, financially-strapped people.
This same guy has been calling our office as well. He claims his name is "Michael Paul." Now I know that's not true because of his strong accent. This is all the information I have for now. Hope you can figure this out.
I have also been getting these phone calls and their looking for kenneth mackey. i dont even know anyone with that name. I keep calling back because they kepp calling every day saying on a voicemail This is christine bennet and im looking for kenneth mackey the situation is very time sensitive and i need to contact my lawyer. and says the the situation will unfold on me. i have talked to them and they will not tell me what company they are aand they still call even though i tell them i am not kenneth. i am a teenager with a cell phone and i wish they would stop. i never taken out a loan or anything. and when i asked what the companys name was they hung up. when they called my phone the number came up as 00000. they told me to call the number 315 519 2921. and thats how ive been getting into contact. i havent gaven them any information i know its a scam. but i just want them to stop.
Gina. I called the Carthage, NY Police today and was informed that the # is in fact a cell number from that area thus making it nearly impossible to trace.
My wife has been receiving calls from this person for two days now. He claims his name is Kevin Miller. A tip-off in itself as no one with such an accent would likely have that name. He also used the last name of Breen. The rest was the same. Being sued. Payday loan. Three counts. Court tomorrow. And someone coming to take her to court tomorrow. We asked for more information and he became very agitated and when we told him that we had contacted our attorney he hung up on us. The # comes up as a land line in Carthage, NY, but a call to the Carthage police verified it as a cell # from that area code. More calls to attorneys in Carthage and to the Carthage Chamber came up with dead ends. No one there knows of this person or the law firm "LLC Law Firm" he claims to be with. THIS IS A SCAM!!!! There is no provision under the law to allow a debt collector to work in this manner "Legally". The best way to get them to stop calling may be to tell them you have contacted your attorney and that all further communications will have to go through the attorney. Please give updates and I will do the same.
I got this phone call today and I tell you what, it is heart stopping when someone tells me I am being charged with 3 counts of fraud. I asked all the questions everyone else asked and kept getting the same responses. I talked to a man by the name of Brad Smith (had an accent), I told him I was going to call him back after I did some research. Thats when I found this sight. Thank you all very much for posting what happened to you. I just recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Getting this phone call from these low lifes today made me more angry that spending 11 months over seas. These people need to be stopped.