I got the same call, same schpiel/script as Alexandra, but I didn't pick up the phone and let it go to voicemail. For a while, I thought these people had better accents, but this man called and I could barely understand him! Caller ID said: "!052797796" but the man told me to call 404-478-6349.
I got this call from a Patrick. He claimed to be with a collection agency and had specific details regarding several accounts that I had. I was threatened with 3-5 Federal accounts of theft, laundering, etc.. IF this happens in the future then get hard copy information on the company, the specific charges, anything and everything you can before giving out account information. This is a scam. How these people obtain the information on you that they do I don't know.
I traced the cell phone to a company called Binish Inc. Their phone number traced to an Omnipoint Communication in Metuchen, NJ. A cell phone store. Apparently these are pre-paid cell phones and are virtually untraceable.
If anyone has found a way to take legal action I am all for jumping in on the bandwagon.
I have been dealing with these people now for almost a year. They call from different phone numbers claiming to be different companies, but the story is the same: I owe them money on a payday loan and if I don't give them money they are going to file lawsuits or whatever. I know for a fact this is a scam because the company they are supposedly collecting for was already paid off when I started receiving the phone calls. I have told them that I know this is a scam, and they may as well stop wasting their time calling me because they are not going to get any money out of me. They will stop calling for a couple months, then start again from a different phone number using a different name. Do they think I'm stupid? I know it's the same people. I just don't answer the phone anymore. They had threatened me at the beginning, now they just call 10 or more times a day. Just don't answer the phone if you get a call from these people.
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.
These people are nothing but a pack of thieves!! they threatened me with $5000 law suit over some money i never recived. On top of that they could never provide me wth papers stating what debt was being collected. Do not let them get your money!!
Got a several calls today from 052797796 and 52797796. Wouldn't leave a message. Got tired of hearing the phone ring so I picked it up and didn't speak. After a minute or two, and Indian man said "hello" and I blasted him. He finally said he was a police officer and was calling about possible legal action. Then he asked to speak to Carlos Thomas. I told him no one by that name lived here. He was surprised and didn't seem to know how to respond. I told him not to call again, to remove my name from his calling list, and that I thought he was a scammer. He was speechless! Then I just hung up. We'll see if he calls again.