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.
Got a phone call from a Steven Johnson. He 1st called my mom who lives in another state... Told her that he was calling to talk with my husband due to a identity theft issue that has arouse under his ssn. Then she called me. While we were on the phone, he called my house. My mom is in FL, and we are in CA. He told my mom he couldnt find my husband and figured that she would be able to relay the message of dier importants. As her and I were on the phone, he called our home phone. Let me say that by the end of the call I had a few rather nasty words for this jerk!.. He rambled on and on that there were 3 charges pressed again my husband for the fact that at some point he took out a cash loan out for a amount of money.. and then the place tried to collect the money and the account was closed. When asked for a date specific he wouldnt give it to me.. all he would say is sometime in 2008 sometime 2009. My husband has been unemployed since Dec of 2008. ALSO the acct they said they sent it to was a prepaid debit card that would NOT except a incoming transaction of this nature at all. What they excepted incoming was extremely limited. He said it was a 1000 loan and when they tried to pull from his card there was nothing there and the account had been closed. This account was recently closed by the company due to get this... NO ACTIVITY. None the less after him saying listening to me and being high arrogant and evasive when it came to answering question this is CLEARLY a scam. My husband and I have never recieved a cash advance from anywhere I DONT LIKE THEM! And I sure as hell dont trust them specially online. Just found out that they called my mom called again.... Last time he came under a Georgia phone number THIS TIME he came through as a Michiagn phone number.
My husband has now placed a compalint with the FTC and reported his SSN to the 3 credit buears.. The FTC said that this is a SCAM this is currently going and you should be reporting you SSN for indenty watch to Expeian Transunion and any other. They are not legig at all!
got off the phone with my mom again.. They have a floating phone number.. Today he "Steven Johnson" with a Indian accent called her from a 313-693-4512 which is a Michigan phone number. He said we took the money from a company called Cash Grant... They dont exsist.. When you search "Cash Grant" you get sent to a site called 1 hour loan who sends you info to everywhere to help you get money. After that someone send your offer for the money and you have to accept it.
FTC said this is a SCAM!! DO NOT GIVE THIS A**HOLE ANY INFO
Calling them, when they answer the phone there is no automated info, nothing telling you the call would be recorded. 3/4 in to the way when I finally lost my temper with this guy he said we were being recorded.
We got a call from them AGAIN... I searched the BBB they have never heard of them, the FTC has never heard of them. We called experian they said this is called a Fishing Scam. They fish by using intimidation to get you to give your personal info like your credit card.
The FTC told us to pretend were would send them a money order for whatever they say we need to pay to get a mailing address. Then said to send a ciest and desist letter to the address. She said there is no way they could every say like they have to us and clearly others "Well you can just pay us the 1000.00 you took on a loan or you can pay $6000 in court". I yet again requested proof that this one done. He said the only proof he could send would be the court papers when they are sent and that would show me the severity of the situation. He could never give me a date when this supposedly took place. I said i wanted to have my lawyer look over the validity of the charges still nothing, but he surely became more evasive, arrogant, and aggresive. I contacted a friend of mine who is a prosucture. He said that this is all bogus and is actually very common. You go online to research getting a cash loan and they sell your info. 2nd there is no way the courts would make you pay 6 times what you owe.. You would have to pay what you owe as well. The person who is calling and saying that is trying to inimidate you in to giving them money. They make it sound legit so you hand over your CC info.
THIS IS A SCAM.... Ask to speak to the supervisor next time you speak to them... They will put down the phone and then come back after 1 min. It will be the same person just a different name. This jerk who is calling plays like 4 or 5 different names.. 1 to answer, 1 to try and work you over and another for whatever other reasons he needs.
The 2 numbers I listed are not listed... The FTC and Experian said they were most likely over seas and got like Vonyage which would be accuarte since when we talked it sounded like they were breaking up like a cellphone. Go to Experian and put a fraud alert on your SSN. They will send it to all the credit agencys.
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.