MORE ON FAKE DEBT COLLECTORS
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-904-425-9141
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/call4action/17285785/detail.html
http://www.800helpfla.com/newsletter/2008/092008.html
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/01/ks_debt_collection.html latest release of information on this scam
http://www.wvago.gov/internetloanscam.cfm
If you are targeted by these criminals, be sure to report them to all the following federal and state law enforcement agencies (most of which you can do online or over the phone):
1. The U.S. Secret Service is responsible for protecting the country's financial infrastructure and payment systems from international and domestic threats. Call or write your local Secret Service field office to alert them to the details of this attempted extortion. The addresses and phone numbers for the local Secret Service field offices are listed at http://www.secretservice.gov/field_offices.shtml or in your phone book.
2. Alert the FBI at https://tips.fbi.gov Be sure to tell the FBI that you are being targeted by extortionists over the phone. And if the crooks claim to be law enforcement or lawyers, officers of the court or bankers, be sure to include that information in your report.
3. File a complaint with your local police. Most police departments will take a report over the phone. Be sure to tell them that you're being targeted by an extortionist and give them all the details.
4. File a complaint your state's attorney general, the contact information for whom is at www.wvago.gov
5. File a complaint online with The Federal Trade Commission at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en
If these crooks call back, promise them nothing, pay them nothing and tell them nothing other than that you know they're a scam and that you've reported them to law enforcement. (And be sure to report them to all the agencies above each time they call you.)
By the way, here's just a small sample of numbers used by this particular group of scammers. Read the reports and you'll see the same pattern time and again -- phony organization names, thick foreign accents, and oddly worded threats that are so melodramatic and ridiculous that it's laughable:
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-771-9249 Scammer posting here as GARY and GARRY JONES
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-860-4509 Scammer posting here as Mike Henderson
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-212-500-0839 Scammer posting here as Ricky
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-201-244-7722 Scammer posting as Carole, David Brown and Amanda
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-626-200-4646 Scammer false postings at this new number as silshan kanniue and Tina – preparing a new number to use.
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-424-354-4270 Scammer false postings as Rose
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-785-4479 Scammer posting as Robert
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-909-327-4870 Scammer false postings as Marry
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-646-274-1143 Scammer false postings as Karen Miller, Chichi and Tom Little
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-561-300-8018 Scammer false postings as Marco Polo (real original)
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-226-7488 Scammer false postings as SAM, David S
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-706-7463 Scammer false postings as George
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-209-349-7382 Scammer false postings as Towanda Robinson, Shannon Walsh, Jack Dawson and Cynthia
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-760-514-0132 scammer false postings as Suzy01, Johanna Hall, Cindie McMellon, Michael Dublin, Mark Williams, Carol and Rio (800notes removed some of the scammers posts because the all came from the SAME IP ADDRESS)
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-209-797-2212 scammer false posting as Jaison Connar
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-707-401-4056 Scammer false posting as John Carner, KSR
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-650-241-4604 Scammer false postings as jhon and Kevin
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-708-401-0535 Scammer false posting here as JHON
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-518-212-0219 Scammer false posting as Prince Christian, Arpit
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-718-705-8669 Scammer false postings as Alicia
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-707-633-2789 Scammer false postings as Rojer, Minni, Rhone, Smith and Lisa – preparing a new number to use to steal money
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-205-294-6271 Scammer false posting as Thomas Jhonson
Scam alert: Bogus debt collectors
By Leslie McFadden • Bankrate.com
Monday, Aug. 3
Posted 2 p.m.
Bankrate reporter Leslie McFadden contributed this entry.
This scam isn't technically about credit cards, but it is scary enough to post a warning. The Better Business Bureau issued an alert today saying consumers across the country are getting phone calls from bogus debt collectors claiming default on a payday loan. Of course, the consumer needs to pay a large fee to avoid arrest -- as much as $1,000.
The caller poses as a lawyer, and may threaten extradition to face trial if the consumer doesn't pay up immediately.
What makes these calls alarming -- and perhaps convincing -- is that the perpetrators reference the consumer's personal information, such as the person's Social Security number, driver's license number, previous bank account numbers, home address -- even personal references.
"The amount of information they have is really troubling," says BBB spokeswoman Alison Southwick. She adds that the amount of data points to a possible security breach.
Spread the word to your friends and family: Don't give out personal or financial information to an unknown caller. Scammers can spoof Caller ID to display different numbers, so trust your instincts over technology.
The BBB offers these tips:
• Ask the debt collector to provide official documentation which substantiates the debt.
• Do not provide or confirm any bank account, credit card or other personal information over the phone until you have confirmed the legitimacy of the call.
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission online if the caller is abusive, uses threats or otherwise violates federal telemarketing laws or the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
• File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau online if you believe a debt collector is trying to scam you.
Just remember to ask for them to give you all their information right off the bat.
Name of the institution/Collection Agency
Address
Your Debt info-who are they collecting for, how much is your balance, when was the loan taken out, for how much, how much-if any-has your account already been debited.
If they manage to get through this without breaking a sweat, you are probably dealing with a legit debt collector, nevertheless, any misrepresentation of the situation is not legal so stating the word fraud should be a clear red flag for the person receiving the call.
Before proceeding, tell the person to send you a written debt validation notice-you should receive it within 5 days of their initial communication, otherwise tough luck for them. Perhaps they may be crafty and claim they are "paperless" well to that you must simply respond, "legally, you can't be."
Remember, this applies to the debt collector, not the actual creditor, so if you took out a payday loan with oneclickcash, fastcash or some other online payday loan company and they are the ones calling you, it's best to just change your number I guess. They are owned by an Indian tribe and essentially have immunity and dont have to abide by state laws, however, with such immunity also comes the likelyhood that their scare tactics are just that. Scare tactics with no actual repercussion. Just think of it this way, it's been how many years since you took out the loan? And they are still resorting to these measures? Perhaps it's time for them to leave you alone. Send them a Cease and Desist letter in the mail to which they are legally only allowed to communicate one last time, by mail, with their decision on how they well resolve the matter.
I got a recorded message from them today, twice within 10 minutes. I have no idea what it's about. And after reading these other comments, it sounds pretty shady.
I got a call from this number and they told me the bank i used to use and when it closed. they new every car i ever owned and every address i've ever lived i thought this was serious i was scared. she told me that if i didnt cooperate that they were going to call my local sherrif on me and put a warrant out for my arrest.. Callers name was Nichole Cochran from Dorthy Thornton law ofc.
My husband got a call from their "Larry Vixon of the Investigator's Dept". They know all your information because all of that is listed on your credit report. They are crooked and I'm glad I googled them and was turned on to what they are really about and my husband will know how to deal with them.
I got a call from Dorthy Thorton Investegation agency at 6:30 am this morning 404-935-9489 saying someone used me as a reference for a payday loan. That they were investegators, and collecting a debt. When i said I did not know what she was ntalking about she put me on hold, and came back to ask me if there were other residents in the house and who were my friends and family? I said SHE should know why she was calling me and hung up. It is a scam, just hang up and report them.