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.
Add this number to the list of these a$$holes: 1-404-935-9482; they've been calling and threatening my daughter too.
Also...do not forget, ALSO put in formal complaint with the phone company. It is a crime to use the telephone for fraud, harrassment or any other illegal purpose. Report every number for abuse.
If "Dorthy Thornton" is a legit company at all, they will be the lowest of the low on the debt collection ladder; the bottom-feeding junk debt collectors, who buy old and small debt for pennies to try to get some profit out of it, anything at all. They probably do that AND scam people. Often these 'companies' are nothing but a room with a phones & a computer & a few low-paid people from the Want Ads.
lol
Do not talk to them. Never give out any info, not even 'confirming' the last four digits of your Social. Do not confirm your date of birth, address, nothing. If you answer one of these calls, do not answer their questions, just hang up
Also, if you did owe some debt and are not sure, this forum can help you a great deal:
Even if you do owe money, I repeat - do not talk to these kinds of collectors. By the time a debt gets bought by the likes of them, it will do you NO good to pay it off; it will still be a negative on your credit report (although they will lie and tell you differently.) It will be marked 'Paid', but it's STILL a negative. Might as well keep your money and wait for it to drop off; it can only stay on your credit report for 7 years from the date of the first reporting. Period.
A debt collector named Bruce Carter from Dorsey, Thorton, and Associates called me and left a message that my name and information was reported and declared that I have committed a criminal offense for not paying a loan back.
When I called the gentleman back, he stated that I received a $900 loan in 2008, and that with interest the debt is now $1460. I explained to the gentleman that I did not recall such debt, and asked if he could validate it by sending me the original contract and payment history. He told me no, that they sent out numerous letters to me, which later I found out that it was my old address. Well, he told me that I was trying to get out of paying back the debt, and I explained to him that if I had acquired the loan, I would work with his collection agency to fulfill the debt, but I wanted proof. He told me that I need to answer my phone when he calls, and to stop ignoring his call. I explained to him that he needs to stop talking to me in a demanding tone, and that I was tired of listening to him badger me, so I hung up. He kept calling me back to back, on my personal and work phone. This is harassment, and when I asked him to not call my workplace, he told me that he was going to call my employer and let them know that I have committed fraud and to have them garnish my payroll check. I ignored his call for a while, and then eventually answered because I saw that he was not going to stop calling my workplace phone. When I answered, he asked now can we talk like civilized people. I asked him if he just provide me the information I asked for, then we can move on from there. He told me that they do not have the original contract nor the payment history of the loan. I asked him so how do I know if this is true.
He told me to call my bank to ask them to pull my transaction history, which I did, and they could not locate any debt from Kenwood Services. I called agent Bruce Carter back and explained to him that my bank could not locate any loan from Kenwood Services in the amount of $900 in November of 2008. He told me I was a liar, and that I am a thief, and that I had no intentions on paying back the loan.
All I asked from the agent was to provide me the verified proof of any loan I may have acquired from his client, and I would account for it. I refuse to give money to someone who is not even willing to work with me. He also sent me a letter, not with the validated information I requested, and was not received the date he stated he would email it to me. He's been screaming about me owing $1460, and the letter was in the form of a settlement statement to pay $700 to seal the deal as if I had agreed to pay already. I don’t know what to do about this person. He’s really causing me a lot of stress.
An Agent Gibbs with Dorsey Thornton Associates called my phone - guess they figured since we had called their bluff and figured out that they are FAKE or SCAMMERS that they could SCAM me after blocking them from my wife's phone and turning them over to the Georgia State Secretary Consumer Affairs who is currently investigating them. WHAT A JOKE! Do they really think that calling me is going to do or get any different of an outcome!
Using 404-946-4035. Sad thing is that they are currently under investigation yet they continue to practice the way that they are being investigated for. GEEEZ!
I received a call on Sat. 09/09/11, early am from 404-935-9487. The message stated I was wanted for check fraud, and for me or my lawyer to call that number. I was worried big time! today I received another call, this time the number was 866-460-2471 stating there would be a pick up order issued, if I did not respond by tomorrow. I called my friend, she GOOGLED the DTA and found this site. Well to my surprise Miss COCHRAN is the same person that called another lady on this very site. I am going to report the DTA to the Georgia Better Business Bureau. You must investigate everything now.