Call claims to be some high profile supervisor with the FDA. Even gave me a badge #. Couldn't understand him too well because of heavy Latino accent. Told me he was working with a DA in Dominican Republic and if I did not wire money immediately a warrant was to be issued for my arrest, but since he liked me and didn't want me to get in trouble he could have the fine reduced. I didn't know what he was even talking about. Said I bought drugs on the internet and I am know caught up in some type of ring.
Very persistent, kept calling non stop every 5 minutes or so for 2-3 days. I just didn't answer the phone. Then another call starts coming from 917-460-8988, same crap. These people just don't give up. Contacted the FDA and spoke with a real Special Agent about this.
Caller with a thick Latin sounding accent, identifies himself as "Jake Ramirez", from the "FDA" asking me to call him back. To appear credible, he says my name, address, phone number, then follows this with the fact that he is with the "FDA". He stated the wrong address, off by a number, which made me wonder - was he speed reading from a long list of innocent folks? Due to calls like this in the past I spoke with the real FDA and they stated to me - it is a SCAM. It seems that it is often done to folks on some list, perhaps if they have ordered meds online, or just inquired about med prices from an "online/overseas pharmacy". They call innocent folks under the pretext of having to pay a fine for wrongly ordering meds, etc... It is a shake down scam and oftentimes the names they call are obtained from past internet/online pharmacy customers who never did, or just stopped, doing business with them. It is a big, big fraud. The FDA DOES NOT CALL people for money or fines in this manner - EVER! Report the call and let others know about this scam too. Most importantly, never pay a fine or money to these callers - EVER!
POSTED HERE ON 800NOTES YESTERDAY ---->>> UNDER LATEST NEWS
FDA Warn Consumers About Phone Scam to Collect Fake Fines
7 Jan 2010
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning the public about criminals posing as FDA special agents and other law enforcement personnel as part of an international extortion scam.
The criminals call the victims -- who in most cases previously purchased drugs over the Internet or via "telepharmacies" -- and identify themselves as FDA special agents or other law enforcement officials.
The criminals inform the victims that purchasing drugs over the Internet or the telephone is illegal, and that law enforcement action will be pursued unless a fine or fee ranging from $100 to $250,000 is paid. Victims often also have fraudulent transactions placed against their credit cards.
The criminals always request the money be sent by wire transfer to a designated location, usually in the Dominican Republic. If victims refuse to send money, they are often threatened with a search of their property, arrest, deportation, physical harm, and or incarceration.
Anyone receiving a telephone call from a person purporting to be an FDA or other law enforcement official who is seeking money to settle a law enforcement action for the illegal purchase of drugs over the Internet should refuse the demand and call the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office at (800) 521-5783 to report the crime.
FDA special agents and other law enforcement officials are not authorized to impose or collect criminal fines. Only a court can take such action, with fines payable to the U.S. Treasury
Call claims to be some high profile supervisor with the FDA. Even gave me a badge #. Couldn't understand him too well because of heavy Latino accent. Told me he was working with a DA in Dominican Republic and if I did not wire money immediately a warrant was to be issued for my arrest, but since he liked me and didn't want me to get in trouble he could have the fine reduced. I didn't know what he was even talking about. Said I bought drugs on the internet and I am know caught up in some type of ring.
Very persistent, kept calling non stop every 5 minutes or so for 2-3 days. I just didn't answer the phone. Then another call starts coming from 917-460-8988, same crap. These people just don't give up. Contacted the FDA and spoke with a real Special Agent about this.