I received a phone call today from this number from a foreign speaking man telling me I was a suspect for violating federal banking laws, theft by deception, and collateral banking. I was on the phone for over 30 minutes trying to decipher where the accusations were coming from and when these violations took place. He finally told me it was from a pay day loan in July of 2009 and was $3000 behind due to fees. He proceeded to tell me that this company by web address only www.paydaycash.com sent emails to me 3 months ago trying to get me to pay this money, he was willing to take $510 today only Western Union to settle the debt. I proceeded to ask him to fax me the info he was reading and told me he couldn't do that, that this was my notification of these charges. He did tell me ALL my information which was very intimidating I must say, but now after reading these testimonials regarding collection fraud, I feel I was being scammed. Thanks!
Vegas Baby, we need to talk/email! Since last week, I have been getting a series of phone calls from the Department of Crime Prevention (#1-825-354-61) to call 1-718-873-9666 (paydaycash.org) to pay off a loan or be sent to jail! Both numbers had middle east accent men telling me that if I didn't pay I was going to be arrested for a list of charges. First, this loan was taken out in July 2009; but the reps couldn't provide a date of the EFT (direct deposit) and was told it doesn't matter. My bank records doesn't show any deposit in July 2009. But what stun me was they had all of my personal info and bank accounts. However, when they asked how I was going to pay off the loan; I told them it will be in court. One of the reps got mad and told me that I would be sitting in jail for months and $4,000 in court cost. I immediately asked to rep if he was a collection agent? The rep didn't answer and I responded by saying that making a threat of arresting and putting a person in jail is a violation of Federal Regulations Debt Collectors Act.
That is $1,000 in your pocket and the collection agent has to pay court cost and your attorney. Second Violation is that a validation letter must be mailed to you and the collection agent must allow 30 days to pass before presuing. Another Violation was the rep provided false information about the debt. So, I am looking at atleast $3,000 in lawsuits. Look for a "consumer attorney" in the yellow pages if you need one; but may slightly vary where you like. Debt collectors are governed by federal law and must follow the rules. Go to www.ftc.gov for information on debt collection.
Anyway, I wrote the information that the rep gave me (company and phone number) and headed to the police department this morning. I told the officer what was going on and called the 718 number. The first call the police identified himself and the rep told the officer the problem. When the officer asked about the company the rep told the officer it was insurance and then hung up. On the second call, the officer just said his name and asked for a supervisor and a minute later a supervisor answered. When the officer identified himself the supervisor became hot tempered and starting cussing at the officer and the hung up. So, the officer went back to talked a city attorney and superiors. Then the officer called back the rep and told him not to call my phone number. And if the rep was causing fraud that the officer will have the rep arrested and brought back to Indiana. Later this evening, the rep called me and left me a threatening message and a different number to call. That number was a 469 area code which is in Texas.
Finally, I decided to e mail my local FBI office in Indianapolis about this situration. Oh the 825# is coming from Afganistan and that is according to Google. If you like, please email me back info and I would be more than glad to forward this to the police department and the FBI (if needed). When I read your blog earlier today is what prompt me to notify the FBI. I am here to help you.
OMG...I got this call yesterday here at my office number and this guy was telling me the same type of thing, how this was for some loan through PayDay Cash and I never paid it back. First off, I never had a payday loan through a place like this, and pointed it out to him. The man, who had a middle eastern accent, proceeded to scream at me telling me I was going to go to jail. I told him to stop calling me and did this three times and he told me he was going to keep calling me until he got what he wanted. I finally had to turn my line off and each time he called after that he was rolled to another associate and that's when he started to get disgusting, making lewd comments about me and even to my boss. I was so stressed over all of this, he had my SSN and my email address, claimed he had my drivers license number. I already reported this to my bank and to the three credit bureaus...does anyone think I should have my husband do the same thing?
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
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.
I just got this call this morning. He threatened to have police come and arrest me at work. I was terrified. Thank you so much for posting this...i called the secret service and they helped me out.