Received a threatening phone mail message from this number. The caller claimed to be a Federal office or an office which wants to contact a former employee of ours. The message suggested that the former employee must call their office immediately or face federal charges. I called the number and inquirer why did they leave such a message for a personal matter on a business phone. They refused to identify their company they represent and demanded I tell them whom the message was left for. I explained to them that they should never leave such a message of a private matter on a business phone regardless. If they wished to speak to someone here to ascertain the whereabouts of our former employee or even a current employee than a message could be passed on. But for them to think they could leave such a threatening message on a business phone without concern of the someone esle hearing the message is totally a misuse of the privacy Act.
Received a threatening phone mail message from this number. The caller claimed to be a Federal office or an office which wants to contact a former employee of ours. The message suggested that the former employee must call their office immediately or face federal charges. I called the number and inquirer why did they leave such a message for a personal matter on a business phone. They refused to identify their company they represent and demanded I tell them whom the message was left for. I explained to them that they should never leave such a message of a private matter on a business phone regardless. If they wished to speak to someone here to ascertain the whereabouts of our former employee or even a current employee than a message could be passed on. But for them to think they could leave such a threatening message on a business phone without concern of the someone esle hearing the message is totally a misuse of the privacy Act.
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.
I called the number he is a fraud this is an indian calling using an american slang name for Hairy Dick! He gets your home phone number and work number etc. I call him everyday and prank call him. Everybody should call him back and harrass him back. Its really funny cause he doesnt know what to say. *67 so he doesnt get your phone number. Its really hilarious. Have your local radio station krank call him its great. You can call him he doesnt answer as a business. When you curse at him he just says "same to you". I am having everybody krank call him. LETS GET HIS A**!!!
Recieved a phone call from a strange looking number 052439799, didn't answer it, he called my work number and said he was a police officer from Jacksonville Florida. He said I owed money from an internet payday loan. I told him that was paid long ago. He insisted it was not and threathened that the matter is going to court tomorrow (Saturday?????) and wanted to know how I was going to handle this. I asked him to fax me information on this loan and he faxed me one piece of paper which gave me no clue as to what it was about. He threathened me my credit would be ruined and I would owe thousands in legal fees. I said you are threathening me, he said no I am just telling you what is going to happen. I said sounds like a threat to me. I told him I need you to send me more information, he said the paper work is in the courts and I would find out once the matter was settled. I told him I don't think so. He said hire a lawyer and started getting irated. I told I will and hung up. I notified the Attorney General's Office and the FBI giving them all the information I could get frm him.