Got a call from 202.600.4539 from inidian voice using my name indicating he was with the IRS and there was a lawsuit against me for tax years 2008-2012.  He told me it was $1300 plus dollars and that I owed that money.  I told him (politely :)) that the IRS would send me a letter indicating that I owed.  That they would have taken out of my 2013 refund if I HAD owed.  That there was no way I was going to disucss this and that if he was truly with the IRS he could send the information in writing to my address on file.  I thanked him and told him to have a nice day!

DONT respond to calls.  Ask for it in writing.  They will comply if legitimate!!!!

reed a call from this #202-600-8149  today.Said he was special agent from IRS He ask me if i have a lawyer representing me on the lawsuit by the IRS LOL seriously i ask that guy for is information he couldn't even speak clear English foreigner with a strong indian accent , so I googled the number and I found out it was a scam and I called them back and told them that Iceivknow they are scammers and that I was going to contact the POLICE and sure enough he hung up the phone quickly ...SCAM Dont give out personal information...

Got a call from 202-600-8229.  Supposedly OCI - Office of Criminal Investigations.   Returned call and whoever answered came up with a different office name and definitely was not an official office of anything. Do not return phone calls to this number - its a scam.

They called for my wife today. Said he was special agent john tanner with the DEA and that they wanted to ask my wife questions about some prescription drugs she had purchased. He said to have her call him back at 202-600-8229 x2227. When I called back on an 800 line (non traceable) it went to recording. Called local PD and they informed me that this happens a lot. IT'S A SCAM

received a call from this # today..stating i owed a debt and that someone would be at my home between 12noon and 6pm ....that i would be charged w/a felony for the debt and that they were located in the Bahama's? .....and gave me a docket # i called to verify w/my local county court and was advised that this is a scam... they also were verbally abusive calling my mother a b***h .....since they called my mothers number as a third party....these people are completely out of line

received a call from this # today..stating i owed a debt and that someone would be at my home between 12noon and 6pm ....that i would be charged w/a felony for the debt and that they were located in the Bahama's? .....and gave me a docket # i called to verify w/my local county court and was advised that this is a scam... they also were verbally abusive calling my mother a b***h .....since they called my mothers number as a third pary

Caller with vietnamese type accent told me he was from a state investigative agency...couldn't tell me which state said washington DC....obviously not american or would know DC is not a state.....claimed I owed money from a payday loan company and did not repay. Obviously a scam....claimed he looked at credit reports and if I did not give him 600.00 USD I would be big problem and a legal investigation was underway with my social security number. Please don't fall for this..........SCAM Dont give out personal information....

I received a call early today 12/6/2010 in my cell it's showed that the call came from Washington,DC. The person in the other line said that he was from the federal investigations unit. The asked from my son in law I told them that he do not lived here then he asked for his phone number I told them that his phone is disconnected. Then he told me when I see my son in law to tell him that he needs to call this number and ask to speak with officer keith smith, so I googled the number and I found out it was a scam and I called them back and told them that I know they are scammers and that I was going to call Better Business Bureau and report them, and I hang up.

We keep getting calls from 202-600-8149.  A guy with a heavy oriental accent asks if I am a friend of Tim Bucket (who is someone we know from the golf course).  He said Tim put my name down as a friend and that Tim owes money.  After several phone calls (he kept calling) I yelled, stop calling me and hung up.  The oriental man called back and yelled at him for hanging up.

I received a call from (202) 600-8149 today at work. The gentleman had a very strong Indian Accent. I asked where he was calling from and he said The State Investigation Department. I asked where he was located he said Washington DC. I then asked what was the address, he said 919 High Carbon Rd, Washington, DC.. I asked him to spell it and he couldn't..lol I then asked him to tell me the zip code, he replied "18105" ..That's a Pennsylvania Zip Code dummy... These rip off artist will do what ever they can to earn a buck through deception.. Not only is he stupid, he called me on a Goverment Telephone that is recorded and traced 24 Hours a day... lol  I'm sure the Inspection Service will have a field day with this one...

I received a call from (202) 600-8149 today at work. The gentleman had a very strong Indian Accent. I asked where he was calling from and he said The State Investigation Department. I asked where he was located he said Washington DC. I then asked what was the address, he said 919 High Carbon Rd, Washington, DC.. I asked him to spell it and he couldn't..lol I then asked him to tell me the zip code, he replied "18105" ..That's a Pennsylvania Zip Code dummy... These rip off artist will do what ever they can to earn a buck through deception.. Not only is he stupid, he called me on a Goverment Telephone that is recorded and traced 24 Hours a day... lol  I'm sure the Inspection Service will have a field day with this one...

Got a call from this number.  This is the 2nd call in 1 week.  Each time I tell them I know it is a scam & the call is being recorded.  Then I hang up.   They are not worth the frustration or aggravation of arguing w/these people.  Luckily, I can block the #'s as they come. & I did not verify my name or anything else.  I told him, if he called the #, then he should know my name and how to spell it.

I also reported this to local police department as caller identified himself as a representative of a state or local law enforcement agency.....

The foreigner with a strong indian accent said that he was detective oscar smith says that i owe money. the phone number is registered with bandwith.com, however as per the representative they can't tell me who the company is, but the phone number 202-600-8149 is defintiely a bandwith number.

it's a Scam

I just got a called from the same people, I told them that they had called the FBI and I need it to get there name and badge number before I would transfer there call to an agent. I talk to "three" people and they all were giving me my phone number as there badge number and my name, when they realized that is not going to back up from asking there information and the agency they were calling from, they started asking for sexual favors, I keep asking and requesting there information and they offer me to pay me to do them sexual favors and calling me b***h! I guess there joke is on them! I suggest you turn it around and start playing mind games. They are Indian descendent and very stupid if you ask me. I did called the FBI in my area and they can't do anything about stoping the calls so take it upon your selfs to play mind tricks on them. they will get it eventually!
Caller: Officer John Smith! and Officer John Scoth
Caller: Unknown
Call Type: Debt Collector

I have found that all you have to do is continue to call the number back and harass them like they do you for about 5-10 minutes and they won't call you back.
Oh ya, by the way when you explain to them that no lawyer you have ever heard of uses "Magic Jack" they get REALLYY pissed & start screaming obcinities to you (call them Osama Bin Laden they really really like that 1 LOL)

I have been getting calls from the same people with the name MIKE COOPER phone number is 409-356-6521 that was his direct line.

I have been called at my work and cell with the same sounding people that everyone speaks of INDIAN or something saying that he is calling from the state investigation bureau stateing that there will be a law suit against me and if i wanted to settle this matter outside the courts if i didnt it would cost me up to 7000.00 or i could write a apol. letter stateing i didnt mean to to this on purpose and to email them my info along with that letter his name was MIKE COOPER again his name was MIKE COOPER phone number is 409-356-6521 that is a direct line right to him what do you think bout that one?

For at least the last four years, possibly longer, a group has been calling former payday loan applicants advising them that they have defrauded a bank and are now being sued for non-payment of a loan.  The callers will claim to be calling on behalf of an attorney's office (name varies), the Dept. of Law and Investigation, ACS, or other similar combinations below:

United Legal Processing Division
Midline Marketing
Crime Monitoring Services
Monetary Crime Division
U.S. National Bank
Attorney General?s Office (usually in California)
American Legal Services
Affidavit Consolidation Services (ACS)

You will be threatened with arrest, a costly trial and possibly worse.  In no shape, way or form can you be arrested for non-payment on a consumer debt.  Do not believe these threats, as they are without merit and cannot be carried out in the manner they allege.  

Who are they?

In the past when pressed by law enforcement for an address, the callers have provided the following information:

David Morgan and Associates
Morgan & Associates
Morgan Associates
954-727-8481
1155 Northwest 85th Street
Wintergarden, Florida  33150
(Address is likely invalid)

The collector's MO matches a once legit collections agency called Ellis Crosby & Associates.  Here are some links on them:

http://www.budhibbs.com/collectorpages/ellis_crosby_and_associates.htm
http://www.budhibbs.com/collectorpages/EllisCrosbyJudgment.pdf

They have been previously fined over $1.3 million for various violations.  They have been known to use phone banks in India to make their calls, which more or less coincides with the difficult to understand accent many of us detect when we are contacted.  

The last time this group went by any "official" name was back in 2008:

Ellis Crosby & Associates / Douglas & Morgan Associates
4494 Southside Boulevard Suite #200
Jacksonville Florida 32216
Phone:  800-928-3536 / (904) 928-3536
(Address is likely invalid)

There are NUMEROUS consumer alerts out against this group of individuals:

Florida:
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/061107/met_176207561.shtml

Kansas:  
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/01/ks_debt_collection.html

Colorado:  
http://www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/press/ ... lls_likely_orig

Rhode Island:  
http://www.collectionscreditrisk.com/news/rho ... -3002135-1.html

West Virginia:
http://www.wvago.gov/internetloanscam.cfm

Missouri:
On July 15th, 2010 a Public Awareness Bulletin was sent out by Missouri Information Analysis Center.  

"..received reports from individuals in Ohio and Illinois reference suspicious telephone calls they received. In both instances, the callers are reporting that a voicemail is received from a man, with a Middle Eastern accent, identifying himself as an officer working with the Financial Crimes Unit.  The message indicates that the reason for the call concerns a loan made by the receiver or someone in the receiver's family. The voicemail requests that a return call be made and a telephone number is provided. When a return call is made, the caller is asked to provide personal identifying information such as their date of birth and social security number.

Reports indicate that the calls are frequent and persistent and that they even threaten arrest or legal action if information or money is not provided. It appears that the individuals making these calls may have access to some records connecting individuals and their relatives.  Missouri does not have a Financial Crimes Unit and all indications are that this is a fictitious agency. If you receive a similar phone call, please be advised that it is a scam and please contact your local law enforcement agency or the Missouri Information Analysis Center at 866-362-6422."

Bottom line:

Do not supply the callers with any additional information.  Inform them you have reported them to law enforcement and hang up.  If you haven't already, go ahead and report the calls to local law enforcement, your state's Attorney General and beyond.  Look up the local Secret Service branch's information in your area and get in contact with an agent there.  

If you ever applied for a cash advance online, your information is out there.  
Possible sources for the breach of your privacy are:

* The scammers obtained your information from Teletrack - a reporting agency used by many cash advance lenders to determine their risk lending to you.  The service is able to tell cash advance lenders if you have existing loans with other companies, for example.  Many state laws prohibit borrowers from having more than two cash advances out at the same time.

* The scammers created their own fake payday loan application site.  People looking for a cash advance went to the site and applied, thus freely providing the scammers with their information for malicious use at a later time.  

* The scammers were able to get into the database(s) of cash advance lenders - probable targets being Sonic Payday and Cashnet USA.  


How to protect yourself:

* Inform your employer.  You are likely getting calls at home and/or at work, so make sure your employer is aware the calls are part of a scam and to not take them seriously.  Advise the callers that they are no longer allowed to call you at work.  If they continue to call, document the date and time of the calls you received.  Save voice mails left if at all possible.  

* Change your number(s).  For some this may not be an option, for others a one-time number change can be done free of charge.

Be advised - any references you listed on your payday loan application will be contacted.  Let those people know that this is a scam, and they can disregard.

* Use Google Voice.  Google Voice is a great replacement voice mail system for just about any phone number you use.  Messages can be transcribed and voice mail recordings can be saved as mp3 files.  

Pro Tip - call the scammers with a Google Voice number before turning off your old phone numbers.  Make sure when you call you identify yourself so they can start up their script.  At any point after they have your information pulled up just hang up.  They will then start religiously calling your Google Voice number.  At this point, you are free to change your regular phone number(s) and enjoy not having these people ever call you again.  (And laugh at the fact these people are basically talking to a brick wall several times a day)

The scammers change their numbers frequently.  Law enforcement used to think it was because the callers ran out of minutes on their prepaid wireless accounts or they were shuttered due to fraud, but now they understand it's simply to evade detection by savvy consumers online.  With the proliferation of VoIP, it's even easier for the crooks to stay a couple of steps ahead of law enforcement.  Below is just a sampling of the 30+ numbers that have been used in recent memory.

1-201-244-7722
1-209-349-7382
1-209-797-2212
1-212-500-0839
1-213-256-0408
1-213-995-3039
1-281-763-0433
1-347-289-3902
1-347-844-6817
1-347-844-6831
1-424-354-4270
1-516-232-8905
1-516-232-8935
1-518-212-0219
1-561-300-8018
1-561-210-4185
1-626-200-4646
1-631-456-4041
1-646-274-1143
1-646-810-8635
1-650-241-4604
1-707-401-4056
1-707-633-2789
1-708-401-0535
1-716-442-2824
1-717-862-4080
1-718-705-8669
1-760-514-0132
1-760-563-5384
1-772-318-4938
1-850-201-1111
1-858-777-1977
1-859-908-2281
1-866-860-4509
1-877-226-7488
1-888-706-7463
1-888-771-9249
1-888-785-4479
1-909-327-4870

So can they really do anything to you?

It's not a simple yes or no answer.  Logic dictates that, if they really wanted to take you for a ride and drain your bank accounts, they already would have.  

So, why haven't they?  

Authorization.  

Why do you think you are being called so much?  Perhaps it is because they like the sound of your voice?  No, they have to have your authorization to take any form of payment from you, period.  The callers know their audience, and that audience is typically a bunch of people that have applied for payday loans in the past.  Most of those people they call couldn't afford an attorney if they wanted one, and are so used to receiving collections calls that so long as they sound like a real collector, they will likely be perceived as one.

Furthermore, they don't even really want to talk to your attorney - that just sounds official and scary enough.  A real attorney would take the callers to task and write them off as two-bit con artists.  The callers need you, in writing, to authorize payment against the fictitious debt they claim you owe.  Go ahead, ask them for proof you owe the debt - more commonly known as verification of debt.  See what they say.  A phone authorization carries very little weight, so if they have something signed by you on file, you are done for - and the callers know that.  That authorization is the only thing these callers are doing by the book, and for good reason.  If they just went all willy nilly and made an ACH debit from your checking account, without your written approval, you could in turn report the transaction as fraudulent to your financial institution.  In about 7-10 business days, you would get the funds returned to your account.  Then the scammers would be up against a bank and their team of lawyers and investigators.  

Bottom line:

If you haven't paid the callers a dime, don't.  If you planned on paying them to shut them up, just don't.  Remember - you are not being contacted by a legally licensed, ethically owned and operated collector.  Read up on the FDCPA - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf - and know your rights.

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-646-274-1143/3

These people are posing as state investigation officers. They are asking for personal financial info. When you realize it's a scam. They become very aggressive using obscenity. They are definitely West Indies descent.

A man with a strong accent  said he was with a company called CFI and  ask if the last for digits of my ss# was correct. He mentioned that I owed a creditor and they turned it over to his company???

i recently got  call from this number and found it very strange so i started asking question and stuff and got to the point of asking him his agency name and he said he was from the state department... i said thats funny ive never been to washington in my life so i asked his badge number and he slowly murmered 12201 funny thing is thats an incorrect badge number.... HUGE SCAM!!!!!

I just got a called from the same people, I told them that they had called the FBI and I need it to get there name and badge number before I would transfer there call to an agent. I talk to "three" people and they all were giving me my phone number as there badge number and my name, when they realized that is not going to back up from asking there information and the agency they were calling from, they started asking for sexual favors, I keep asking and requesting there information and they offer me to pay me to do them sexual favors and calling me bi***! I guess there joke is on them! I suggest you turn it around and start playing mind games. They are Indian descendent and very stupid if you ask me. I did called the FBI in my area and they can't do anything about stoping the calls so take it upon your selfs to play mind tricks on them. they will get it eventually!
Caller: Officer John Smith! and Officer John Scoth

they called my job and he had a strong accent and talked over me and was asking for my credit card number and that i needed to send them 250.00. but he said that he was a state investigator, but calling from DC, that would be the federal gov right? and advised that my case has been transferred, how do you tell someone that i work with that information to give me? and if you have an accent that strong how can your name be JONATHAN?

They just called me to both at work and on my cell phone.  He said he was officer smith I think the accent is so strong.  He said if I do not call him back or my lawer or family member he can only with me luck.

This is a scam becuase I have had these calls before from the same voice and they are treaten and nothing happens.