Fraud

I had a voicemail from an "Ofiicer K. Smith" in regards to a legal complaint against my name and that I needed to contact him in regards to this matter. It was nothing more than a wanna be scam, but not today!

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.

http://www.ksag.org/page/consumer-alert-attor ... collection-sca

I recieved another call from 206-701-7487 and if you try and call that number back, it is now "no longer in service." They now leave a new phone number of 206-801-5300. Don't be fooled, it is the same people still trying to scam people. If you call this number all it does is ring and you get a voicemail.

I recieved a call from an officer Mike Walker, saying that I owe "Cash Net USA" $595 for a $250 payday loan that I took out. Couldn't tell me when I supposedly took this loan out. They did have all my personal information but I knew from the start it was a scam. Because they wanted me to fax them a copy of my drivers' license, a letter saying that I authorize them to take the payment out of my bank account, and my bank account number. If I didn't do as they said by 5p.m. today they were going to file the paper work to have me arrested. Also call my boss and have me fired. If you don't pay that you will have to go to court and pay 3x as much plus court costs. They also give several different fax numbers for you to send your payments. I called "Cash Net USA" and my name does not come up in their system. THIS IS A SCAM SO DON'T BE FOOLED. DON'T PAY ANYTHING. They also don't say the company that they are working for. They just tell you that it's a legal matter.

Today this same "collection organization" contacted my job and requested to speak to me; my boss was the one who received the call and notified me. I called the number back and questioned the authenticity of this "collection agency" and they basically ran in circles. I asked the "agent" who are you collecting for he stated; "cashnetusa". He went on to say that I took out a payday loan with this agency and failed to pay them back. I never took out any loan with anyone and had no relationship to this "lender." I told this agent that I will report him if this is a bogus charge and that it was unacceptable for him to call my employment and with urgency. I called "cashnetusa" and they had no record of me or any loan account. The rep asked me who told me that I owed them and I explained the situation to her. She stated that, that was a fake collection agency and not to surrender any funds to them. She also stated that I should report them. After I spoke with the rep, I called the number back and they did not pick up the phone. The line just kept ringing and then an answering machine came on. So bogus!!!

I received a call from 206-701-7487 from "Officer Michael Clark".  This is the SECOND time I have received this type of call from the same person/company.  I have reported them to Homeland Security and FBI/Fraud

They are a SCAM that tells you either you will be arrested, or that they have a case against you in the Federal Court of Justice.

A lot of people think they are legit, because they have your SSN, DOB, friends info, etc.  They got all of your info when you might have filled out a payday loan app online in the past.  DONT FALL FOR IT.  Report it to homeland security.

DON"T PAY THEM A DIME!!!

yes so i keep getting a unknown number on my caller id and finally they left a message saying that it was officer kevin smith which i know it wasnt because he was foreign with a strong accent saying that i had a legal complaint against my name and that there is legal acction and to prevent me from getting in trouble and going to jail to call 206-701-7487 to resolv this and that i need to give my ssn to them to have this fixed. sorry i dont by that.

Someone called from this number identifying themselves as a fraud investigator demanding money for a supposed debt from US Fastcash.  When I told him I needed to verify this information with the company he said I had one hour to get the funds to him or I would be brought to court and charged with 3 federal crimes including check fraud, theft, and a third I couldn't understand.  When I contacted US Fastcash they said I wasn't in their system as having ever taken out a loan, and gave me a number to contact homeland security.  Homeland Security told me this is a scam and if they continue to call me I should call HS back and report the number to them.  
Another individual called me from "Beech Legal Services" saying he represented this sompany who had called me and processed all of their payments that they were all legit.  Of course homeland security said anyone connected with them is part of the scam.