Consumers across the country report that they're getting telephone calls from people trying to collect on loans the consumers never received or on loans they did receive but for amounts they do not owe. Others are receiving calls from people seeking to recover on loans consumers received but where the creditors never authorized the callers to collect for them. So what's the story?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, is warning consumers to be on the alert for scam artists posing as debt collectors. It may be hard to tell the difference between a legitimate debt collector and a fake one. Sometimes a fake collector may even have some of your personal information, like a bank account number. A caller may be a fake debt collector if he:

is seeking payment on a debt for a loan you do not recognize;
refuses to give you a mailing address or phone number;
asks you for personal financial or sensitive information; or
exerts high pressure to try to scare you into paying, such as threatening to have you arrested or to report you to a law enforcement agency.
If you think that a caller may be a fake debt collector:
Ask the caller for his name, company, street address, and telephone number. Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice." The notice must include the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor you owe, and your rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
If a caller refuses to give you all of this information, do not pay! Paying a fake debt collector will not always make them go away. They may make up another debt to try to get more money from you.

Stop speaking with the caller. If you have the caller's address, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files. By law, real debt collectors must stop calling you if you ask them to in writing.
Do not give the caller personal financial or other sensitive information. Never give out or confirm personal financial or other sensitive information like your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number unless you know whom you're dealing with. Scam artists, like fake debt collectors, can use your information to commit identity theft ? charging your existing credit cards, opening new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, writing fraudulent checks, or taking out loans in your name.
Contact your creditor. If the debt is legitimate ? but you think the collector may not be ? contact your creditor about the calls. Share the information you have about the suspicious calls and find out who, if anyone, the creditor has authorized to collect the debt.
Report the call. Contact the FTC and your state Attorney General's office with information about suspicious callers. Many states have their own debt collection laws in addition to the federal FDCPA. Your Attorney General's office can help you determine your rights under your state's law.
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors

A Stacey Yates is calling me and I do not even know if thi s is real. I did have loans but just gave her my cc info I as I did with ACSI. I was late on last weeks payment I hope I am not sued. See they all sell the debt off left and right i dont know whom to believe and i had my boa account closed because these loan companies about 11 p companies overdrew my account. all oif that in 10 has led to this but i dont know if bryant bryant and associates is telling the truth

Debt is civil, not criminal, so you are NOT going to jail.  Per the FDCPA, you should NOT pay any caller who refuses to MAIL a debt validation letter showing you owe a debt and that they have the legal right to collect said debt.  Why would you make an agreement to pay for a loan you never took out?  I would contact your bank and have them put fraud alerts on all your accounts.  They may also need to close your account.  I would also report your caller to the FTC, FBI and your state's Attorney General.

http://800notes.com/forum/ta-86217073a9c8dad/ ... 077595690349410
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http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors
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http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm
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Also read up on the laws and your rights:

Harassing calls from a debt collector? Here is what you need to know
http://800notes.com/arts/Jb8EW-eDhQA/harassin ... ou-need-to-know

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm

CFPB Q&A on debt collection practices
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ... debt-collection

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0149-debt-collection
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Follow the steps in what you need to know. A legitimate debt collector agency should not have a problem with giving you a real business name and address you can google and verify via google street view, BBB etc.
For extortion Scam Operations, file reports with the FBI, your state attorney general and Department Of Justice,FTC & FCC..

http://www.nw3c.org/
http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
http://www.fbi.gov/
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1
https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form1088.action
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/

And folks should consider looking at maybe getting call blocking device or phone..
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=se ... s=call+blockers

I am an attorney that has been hired to represent a debtor in Texas that has been harassed by Ms. Yeates and Bryant, Bryant and Associates, LLC.  I doubt that they are really a law firm.  I am looking for any information on where they are actually located, and what assets they might have.  Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.  

Unfortunately, collectors that get as far out of line as these guys are rarely legitimate.  This makes it hard to collect, even if you sue and win.  Anyone knows that you cannot do what they are doing, which means that they are not scared of a suit.  It is really unfortunate that there are still people that feel it is okay to illegally threaten criminal prosecution in order to collect a debt.  We do not have debtor's prisons in America.  Do not be intimidated.  

The same lady Stacy Yates called me about 2 weeks ago said I owe 400 for a payday loan from 2009 I told her I have never had a payday loan she said I must have forgot said I would go to jail if I didnt pay I gave my information she recorded the conversation and said if I default I will go to jail I have recieved a letter in the mail from her with the dates money will be pulled from my account now I can not get a hold of her and found this site while trying to call Bryant and bryant assoc. what did u do? The first payment is to come out of my account tomorrow and I dont want to get scamed if this isnt real but dont want to go to jail if it is!!

I got 2 phone calls on Tuesday, Jan 7, 2014. I didn't answer either call because I didn't hear my phone. The lady, Stacey Yates, left a message both times. One for me and one for my husband, same case number. She said that it was from back in 2009, from when we took out a loan. I know that we had paid it off. She then went on to state that we owed a total of $600's and that if we didn't take care of this, that we would have warrants put out for both of our arrest and that we would be facing jail time as well as a $5,000 fine! I told her that I could not afford to pay the whole $600's that day and had to pay $60's.
Being the idiot that I am, I trusted this lady and what she was saying and got scared. I can't afford to go to jail. I have 2 daughters that are in middle school. Stacey then told me that she had to record part of this phone call, so that if I defaulted on any of my payments, our agreement would no longer be void and I would have a warrant out for my arrest. I have googled this "Law firm" on google and it brought nothing up for their Firm. I called this Stacey lady back and left her a message to send me all the information on this so called "loan" and the money that I supposedly owe. I threatened them with taking them to court and the whole nine yards. Have not heard back from them as of yet.

I have been dealing with these criminals for over two years. The US and my State (New York) governments are working at prosecuting them. In the event you receive a call from such a collector, let them say or do whatever they think that they will threaten you with.  Just ignore them. By law in New York anyway, They cannot touch you unless you give them the ability to like agreeing to pay them. Give them no legal info as in your Social Security number, or anything associated with your bank accounts. Criminals! For New York citizens, Payday loans are illegal, you cannot take a payday loan nor can the "lenders" or their collector agents can collect on them even if you have taken a loan . The laws of NY are on your side.

I was called by this firm today threatening me with a criminal allegation. Thank you for this forum.

The below statement is on their website. No legal law firm will make a threat against you to make you pay. For them to even state such a thing is outright wrong and illegal. The website they have looks to be written by a idiot that does not know what to put down. They ramble to much.



Our firm can help you collect those debts. Often the threat of a lawsuit by our lawyers is enough to get a debtor to pay you back or at least agree to a repayment plan. If needed, however, our team of skilled litigators can pursue your fair payment through judgments, commercial arbitration, liens, garnishments or other methods. We can also help you pursue the eviction of renters who are not keeping up with their payments

I too have been getting calls from a Miss Sims claiming she's lead investigator for Bryant,Bryant Assoc. Alleging I Cash Net then changed it to ace cash express......I was threatened with a capias, that they know where im located and where i work....the  first time she contacted from a winter park florida number 321-304-2497 and this time from a 202-879-7728 number......I will be contacting the FTC....

Please read what I have written here: http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-321-369-9092. A lady called in from this Bryant, Bryant asking for my BF and threatening me about whatever info they think they have on him... The caller ID listed the Washington number noted on this page, but then she gave me a FL number to give to my BF, so he could call back, threatening jail time if he didn't. I thought the number she was giving was out of State so I asked her to give me a toll free number. She then gave me a toll free number which appears to belong to a company in TX. I have been a victim of ID theft and am aware of at least 3 other people in the US with the same name as me as well as at least 1 other with my BF's name, so I do not give or acknowledge any personal info over the phone, esp. if they are being rude and give even a hint of not being legit.

I guess I'm not alone.  These people just called me too. They had all my information from my sociall to my fathers name. They stsated that their client which they are representing, Ace Cash Expresd has said I defrauded their company back in 2008 and that they are going to send out a bench warrant if I don't settke out of court. The guy I spoje ti was weldon and he stated ans can get subpena or settke out of court. I told hom this is the first time I'm hearing about this and I'm not going to make a decision until I get somethibg in writing. H e said he had ny emaik but I no longer use that email and he had a list of supposingly my emaiks which all were wrong. He said because he works for a law fiem they an get backgroubd checks and that's how they no my phone number and my new address..  refused to give my email and now their not sending me paper work stating what this is about. Please someone help get these guys off of evryones back and this harrassment shoukd be stopped

Just received a call from SUPPOSEDLY Bryant, Bryant & Assoc LLC and then was transferred to an
"investigator" Weldon Streets who wanted information on my son's whereabouts related to a check fraud with the amount being a "felony".  I immediately looked up the phone# and obviously I am not the only one who has received these calls which are fraud as well.  I immediately called Weldon back and told him he and his associated "law firm" were a big scam and there is no way I would give him any information.

This company is a scam whatever you do don't pay or give out any information.  If you have report it and shut off anything or change your information as soon as possible.  They called saying that there was an old debt from a cash checking store and they stressed it was serious and the only way to get out of it was to pay up $150 dollars today this was the only chance don't fall for it they will try anything even if they start telling you your personal information.  It's all a scam!  The company they said we owed, we contacted because we never ever remembered using that company and would not have done that.  Well that company had no record of ever being a customer and they do their own collections.  Every time you call this so called Bryant, Bryant & Associates LLC number its the same person no matter what options you choose just the person may use different voices.  If you call from your same phone number they allredy know your name because you cell or phone service is in your name just try calling from another phone on your plan and act like you're someone else they will pause and put you on hold and come back asking if your that same person.  Please don't be stupid!  There website is fake. The phone number is fake. The people are fake. The emails are fake!  Here's their fake website address.... http://bryantbryantassociatesllc.com   Please note that there is no copy right date at the bottom, it is generated by a do it your self website builder at the bottom right, that the pictures on the main page are the exact ones they used for the fake lawyers, the lawyers names are no where to be found, the google map they put on there is a fake address, and the site runs of the page on the left.

SEE OTHER PAGE...     http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-473-6857


also the templet they got for the website here it is...    http://freetimebydesign.com/attorneys-1.html

I am getting calls from these people at work. They keep saying my husband wrote a bad check and that they put a warrant out for him. They are rude and wont let me even say a word. The lady on the phone said that she wanted my husband picked up but that she would work with me if we pay 1400 dollars. The lady transferred me to a Weldon who wanted a credit card or checking account info. Umm if my husband wrote a bad check then why would they want my checking info?. Weldon transferred me back to that rude lady and she went on a rampage with me because I would not give any personal info.

My name is Tiasha Bailey and I too have been called by these people, and they are rude and horrible. I want to let you know not to be scared and yes these people do need to be stopped, so I have started that process. I think if enough of us come together and support each other we can stop these people from harassing us and other people as well. I have called the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) and opened an investigation against these people. The FTC is really great and they are trying very hard to nail these people, but they haven't because they won't provide a name or a number, and today these people were actually dumb enough to give me their name, number, and were they are located. So the FTC has the info. I'm trying to collect as much evidence as I can, which is why I contacted you. I think we need try to get in contact with other people they are harassing and nail these b*****ds for harassing you, me and others. Contact me at tiasbailey@aol.com so we can talk further. To get your investigation started first call the company that they are saying that they representing and file a compliance report. Then call the FTC (855-411-2372) and give them as much info as you possibly can. Then file a local police report so they can send it to where these claim they are from and the police will nail them.  "LET'S GET THESE PEOPLE!!!"Reply!

I also received a call from this number from a Diane or Debra (can't remember). She was very rude and insisted on forwarding me to a investigator, stating that I had owed some payday loans. I told her that even though she had some of my correct information, this was not true. I also told her that I did not want to speak with anybody else there because I know that it is a big scam. After I stated that, she went into a huge rampage trying to argue with me. I told her that she was very unprofessional and that's how I know for sure that this is a scam, which made her even more angry. I hung up the phone and she called back leaving me a message stating that she would not leave this alone and threatened to continue calling me until I responded. Crazy people, crazy lady, what she don't know is that she can call me 100 times a day and I still will not give her any information.

Hello Jane

My name is Tiasha Bailey and I too have been called by these people, and they are rude and horrible. I want to let you know not to be scared and yes these people do need to be stopped, so I have started that process. I think if enough of us come together and support each other we can stop these people from harassing us and other people as well. I have called the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) and opened an investigation against these people. The FTC is really great and they are trying very hard to nail these people, but they haven't because they won't provide a name or a number, and today these people were actually dumb enough to give me their name, number, and were they are located. So the FTC has the info. I'm trying to collect as much evidence as I can, which is why I contacted you. I think we need try to get in contact with other people they are harassing and nail these b*****ds for harassing you, me and others. Contact me at tiasbailey@aol.com so we can talk further. To get your investigation started first call the company that they are saying that they representing and file a compliance report. Then call the FTC (855-411-2372) and give them as much info as you possibly can. Then file a local police report so they can send it to where these claim they are from and the police will nail them.  "LET'S GET THESE PEOPLE!!!"

Yes I just received the call too about a payday loan I never got. The said it is about check fraud when I never wrote a check. They also said it was from 2008 and they had all of my personal information, which scares me. I did get a similar call back in 2011, and they said they were going to arrest me. I call the police and they said it was a scam. So I assume this is the same information and scam again. So ridiculous and they should not be passing around my personal information. I am afraid something could happen to my social security number, identity theft, and more. These people need to be stopped!

Wow the person that called me was Adam Stein with this same line. I am going file a complaint with the Attorney General for that state.

These people are harassing me and my family.  Don't even know how they got their numbers.  Said this is in regards to a payday loan that was never paid back 5 years ago from a company that I never got a loan from.  Said that they are taking legal action and this will not be the last I hear from them.  A very rude Weldon Smith called me and then after he hung up on me I receive a call from the owner John Bryant of Bryant Bryant and Associates.  These people are crazy!!!!!!!

The message the caller left had to do with check fraud which is crazy, because I don't write checks!