stop calling

received a call today from this number. It was for my mominlaw. The person gave me too much info. there for I know its a scam.. Regarding a payday loan which she has never done before especially at her age.

This is an offshore payday loan debt collection extortion scam that has been going on for at least five years. The FBI is aware of it but is unable to go after those involved due to lack of money and manpower. I looked back and found some old information which may prove to be helpful:

They obtained your information through Teletrack:

Kudos to "Sam" for giving the most intelligent and informative posts on this scam. READ, Bookmark and use as needed:

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-631-456-4041/2

I have been receiving phone calls from this group since late April / early May of 2010.  There is a good chance that they also attempted to contact me roughly two years ago before I entered into Chapter 7 Bankruptcy protection, as I faintly remember hearing the same script more or less.

As others have stated, the callers are difficult to understand.  Generally speaking their command of the English language is quite poor and their accents are hard to follow. At times they will get certain words or phrases mixed up.  It would be funny if it wasn't for the fact that they had:

a) Your SSN
b) Your home address
c) Your work address
d) Your banking info
e) Names, numbers and potentially the addresses of "references"
f) A complete and total lack of ethics and a basic understanding of the FDCPA.  

I have personally filed reports with the following agencies, often with limited (if any) success:

Local Police
my state's Attorney General's office
FTC
FBI
Secret Service

Generally the local police won't be able to help much.  The callers are using a combination of prepaid cell phones and VoIP, making them difficult to trace.  Also at their disposal are various spoofing tactics being implemented to catch people off guard - meaning the number that appears on your Caller ID isn't the number that is calling you for starters.  Without gaining a subpoena for the billing information for the numbers in question, the local police won't be able to get very far.  

My state's Attorney General's office couldn't offer much assistance either.  I received a form letter in the mail that my complaint was received and I would be contacted if they needed additional info.  It was more or less the same information I obtained from the FTC.  They each advised me not to give the individuals over the phone any account information or to authorize payment.  That's just common sense, though.

I never got anything from the FBI, either.  There is a good chance that since I haven't suffered a monetary loss that my concerns are low on the totem pole.  I hate to say this, but that is truly the case. Unless you were in the hole for a $1,000 (or more) you aren't going to get much more than "sorry to hear about your situation, change your phone number and move on".  I seemed to get some activity from the Secret Service.  I spoke with agent Doug Zloto. (Google him, referencing threads like these plus his name and you'll find his number also)  He seemed to care a bit more than the average person, but after giving him access to my Google Voice account, there has been no further activity from him that I'm aware of.

In the meantime I changed the wireless number the fraudsters had access to, they have no direct way to get a hold of me.  (Calls at work have ceased for some reason)  That in turn resulted in my "references" getting phone calls from the crooks.  Here is a word of caution for women that have been getting these calls - don't say anything and just hang up.  The callers are quite abusive towards women callers.  Why?  Possibly the culture.  If they are Indian / Pakistani, women are second class citizens there.  You will be treated like garbage.  This happened to a family member when she was trying her best to be extremely nice over the phone.  

The callers currently attempt to reach me through the female family member and an unused Google Voice number that they managed to find of mine.  I keep the Google Voice number open because, well, I can't delete it yet.  So, about every day, 4-5 times a day for the last week, I get voice messages from them.  It's usually just two full messages though - the other calls are broken up with static or they are attempts to read the script until the callers then screw up.  Really, they are that adamant on getting the script 100% that they will hang up mid-sentence and call back 30 seconds later.  

At this point it's a stalemate with these people.  

1) While they have the lion's share of information on us, they can't really do anything with this information.  

Why?  Think about it.

If they were to ever take funds out of your account without authorization, it's fraud and worse (for them) it is traceable.  That's why they won't do anything with your information, contrary to threats they make.  The money from your account has to go somewhere, and either your bank or a law enforcement agency can determine where the money was routed.  As a bank customer you are protected - you'd get the stolen money back in your account after 7-10 business days and the bank would be temporarily out the funds deducted from your account while they conducted their investigation.  The bank, along with law enforcement, would track down the fraudsters and apprehend them.  The fraudsters do not want to incur the wrath of a bank, just extort money out of you.  Remember that.    

Your authorization would absolve the bank from any and all liability, leaving you holding the bag.  Never give them authorization for anything - for all you know the call is recorded.  

2) We have no information on them.

Seriously, this has been going on at least since 2008, possibly longer than that based on some accounts. (6 years??? Holy crap!)  You would think someone would have slipped up by now.  Sadly, they haven't.  We can continue to grow our own intel on them and compile lists of aliases and phone numbers used, along with paraphrases of scripts used in order to educate other victims.  I'm actually putting together a site now in the meantime where I'll host audio files and lists of previous numbers used.  800notes.com is great, but no two calls are exactly the same.  It would be nice to have a site dedicated to the scam and how it works.

So that's where I am with these calls.  I have suffered no monetary loss, though I have been harassed both at home and at work.  They threaten me with arrest and other "fun" things in order to get me convinced I have to pay them.  My friends and family have been targeted and local and federal law enforcement agencies haven't been able to put a stop to things.  So, it is what it is.  I am out a wireless phone number I had for roughly six years, which is terrible since I was using that line when looking for a new job.  

Whenever I'm bored I spoof my number using Google Voice and return the calls.  I've called them the poster children for birth control, etc.  Basically a lot of nasty things that I'm sure the moderators here wouldn't appreciate me repeating - bottom line nothing nice.  I always like to close saying their parents must be real proud knowing their sons weren't man enough to get real jobs.  That usually gets a decent response.  

Way I see it - they can't do anything to me. (Despite a threat yesterday that my life would be f'ed up)  They can threaten all they want but my credit is frozen and my bank information has changed.  I've changed the only number they could really access me directly on and I've instructed my employer and family to not answer the calls.  I just call and harass them now when I find a few extra seconds.  What's the worst they can do to me?  Charge me with harassment?  

Nope, then they would have to identify themselves.

Oh, and don't bother contacting Cashnet USA about the calls.  Their "fraud" department could honestly care less.  Their "investigation" is merely a means of buerocratic CYA.  I would even be surprised at this point if actual law enforcement is involved in any shape, way or form at this time.  

There is a good chance that the information these crooks have on us was obtained from Cashnet USA - either from a database leak or from a collector that was once authorized by Cashnet to call on delinquent customers.  The other chance is they have access to Teletrack, and pulled all of our information off of there.

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

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.

PS--The FBI sent out a Press Release on this scam just last week:

Extortion Scam Related to Delinquent Payday Loans

Washington, D.C.
December 07, 2010  FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691

? filed under: Press Release

The Internet Crime Complaint Center has received many complaints from victims of payday loan telephone collection scams. Callers claim the victim is delinquent in a payday loan and must repay the loan to avoid legal consequences. The callers purport to be representatives of the FBI, Federal Legislative Department, various law firms, or other legitimate-sounding agencies. They claim to be collecting debts for companies such as United Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Net, and other Internet check-cashing services.

According to complaints received from the public, the callers have accurate data about victims, including Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, employer information, bank account numbers, and the names and telephone numbers of relatives and friends. How the fraudsters obtained the personal information varies, but in some cases victims have reported they completed online applications for other loans or credit cards before the calls started.

The fraudsters relentlessly call the victim?s home, cell phone, and place of employment. They refuse to provide any details about the alleged payday loans and become abusive when questioned. The callers have threatened victims with legal actions, arrests, and, in some cases, physical violence if they do not pay. In many cases, the callers harass victims? relatives, friends, and employers.

Some fraudsters have instructed victims to fax a statement agreeing to pay a certain amount, on a specific date, via a pre-paid Visa card. The statement further declares the victim will never dispute the debt.

If you receive these calls, do not follow the caller?s instructions. Rather, you should:

Notify your banking institutions.
Contact the three major credit bureaus and request an alert be put on your file.
Contact your local law enforcement agencies if you feel you are in immediate danger.
File a complaint at www.IC3.gov.
Tips to avoid becoming a victim of this scam:

Never give your Social Security number?or personal information of any kind?over the telephone or online unless you initiate the contact.
Be suspicious of any e-mail with urgent requests for personal financial information. The e-mail may include upsetting or exciting but false statements to get you to react immediately.
Avoid filling out forms in e-mail messages that request personal information.
Ensure that your browser is up-to-date and security patches have been applied.
Check your bank, credit, and debit card statements regularly to make sure that there are no unauthorized transactions. If anything looks suspicious, contact your bank and all card issuers.
When you contact companies, use numbers provided on the back of cards or statements

http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/paydayloanscam_120710

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-951-489-0227

im going threw the same thing it starting to get on my nerves and i no its a scam because a person from a real law firm would not be rude to you  this man said i old 8,000.00 dollars how i take out a loan and im not even working and dont you have to have a bank account to take out a loan and its the same voice but different numbers.im just glad to know its not just me being targeted because i was getting really nerves its really scary to know somebody have all your info like that.should i report this number to the cops.

I keep getting phones calls from 213-293-9344 and his name is Andrew Johnson. They said if i don't pay the loan they were going to send an attorney over to confront me at my work. It's weird because his voice doesn't match his name. He has a weird accent that's not even close to English. Is it another scam or what? because I'm tired of it already.

I HAVE BEEN KEEPING A LOG OF OF THE NUMBERS THAT CALL FROM THEM, IT IS ALWAYS THE SAME PEOPLE, BUT DIFFERENT NUMBERS, THEY ASK FOR A FEMALE WITH THE SAME LAST NAME AS MYSELF.  TELL THEM I AN KRISTIE BLANK, BUT THEY SAY NO LINDA.  I TELL THEM I AM NOT LINDA, AN THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A LINDA THAT HAS WORKED HERE.  STOP CALLING, I AN LOGGING EACH NUMBER, DATE AN TIME, AN EVEN TOLD THEM I AM GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO MY LAWYER FOR HARRASMENT IF THEY DONT STOP CALLING.  THEY STOP FOR A DAY, THEN START RIGHT BACK.  I ONLY HAVE 4 NUMBERS AT THIS TIME, BEEN ADVISED THAT I NEED MORE THAN THAT.

I received more than one call from 213-293-9344 between 1:00 PM and 1:47 PM CST on November 11, 2011,

I called the number back after the individual kept talking over me, would not answer my questions, and he finally hung up. He said he was with a law firm, recited my personal and confidential information including bank account and social security number and threatened legal action if I did not pay "the settlement amount of $300.00" He refused to answer any specifics  regarding who the client was that allegedly deposited an undisclosed amount into my checking account and I was t make $60 bi-weekly cash payments, but refused to tell me the name of the entity to whom I was to make the payments. I told him I was reporting this to the federal Trade Commission and he said to do whatever I felt like doing and he would see me in the courthouse and was going to sue me for $100,000, to which I told him I don't have $100,000.

I received a call from this number on my cell phone and then my work phone moments later! The young man could barely speak english or say my name. I knew exactly who and what this was about. About 2 weeks ago I received a similar call from a man screaming at me that I was getting sued for taking a loan and never paying it back. Which is not true. He said I could pay it off now or go to jail and there will be a warrant out for my arrest. They target young women and grandma's because they are less likely to stand strong. (or so they think) I called the FBI and the FTC. This is a scam from a place called PAYDAY LOANS. I also talked to the president of PAYDAY LOANS and their entire business has been hatched. He informed many that their business only works in person and not over the internet or phone. Be aware. The FTC told me the best option is to never let them get a chance to speak. Pick up and hang up or blow a whistle into the phone. I was swore at, cursed out, yelled at, and screamed at.

This is horrible. Whenever, it happens report to both the FBI and the FTC

i got a call from a frank at this number and i told him that i was my sister so i can call back and record everything because i know that i did not have a payday loan out since 2004 and that was my maiden name
will when i called back and he told me his name and the company name as american legal collection company and he need to talk to ******* ********* and i asked him what my maiden name was he could not tell me so i tell him that  this was a scam and i reported them to the ftc and he told me i will see in 24 hrs if it was a scam because the cops will be at my job .
then he hang up and called my job .
but the ftc can not do anything because they are out of the country

Just receive a phone call as well glad to know it a scam next time  I will know how to handle it.

I just got a call from these bozos, they're a pain in the neck! there's gotta be something that we can do and stop these guys from harassing people! anyone knows?

This man calls and it is hard to understand what he is saying. This is the 3rd call on my new phone. I will do the Zpam1, 2, etc. Great idea!!

I have received numerous calls from this number and today they actually left me a message. I called back and was very disturbed to hear what he was saying. I was told that Cash Advance USA had deposited 600 in my ck acct. on 8-2-2011 some how he had last 4 of ss all of my bank info and my emplorer info. I told him (William Walter???) that I would check into it and called my bank to find what I already knew that no deposit had been made! I called William back and told him I was tired of the slander and that I would like to have his address, he responded "why you going to come out here and see me" I told him he had f^*$#@ with the wrong TN Hillbilly and that yes I would be there. ROFLMAO he said ok and he would not call me any more then hung up. I really needed to vent today and he got it all I hope he calls again so that I can put my phone on record!!! Report to whom? I don't know anyone other than the soldiers that are fighting for our freedom that would actually give a care

I actually think this is a fraud call. This number called me and the man said his name was Eric Matthews and I was being sued in California for a loan, but I never took one out. He was trying to get money from me.

Just received a call from this number, it's the third spam number to call on a new cell phone.  One of which displayed a number 111111111 just 9 minutes after this 213- number called.  Only had this phone 5 days now and nobody has this new number.

I also get calls from 213-293-9344. I have not taken out a loan and I work in a call center. They only call me at work and whomever answer the phone, they tell that person that they will send the sheriff to pick me up and put me in jail. I am waiting to give those foreigners a piece of my mind.

The callers call over and over threatening that I am in legal trouble.  When I told them that I am going to report them, and to stop calling, they did.  Now I am receiving e-mails instead.

Looks like it's a land line from LA.  I just received a call from them a few minutes ago.  Phone Detective want's $15 or $40, depending on which package you choose,  to tell us who it is.  

This is the third number that's called me on a new cell phone.  I just label them Zpam 1, Zpam 2 etc. to keep them at the bottom of my contact list then add them to a Reject Call folder on my cell.

These people HAVE to be located in some third world country where they have absolutely NO idea how the American legal system actually works! They keep calling for my husband saying he defaulted on a payday loan he never received. Last week they told me the person calling was Officer Kevin Smith, today it was Officer Kevin Harris. When I said I was going to report them to the FTC for fraud and harassment, the guy said he would give me his badge number so I could report him, when I said OK I was ready, he hung up. I wonder if they know that it is REALLY illegal to impersonate an officer. What killed me is last week, they told me they were going to send deputies over to arrest my husband because of this non-existent default! I told him to go ahead and send them over that I'd be waiting for the officers to show up. These people are a pain in the neck, but they do give me someone to yell and scream at, which is some what entertaining. If they continue to call, I will be reporting them to the FTC.

Called the number back, got voice mail. Said look you raghead m-f call me again and I will hunt you down like we did bin-Laden Semper-fi, whoaaa. What's he gonna do report me? LOL!

I have been getting these calls for months, even at my place of employment.  It is a major scam that is causing people alot of problems.  Tell them you have turned them over to the local police department and it seemed to stop their calling.

I have also been getting these calls. William Walter supervisor with American Legal Processing - from the best I can tell. As everyone else has said - bad accent & hard to tell exactly what he is saying. Definately sounds threatening. I called the Attorney General's office and was told this is a scam! I agree with Kathie - be nice with them & get the address so you can fully report them. That is what the Attorney General's office told me to do!

I have received 2 calls in 2 days both with same accents.  213-293-9344 and 630-332-0770.  I am filing a report on both Numbers with the Federal Trade Commission and my States Attorney Generals Office.  I play nice with these companies to get their information as if I am going to pay this debt and then use the address to report them to both the FTC and State Attorney Generals office

These people somehow have gotten ahold of lists if you have ever applied for a loan online and do scam calls to get money from you...

I keep getting calls from this number in a bad Pakistani accent so thick that I can barely understand threatening legal action. I have never taken a payday loan so I don't know why he keeps caling day and night. When I told him to stop calling me he hung up.  Another affiliated number is 619-704-9653

I got a call previously from the 347-479-1472 number from Moses Matthews and this is almost the exact same script as his call, except for the call came from the west coast and the persons English was so poor, I couldn't even make out his name. My suggestion is to NEVER take out a payday loan!! Apparently your information gets bounced around from lender to lender and these shady people get a hold of it and call to harass you. I have not called this one back, thinking that I will get my attorney friend to do that for me! :-)

Who are these people?