a friend of mine got this call. I have been calling the guy back. I searched it and learned it was a scam. the guy is so mad at me right now. I have called him more than 300 times since Saturday. he is now begging me to quit calling him. I told him no. he finally changd the message on the 214.628.2473 number. just goes to voicemail. I have been playing youtube videos on his recording and filled his voicemail up several times. he is pissed. I called the real DEA and the feds..see what happens

Please do report this to the DEA.

Also, as a side note, Hightower was the last name of a character in Beverly Hills Cop. It seems the scammer has been watching too many old  80's movies.

Well Steven Hightower Badge #12797 called my husband today same story. Get your pen and paper and write this down. We were both very scared and willing to comply until he told us we have to pay a 2500,00 fine. My husband said.."come get me and take me to jail, I will not be paying a 2500.00 fine. He promptly got off the phone. I feel lkike I should report this but since several of you have and he is still calling months later what good would it do?

It is a little unsettling, but Hightower has a strong northern accent and supposedly works in the Dallas field office. Also, he ends his calls with "have a blessed day." Nice touch, but not exactly professional. I told him I didn't need a pen and paper; I work across from the Federal Courthouse where I live, so they can find me there. He told me the Marshalls are coming to get me, and to have a blessed day. I told him to go F himself.

Got the near exact call, first the message then when called back DEA officer Mark Wilson asked to get a pencil and write his badge number down. He explained the mess just as was done in the previous reports I've read. It's nerve racking because he has so much correct information, but much of it was out dated, very old stuff. The number was from 214-928-2460. Please don't fall for this scam.

Just got a Call today from Burgos.  Fortunately, I missed the call, therefore giving me time to investigate the number.  Call from 2146282280.

OMG...I just got  one of these calls too!  Freaked out and start crying hysterically...then calmed down and came home to do a search on the computer.  Apparently Burgos and Hightower have the same badge number.  So glad I did a search and found this!  Thanks everyone

I received the same call yesterday. I called the local DEA and they informed me to report it to: Report Extortion Scam: 1-877-792-2873.

I just hung up with this "Steven Hightower" they send papers from a court if legal action is taken for any reason not send federal marshalls and take u to sign papers.....STUPID!!!  DON'T LISTEN TO THIS GUY!!! I informed him that my family are cops so I would call them ;-) I am not worried if he or anyone of these scum comes to my house i have a present for them!!!!

INFO HE GAVE:
STEVEN HIGHTOWER DEA NARCOTICS BADGE NUMBER #A-12797 CALLED FROM 214-628-2473

It happen to me today I went to the local  PD... frighting I just hope that nobody falls for it

called from phone number 214-628-2280.

Same thing happened to me today.  I thought it was totally legit, until he ask me for the green dot cards numbers.  I knew then, it was a scam.  Called Dallas FBI office and they said it was definitely a scam.  They had my work number.  I hope they catch these crooks.  Glad they only got a few hours of my time.  I wish I would have googled them first.

I am still shaken over a call i received about an hour ago. My husband received a call Fri from a man representing himself as Kenneth Hightower and asked for me by first & last name & said he was DEA Narcotics and needed to talk to me. My husband told him I wasnt home but he would relay a message to me. He told my husband I needed to call him back ASAP because there was an open & ongoing investigation & my name had surfaced. He gave my husband his name (Kenneth Hightower) & badge # (12797). I called him back fri when I got home & no answer so I left a message on his recording. The recording did say he was Kenneth Hightower w- DEA & sounded very ligit & official. I have nothing to fear & was willing & ready to answer any questions he needed. Today is Monday & i just received a call from David Burgeos w- DEA. He verified who I was & asked me to get a pen & paper to write down his information. He gave me his name Unit #78 & badge # NL127901, He asked me if I knew why he was calling & I said no. He told me my name surfaced after an investigation regarding ordering diet pills on line from 2005-2008. He asked me if I did & i admitted i had but couldn't recall the company name & told him I never received the pills. He told me his agency had busted 300 websites for diet pills & my name was randomally selected. He told me I needed to pay $2500 to 1114 Commerce st. & this would keep me out of jail. He said this $2500 was a civil penalty fine & since I had a good record I would be part of the Defendant Release Program. At this time I histerically crying & in shock that I was going to be arrested over this. I told him I needed to call my husband because I didn't have $2500 & he told me if I told anyone about this would violate DEA confidentially & I would have further charges. He told me I had 30 min to call him back or U.S Marshalls would be at my house to arrest me. He knew my address & my children's names too. I hung up & screamed for my 18 year old to help me because I was histerically crying & VERY SCARED. My son knew immediately this call was BS & googled both these fools & we discovered this has happened to many others. I contacted our attorney and with her help & the help of The Texas Rangers I hope these criminals will be caught & this illegal BS will stop.....

I also reported this to: Report Extortion Scam: 1-877-792-2873

I received the same call from 214-628-2473. The man sad he was Secret Agent Steven Hightower with the DEA in Dallas, TX. Narcotics Unit. Badge #A-12797. Said I needed to go to the Midland Texas Courthouse where I would fill out paperwork and pay a fine of $2500!! He sounded very legitimate and I was totally freaked out even though I knew I did nothing wrong, he said my prescription was not legitimate and that the U.S. Marshalls would come to get me tonight if I did not do what he said. He also said that I was not to speak to my husband about this as it was an ongoing investigation and if I did could be arrested for that as well. He also said they were monitoring my phone lines. My husband called the DEA in Dallas where they told him this was a total SCAM! I hope they catch these awful people.

I also received a call from David Burgos and Victor Vega from 214-628-2473 and 214-628-2280.  The numbers appear to be US numbers by using a device called Magic Jack.  Magic Jack is part of YMax Communications and if you try to find a contact number for them on their website they show nothing but a mailing address. It appears YMax/Magic Jack is geared towards supporting these types of scams.  I have reported them to the DC DEA hotline for this crime and also reported them to my local DEA, the Federal Trade Commission and my local police.  Unfortunately, they did get money from because they were threatening me with arrest and telling me if I talked to anyone about this I would be tampering with a federal investigation and it would bring additional charges against me.  They wanted me to give them money to them by using Green Dot Money Cards with scratch off.  You load the card with the money and then give them the number off the card and in just a few minutes they transfer the money to their bank account.  I also called Green Dot and reported the incidence to them and found that the money was gong into the account of an individual.  It appears that this company is also geared towards helping criminals scam the public.

I received several calls today even had a message left from 214-628-2473 from a gentleman claiming to be Victor Vega a Federal DEA Agent badge # A-12797.  He told me that I was a part of a investigation for purchasing diet pills online that resulted in a list of about 400 people that were to be arrested.  That my name had been randomly chosen and that because of my impeccable record I was being considered for a program that would prevent my arrest.  I was very shaken, I still am.  I live in Dallas and he told me that I had to go to Huntsville to sign some papers accepting the program.  I would not be finger printed and that I would be charged a civil fine of $2500.  It was 2:00 and he wanted me to be there by 5:30!!!  I immediately called my daughter.  She is very level headed and she called the courthouse in Huntsville and spoke with the drug department.  They said SCAM!!!  She then looked online and found lots of reading material!!!  This guy needs to be caught..  I am afraid to leave my house.  The officer in Huntsville said that they could be following me!  Very scary

ALERT - EXTORTION SCAM - ALERT
DEA Warns Public of Extortion Scam by
DEA Special Agent Impersonators
The Drug Enforcement Administration is warning the public about criminals posing as DEA special agents or other law enforcement personnel as part of an international extortion scheme.

The criminals call the victims (who in most cases previously purchased drugs over the lnternet or by telephone) and identify themselves as DEA agents or law enforcement officials from other agencies.  The impersonators inform their victims that purchasing drugs over the lnternet or by telephone is illegal, and that enforcement action will be taken against them unless they pay a fine.  In most cases, the impersonators instruct their victims to pay the "fine" via wire transfer to a designated location, usually overseas.  If victims refuse to send money, the impersonators often threaten to arrest them or search their property.  Some victims who purchased their drugs using a credit card also reported fraudulent use of their credit cards.

Impersonating a federal agent is a violation of federal law.  The public should be aware that no DEA agent will ever contact members of the public by telephone to demand money or any other form of payment.

The DEA reminds the public to use caution when purchasing controlled substance pharmaceuticals by telephone or through the Internet.  It is illegal to purchase controlled substance pharmaceuticals online or by telephone unless very stringent requirements are met.  And, all pharmacies that dispense controlled substance pharmaceuticals by means of the lnternet must be registered with DEA.  By ordering any pharmaceutical medications online or by telephone from unknown entities, members of the public risk receiving unsafe, counterfeit, and/or ineffective drugs from criminals who operate outside the law.  In addition, personal and financial information could be compromised.

Anyone receiving a telephone call from a person purporting to be a DEA special agent or other law enforcement official seeking money should refuse the demand and report the threat.

Report Extortion Scam: 1-877-792-2873

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm

Got a call from an idiot claiming to be David Burgos from the DEA who asked if I knew why he would be calling me.  First thing that came to mind was my druggie ex-husband, he said no it had to do with me buying prescriptions over the internet, which I do not do.  May have done so over ten years ago, nothing major though.  He said there is no statute on this (I am a paralegal and have been for over 20 years) so I know the only thing there is no statute on is murder.  However, I was a little scared.  He told me I was subject to a fine of $250,000 and jail time.  I asked him if I was being charged with something and if so they better come and talk to me in person.  He said they would be here in 25 to 30 minutes.  As soon as I could get to a computer I looked this stuff up and found it was a scam so I called the real DEA and spoke to them and they said it was definitely a scam and these guys were out of the Dominican Republic and they are working to catch them and can use all the info any one who encounters them can give.  So report them if you are contacted by them.  By the way, it has now been over 25-30 minutes and they still have not come to talk to me.