6/10/08 - I received a message on my home answering machine from an Special Investigator Anita Banks.  She claimed to be representing a company called that had filled a legal complaint about non-payment of a purchased from over a year ago.  She left a File Number to reference when I called back to 240-235-0635.  I immediately called my Credit Card Company and confirmed that indeed on 4-26-07 a purchase was transacted to a PayPal Account and Posted on 4-27-07 - PAID IN FULL.  I have requested and received a copy of my statement from my credit card company.  They suggested that I contact local authorities in this matter for fraud.  I also contacted the owner of the Company I made my purchase from.  She confirmed that she uses PayPal and receives payment prior to sending out any orders. Well then I Googled her name Anita Banks in Maryland and discovered that there have been many complaints from not only her, but apparently several others.   The postings suggested contacting the Attorney Generals Office in Maryland.  I am not only going yo contact the Louisiana Attorney Generals Office - James Caldwell at 225-326-6705, buy also the Attorney Generals Office - Douglas Gansler at (410) 576-6300 in Maryland.

Received call from this number 4/29/08 Tue, she left message "...this is Investigator Amanda Powers...looking for Sean Hall...in regards to litigation against you...please call my office immediately...blah, blah, blah.  Don't know who Sean Hall is, and this call fits with descriptions above of bottom feeder, fraudulent, schister types.  Will be reported to BBB and Attorney General.

Someone by the name of Inspector Kelly called me at work. Told me that a law suit was being brought up against me. She gave me a case number and the number 240-235-0635. I asked her if I was being sued and she said yes. She told me to call when I got off of work. Based on what I have read on here, I will not be calling them back. If they call back here at my job I will never be "here" as far as any of my fellow associates know. To think that I almost fell for this rubbish. I like the fact that a previous poster said he would like to ring these peoples' necks. I agree--I'll hold them and he can punch. 8-) Will not show any mercy to garbage.
Ignore the fools.

morestar litigation called me said i will be aressted for a civil suit if i dont send money right away by money gram to a andrew brzyski esq.whoi was told was a lawyer. the call was from a fred myers warrant division i was so afraid and upset sent money. later i called local sheriff they came to my home and told me this was a scam not to send any money.they claimed it was a credit card debt from household renasance i never heard of it ihave been terorized and they keep calling using differnt names and numbers 2406968261 2406961777.

It's scam.  They go by various names such as MoreStar Consultancy, LLC; Litigation Consulting Service, LLC; Claims & Warrants; and North American Asset Investigation Bureau, LLC (NAAIB). For details, read consumer credit advocate Bud Hibbs' report on these scammers: http://budhibbs.com/debtcollectorpages/NAAIB.htm

One thing it remember is that anytime someone calls you demanding money to prevent your arrest or criminal charges, it is ALWAYS a scam. No debt collector (let alone criminals posing as debt collectors) have the authority to have anyone arrested for anything. (And it's illegal to them to threaten such a thing.) These type of crooks also routinely impersonate FBI agents, police and other law enforcement officials, which, obviously, is illegal as well. (Besides, law enforcement officers aren't in the business of debt collection, and debt is a civil, not a criminal matter.)

The bottom line is, these are criminals trying to steal your money. Ignore their illegal threats and report their attempts to extort money from you to all these federal and state law enforcement agencies:

1) The U.S. Secret Service is responsible for protecting the country's financial infrastructure and payment systems from international and domestic threats. Call or write your local Secret Service field office to alert them to the details of this attempted extortion. The addresses and phone numbers for the local Secret Service field offices are listed at http://www.secretservice.gov/field_offices.shtml or in your phone book.

2) Alert the FBI at https://tips.fbi.gov  Be sure to tell the FBI that you are being targeted by extortionists over the phone and give them all the details.

3) Maryland Attorney General  http://www.oag.state.md.us/Consumer/complaint.htm  (Litigation Consulting claims to be in Maryland)

4) Ohio Attorney General  http://www.ag.state.oh.us/citizen/consumer/complaints.asp  (MoreStar claims to be in Cleveland)

5) Your state's attorney general, the contact information for whom is at www.naag.org

6) File a complaint with your local police. Most police departments will take a report over the phone.  Be sure to tell them that you're being targeted by an extortionist and give them all the details.

7) File a complaint with  the Federal Trade Commission  https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

If these crooks call back, tell them that they aren't getting any money from you and that you've reported their scam to federal and state law enforcement. They will react with the usual moronic, false threats.  If possible, try to save any voice messages they leave and, if legal in your state, record their calls if you speak with them. (Inexpensive phone recorders are available at Radio Shack-type stores.)

Hope this helps.

call looking for my brother took number and hung they call back and treaten my wife said they were lawyers and that the police is on the way

they are in an office building on the corner of eight and h st in washington dc

also should mention she told the company name was Caalamo firm and she spelled it out about five times to make sure i knew it

Yes, they called my house too, looking for my brother. They told me big story of legal matters that he was in.  So I just took the number thinking what ever, it must be some sort of a collection agency.  I call back seeing who they are. Excepting some sort of a corpation it sounded like some redneck answering machine. I just hanged up.  Then she called back my wife answer mad wanting to know why he had called and hang up my wife said that she didnt.  They lady started treating my wife saying she obsturing justice and that a sheriff deputy is on his way to get my brother at my house, which he hasnt been to since thanksgiving of 07.

I received a voice mail from a Alex Martin stating that there was a civil suite aganist me. I have just had a background check perform on me due to accepting another contract and it was clean so I knew there was not any civil suit against me. I started investigating the number that Alex wanted me to call back on "240-235-5617" however I found out the caller ID number was 240-235-4192. When I called the number it was associated with a scam to get money. I called Alex back at 240-235-5617 and a woman answered. When I told her her to put Alex on the phone cause I wanted to tell him that I know about this scam she told me not to tell her what to do so I hung up on her. No one has called me back since.

Glad you guys realized they were scam artists before they got any money out of you. They're a bunch of crooks --  They go by a variety of names and phone numbers -- some of the names they use include Global Asset Investigations, Worldwide Recovery Services, Worldwide Asset Investigation Services and North American Asset Investigation Bureau (NAAIB). Last year they were operating out of Cleveland, OH, until they were shut down -- the Cleveland BBB named them as one of the top ten scams of 2007: http://cleveland.bbb.org/WWWRoot/SitePage.asp ... b91931&art=1377
You can get more info here: http://www.budhibbs.com/debtcollectorpages/NAAIB.htm.
They will probably continue using this MD number until they get shut down again, then start using a new area code, but the MO is always the same: they call and identify themselves in a way that implies they are either working for a lawyer, the court system, or the police department (all of these misleading statements are illegal); tell you that there has been a civil case filed against you, they give you a case number, and tell you that you must contact them before a warrant is sworn out against you. When you contact them, they tell you that they are investigating a debt that is 10, 12, 15 or so years old; they'll name some bank you've never heard of, or a credit card you've never heard of. They'll have just enough information about you to make you nervous and they'll be phishing to find out more information. They'll tell you that the debt is some ridiculous amount -- let's say $10,200 for an example -- but if you're willing to pay today, they'll reduce it to, for example, $650. But they can't give you an address. Instead, they will ask for your bank account or credit card number. They'll tell you that if you don't settle on the phone with them that moment, a sheriff will appear at your door within 48 hours to arrest you. NONE OF THIS IS TRUE. Complaints have been filed to the AG of OH, MD, TX, NY, and IL, as well as to the FTC, FCC, and the FBI (as they are trying to illegally extort money over the phone). They often target the elderly and infirm. Do not speak with them, and save whatever messages they leave on your phone. If you get a phone call, file a complaint online with the following organizations:
http://www.oag.state.md.us/Consumer/complaint.htm
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en
http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm
as well as the Attorney General of your own state. Remember: whether the debt is yours or not, you should not be dealing with these people. They are not a legitimate organization.

PLEASE -- file a report. You were smart and savvy enough to do research on this number; not everyone is that lucky. REPORT THEM!!!

240-235-0635, Just received a series of calls to me, my wife, my inlaws 3000 miles away from these guys in Maryland... threatening a Sheriff's visit, civil lawsuit for fraud ... Not sure how they got this info but with all the above reports since last year, it's amazing law enforcement can't shut them down-Most of these situations should be sent to state Attny general's or local DA offices-economic crime units. Please don't give them info but more importantly report them....and give them some justice!!

I got a call from these people and have subsequently spent time on the internet doing research on the various phone numbers and aliases they operate under. I just keep getting angrier and angrier, because they seem to prey especially on the elderly -- and there might be a lot of people out there who don't have access to the internet and who would not be able to research this scam. PLEASE use EC's post (above) to contact the appropriate authorities and complain in an effort to protect those who are less tech-savvy than you are. These people are such awful criminals -- we should do whatever we can to shut them down.

christina called my client (i am an atty) and she left this phone number.  she stated that there was a civil complaint and my client is the respondent.  i had a previous interaction with i believe is the same company but they were previously located in ohio (worldwide investigations).  i called the number and spoke with byron jackson.  mr. jackson refused to provide me with a copy of the civil complaint (he had asked why would he faxed me a copy of that) and his mailing address (they are not allowed to give that information out).  he then asked what the last four numbers of my client's ssn was.  i told him that i do not give that info out.  he then provided me with the four numbers he has and i told him that was not it.  he asked if i was sure and i said yes.  i told him that they had called my client previously regarding the same matter.  he asked, "are you really an attorney?"  i provided him with my bar number.  he asked if my client lived at some address and i said no.  he mumbled somethign and i said that my client did not live at that address.  he asked again and i said no.  he then told me that i had stated yes.  i told him that i said no.  he stated that this was being recorded for safety reasons.  i told him then that's great, please replay back the recording.  he then stated that a civil complaint was being filed against my client in San Francisco county and he wished us good luck.  

here are some statutes that you may find relevant against this company:

Under Section 1692g of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a debt collector is required to provide a validation notice of the debt to the consumer within five days of the initial communication.  What this means is that this company has to send information, which validates the debt (i.e. the person they called actually owed the debt) within 5 days of their phone call.

Under Section 807 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, it is unlawful for a company to threaten to take ?any action that cannot legally be taken or that is not intended to be taken,? and to falsely represent the legal status of any debt.  In "A Guide to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act 137," American Collectors Association (ACA) wrote, ?ACA maintains the position that collectors can contact consumers about accounts after the statute of limitations has expired, as long as no legal remedies, such as a lawsuit or wage garnishment are taken or threatened.?

please note that this company is trying to collect on old debt, i.e. debt that can no longer be legally collected (statute of limitations has already run out).  The SOL on debt collection is 4 years from the date of last payment.  this company was trying to collect on a debt that was last paid in the 1980s.  as such, they are VIOLATING THE LAW when they are threatening legal action.

I got a call today from a "Ronnie Freeman." He told me that I was named as a defendant for a civil law suit and that if I didn't cooperate I woudl face a hefty sentence in jail. He asked for my info and I refused and hung up. He called me back 2 min later and told me I had now just accumalated another offence because of that and if I would take care of the debt out of court he would forget about this new offence...unbelieveable. Do not trust!!!

It's scam.  They go by various names such as MoreStar Consultancy, LLC; Litigation Consulting Service, LLC; Claims & Warrants; and North American Asset Investigation Bureau, LLC (NAAIB). For details, read consumer credit advocate Bud Hibbs' report on these scammers: http://budhibbs.com/debtcollectorpages/NAAIB.htm

One thing it remember is that anytime someone calls you demanding money to prevent your arrest or criminal charges, it is ALWAYS a scam. No debt collector (let alone criminals posing as debt collectors) have the authority to have anyone arrested for anything. (And it's illegal to them to threaten such a thing.) These type of crooks also routinely impersonate FBI agents, police and other law enforcement officials, which, obviously, is illegal as well. (Besides, law enforcement officers aren't in the business of debt collection, and debt is a civil, not a criminal matter.)

The bottom line is, these are criminals trying to steal your money. Ignore their illegal threats and report their attempts to extort money from you to all these federal and state law enforcement agencies:

1) The U.S. Secret Service is responsible for protecting the country's financial infrastructure and payment systems from international and domestic threats. Call or write your local Secret Service field office to alert them to the details of this attempted extortion. The addresses and phone numbers for the local Secret Service field offices are listed at http://www.secretservice.gov/field_offices.shtml or in your phone book.

2) Alert the FBI at https://tips.fbi.gov  Be sure to tell the FBI that you are being targeted by extortionists over the phone and give them all the details.

3) Maryland Attorney General  http://www.oag.state.md.us/Consumer/complaint.htm  (Litigation Consulting claims to be in Maryland)

4) Ohio Attorney General  http://www.ag.state.oh.us/citizen/consumer/complaints.asp  (MoreStar claims to be in Cleveland)

5) Your state's attorney general, the contact information for whom is at www.naag.org

6) File a complaint with your local police. Most police departments will take a report over the phone.  Be sure to tell them that you're being targeted by an extortionist and give them all the details.

7) File a complaint with  the Federal Trade Commission  https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

If these criminals call back, tell them that they aren't getting any money from you and that you've reported their scam to federal and state law enforcement. They will react with the usual moronic, false threats.  If possible, try to save any voice messages they leave and, if legal in your state, record their calls if you speak with them. (Inexpensive phone recorders are available at Radio Shack-type stores.)

Hope this helps.

My daughter called me and told me that someone named Brandon Callahan called her today, June 3, regarding her sister who lives in a totally different state.  He told her that he was a private investigator and had been paid by a someone to locate her sister as there was a complaint filed against her in Maryland.  He had my name, my ex-husband's name, all my other children's names and other personal information.  My son in law did some quick research and discovered that the phone number 240-235-0635 was connected to a collection agency and found your web site which he passed on to me.  The man made it sound like my youngest was being charged for a criminal act of some kind.  My other daughter was terrified and refused to give him any information.  She immediately called me and was totally hysterical thinking that her sister was going to be arrested at any moment.  My oldest lives in North Carolina and my youngest in California.  This is really scary.  He had so much personal information about the family. These people are out there frightening innocent people.  Right now I'm really ticked off.

called my elderly mother said she was being sued out of harris county. he proceded to call her 3 different times and tried to get her to correct him on her ss# she said she does not give that imforation out to any one and hung up on him. I called the # thought it was odd when i told him not to be calling my mother at all he hung up on me so i called back and back no one would answer the ph. just a answering machine would come  on i also got curious and suspicious along with my sister located this on line thanks to all the people that take the time to put this out there my concious was eased keep it up to stop this from hurting elderly and the u.s.a people as well what ever age they may be. may 23,2008

called my elderly mother said she was being sued out of harris county. he proceded to call her 3 different times and tried to get her to correct him on her ss# she said she does not give that imforation out to any one and hung up on him. I called the # thought it was odd when i told him not to be calling my mother at all he hung up on me so i called back and back no one would answer the ph. just a answering machine would come  on i also got curious and suspicious along with my sister located this on line thanks to all the people that take the time to put this out there my concious was eased keep it up to stop this from hurting elderly and us people as well what ever age they may be. may 23,2008

Called and said they were with the civil litigation department and that my son was going to be served by my county prosecutors and that he needed to return this call immediately as they would not be able to help him once he is arrested. My son is deceased since 12/22/2006

claimed to be an investigator and i was the respondant in a civil matter. guy on other end got very nasty claimed th epolicw would be at door in a few minutes and hung up.

My wife recieved a call from 240.235.0635 today.  Was very upset as the caller identified himself to her by the name of Devon Barber,investigator and basically scared her to death saying that I ( her husband ) must call immediately or else.  Said there were gong to be criminal and civil law suitS filed against me.  She calls me at work and we both then look up the number in google and found this blog.  I immediately called the number back ( set my phone on hide I.D. ) and proceeded to rip them a new one.  Cussed like a sailor and I called them everything in the book and of course the gentleman ( I use the term while gritting my teeth ) hung up on me.  I meant to go along when he answered and asked for the assigned case number but I just blew.  After calming down I decided to call back.  I then got an answering machine (ladies voice ) sounding as if this was an attorneys office.  Couldn't help my self, I cussed up a storm again.  This all started around 3 pm today.  I called back every 5 minutes or so and got the answering machine again.  Waited about 30 minutes and called back again and another person ( male ) answered and this time I decided to have fun.  I explained that I felt bad he was having trouble finding a real job and wondered how he felt if someone called his wife or daugther and scared them.  He HUNG UP>>>>  How rude.  For the rest of afternoon I called this
a** and just had fun with silly back and forth and about the time he would hang up I would say "gotta go" call you in five minutes.  I made around 20 of these calls and I must say I intend to pester them from here on out every chance I get.  I would suggest to any of you out there that have been called by these jerks to hide your phone number so it will not show on caller ID( private )and let's all call them until they change the number. Also report them to your local police. Just remember if in fact you owe someone who would sue you or if you did something to get arrested for, then the folks you've offended wouldn't call you.  You would get certified mail, summons, or the policeman would come to your door or work.  Let's all get together and bug the crap out of them.  OOOPS..I'm getting mad again.  Really I would just love to get my hands on the jerk that called my house and give him a little old fashion a** whippin'.  napleschuck

Got a call for someone who has not lived at my home for 10 years.
Claims to be an investagator named Alex Barton
Says someone named in a civil suite, should call back, and leaves claim number, then calls it a case number.
I have not called back

Got a call few days ago saying same thing, "civil complaint" had been filed against me or my business and that I should call or have my attorney call them back also with case number and blah blah blah. Definitely do not trust. Another scam.

Got a call last night saying that a "civil complaint" had been filed against me and that I or my legal council need to call this number and reference the case number left on voice mail.  Any legit outfit would have sent official documents prior to a phone call.

DO NOT TRUST.

I just got a call from this number lat night, asking for me, but saying they were looking for a family member with some odd name, very "john Doe" like. I have no family member with that name, so after i worried about the offical sounding call, i found this site! Thank goodness i googled the number. All I can find online is a washington DC/Maryland address for Paetec.
I did call the number back and left a message on the recording stating my case number and that I wanted removed from their list. I said I did not know anyone by that name and I also could not speak with anyone from their business unless i could get and verify a street address, state and zip code for their business, as well as Maryland Registration number, and that I also was checking into their phone number with the BBB. I am waiting on a call back. These things are scary especially if the people they are calling are either young and give them all kinds of information, or elderly people who believe they are in trouble, thus giving out too much information. VERY SCARY!

I received a phone call from this no. and was told that my daughter would be arrested and jailed for 1-3 years because she failed to show up at a felony hearing.  Later found out it was this immoral bunch trying to collect for Chase Bank.

They are intimidating, misleading, immoral, illegal and any other interesting terms which I choose not to put in print.

Does anybody have a real address on them.........I was given 332 Willer Lane, Bethesda, Md. 15637, but the zip is for Herminie, Pa. and there is no such street address there.  I have two phone nos. 240-235-5616 and the 240-235-0635.

I have reported them to the Better Bus. Bureau, the Attorney Gen's offices, the FTC and the District Attorney, in addition to my personal Attorney.

Need more detailed info on them if anybody has any. I was told they are Litigation Services, Inc. on one call and Litigation & Assoc., Inc. in another call.

Thanks

I was contacted by these people also -- who pressed me very hard and threatened both criminal and civil litigation if I did not make payment on same day.  I became convinced that something was very wrong when they refused to give a their Maryland registration number.  After that a person who identified himself as Marcellus Bradley (I asked for his name) became extremely hostile with me and then hung up on me.

They identified their company as "Litigation Consulting Services"

Big Red Flag on this.  I think they may be involved with identity theft as well as credit card fraud.  They collected as much information from us as possible before I figured out what was going on.

From phoneinfosite.com:

Area Code 240
Area code 240 is in Maryland (Hagerstown, Rockville, Cumberland and western Maryland, overlays with 301).


Exchange 240-235
Exchange 235 is in or around Chevy chase, MD. (Montgomery County, Zipcode 20815)

From whitepages.com:

(240) 235-0635Type: Land Line
Provider: Paetec Communications
Location: Washington, MD - Scrabble Rd.

Now that you read WHERE your calls came from, let me fill you in on WHO these people are: They are a debt-collection agency that once was in OH, now are on the run and they set up shop in Maryland.

They aren't lawyers, but will act like they are. DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION WHATSOEVER!! I cannot stress this enough!!!!!

Please check the info from me and poster ec for the number 240-483-4254.

Type this number into the search box, Neci and Len, and you will find our info as well as posts from other people who have encountered a similar operation like yours; which actually are the same bottom feeders.

Would like to know what phone number this is? Something about a
complaint about of an resident here.