I think they are going to arrest me. I'm only 15. I had no idea what they were talking about.

I received a call from someone at this number wh left a message claiming to be a special investigator. Telling me that someone had filed a complaint against me and there was a civil lawsuit being taken to trial. I was only able to identify the call as coming from Bethesda, Maryland(well supposedly anyway) Before I found out information through this site, I tried returning the call at least 50 times. It would ring several times and then go to busy or go straight to busy. Thanks to this site, I am finished wasting my time.

Correction to above, when I called this number I never received an answer. When I called the number they left me - 1-240-843-4601 is when it was constantly busyor rang and then went to busy.

got a call from 240-235-4133 and told me i had civil suit filed aginst me.And told me to call a nother number to get more information about this.This number was240-696-8260.And he told me that i had a civil suit aginst me.And he new half of my ss number and tried to get me to tell them the rest of it.At that point i told him i was not going to tell him anything i would call tha county court house were i live and he got very mad and then i hanged up the phone on him.

Got a call from someone that could barely speak English. Said litigation was in process and we need to call him back.  My attorney said if someone is filing charges, we would get either a letter from a Magistrate or a Certified Letter from an attorney.  Don't be fooled by these people.  They are trying to collect on a debt that is UNCOLLECTABLE...

have the same people calling me..
Sp. Invest. John Smith, Alfred Jones, John Jones, Alfred Smith, then when i told them to stop calling because they were calling my business line they said they were going to come with the local P.D.  to have me arrested if i didn't pay some loan that i never even got..
so i just called the number back asked to speak to and super, and it turns out that its some collection place that out sources to India, and all the names are fake so there is no way to actually fingure the person calling since they all are provided with a list of names to use instead of going by their own name..

I just got a cal 10 min ago (0CT14 2008 7:35PM EST)from the # (240-235-4133) asking for a mr. somebody who doesnt live here or who I dont even know, So I said "no you got the wrong #" and she said ok with a grumble and hung up, Just last week i got a pice of mail in my mailbox from some county magistrates office addressed to someone who dont live here so I put "no such person at this address, return to sender" on it and sent it back. Mabey the two events are tied together, But then that brings to question how the hell did they get MY phone number? Anyways, The call sounded suspicious so I typed the number into msn's search field and this website came up!

Did the FBI contact you?

Don't hold your breath waiting for that "uniformed officer" to arrive.  :)

Okay, I decided to call these folks at the 240-235-5615 number they left me. The lady who answered the phone began to outline some old debt from 10+ years ago that has since been charged off, said she worked as an investigator for attorneys and she could possibly ask for a settlement on my behalf for lower than what it appears that still I owe them. She became very rude after I told her that I was familiar with credit & collections practices and that I would like to be served these "court" papers and such so that I may file bankruptcy once the docket number is assigned & given to me. She said fine then hung up before I could give her my mailing address, since she had a PO Box listed for me instead of a physical address. I called back, she said, Yes Ms. [my last name] and was very exasperated. I informed her that she didn't have my proper address and that I was calling back to give it to her. She sighed the entire time while taking my information, said a uniformed officer would show up at my door to serve me with papers and that I should follow the instructions as outlined in the paperwork I was to receive. She then hung up in my face again. Ha! I'm trembling like a leaf.......NOT!

It's a scam that goes by such names 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, or orders you to "appear" in court, it is ALWAYS a scam.  No debt collector (let alone criminals posing as debt collectors) have the authority to have anyone arrested for anything, nor do they have the authority to order someone to appear in court. (And it's illegal to them to threaten such things.) 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) Your state's attorney general, the contact information for whom is at www.naag.org

5) 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.

6) File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission  https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en

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.

I transcribed the call I received this morning from these folks:

?My name is Special Investigator Angel Kelley. This message is solely intended for [my first and last name].This message is in regards to a civil complaint which is being filed against you and is being formalized through your county.

?Pursuant to Claim Case Affidavit #: A (as in Angel), B (as in Baby), F (as in Frank), 2002 - where you have been named as the Respondent and you are ordered to appear. You or your attorney must contact my office immediately at 240-235-5615. When calling back refer to your case affidavit number: ABF2002.?


Come on!!!! I know better than to believe that this is legit! The following reasons sum it up for me:

1.) no toll-free number to return the phone call. I'm not paying to call them back!!
2.) Because of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), they CANNOT state your business to a 3rd party, not your kids or your roommate, not even voicemail or answering machine (considered "3rd party" entities) so they were wrong from jump. For example, they can say ONLY to you the "This is an attempt to collect a debt...." phrase only after they've confirmed your identity, but they can't even state that to the 3rd parties.
3.) They weren't even savvy enough to research which county I currently live in.
4.) No written correspondence in lieu of a phone call. Why won't the sheriff just come & pick me up instead of this "special investigator" warning me first with a phone call??!??!?! I should be served with papers from the courthouse, not a friggin' phone call!!

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!!!

got me a little phone call from these lovely folks today.. was actually very entertaining..  they are so good at their lies.. i was impressed.. the problem being.. they say I owe over 3000$ for a credit debt with orchard bank.. told the very nice lady.. ahh' i have a credit card with them and ahhh' i just made my payment last night.. that if I owed them this much money from 2005 they why would they give me another credit card.. yeah.. told them.. i'll check into this and call you back.. when are they serving the ice water in hell??

these people called my house looking for a previous owner, were very rude and hung up on me. i called them back and got a message that this number is no longer in service. kept calling the number and got a call back from them stating to stop calling that i was interupting their business phone line. did this a couple of more times just to have a laugh.

Received a call in April like this from an "special investigator", saying that if I had not yet received a summons to go to court, that someone would be knocking on my door anytime to serve this summons.  I looked up the number mainly to see where the area code was from, and received all sorts of info. on this scam.  It's funny though, a lady called me today and left the same message, so I tried calling her back and (of course)  also got a voicemail.  Going to contact my local FBI office now.

This is my letter to the FBI:  This is a SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

           I was told by a website to contact my local FBI Office after I received a voicemail on my home phone yesterday.  I received a fraudulent voicemail message Saturday June 7th at 12:01 pm from telephone number, 1-240-235-4133.  It came up on my caller ID as Chevy Chase MD.  The voicemail stated that I need to call this number back, 1-240-696-8261 immediately because there was a Civil Complaint against me CASE # MVR3347, and that I was going to have to go to court in my county and that I needed to have my Attorney or myself call them back ASAP.  The call was from a Bethel (female) from Native Banks.  I called the number back in a panic, and I reached a line that stated ?All investigators are busy working on other cases and to leave a message and a case investigator would call me back?  I left a frantic message for someone to call me back immediately.  No one has called me back.  I read on the Web that this is a scam. People trying to get my credit/bank account information from me.  I spent the entire day on Saturday worried that I had forgotten to pay a bill or something and that I would have to go to court?  Something must be done to stop these people.  This is harassment.  If you need any other information regarding this, please feel free to contact me either by email or phone

WE NEED TO STOP THIS!!!! THIS CALL NEARLY RUINED MY WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!

a lady left a message telling me to call 240-696-1704 along with a reference number.  I called and talked to a Mr. Justice who said I was being sued for a credit card account I never had.  He had my name and all of my past addresses, said the bill was from 1999.  Wanted my checking account information so that $500 could be taken out now, and the balance of the $3500 in two weeks.  When I would not give out my bank information he said he was going to finish his paperwork and I would be arrested tomorrow morning then he hung up.  when I tried the number on the id, it was no longer in service and this was only a few hours after it was on my id.

Called back asked to get the number to More Star LLC and they hung up on me every time. These people definately are bogus

I think that this is someones home phone. I called the 866 number back but I blocked my number and they say they will not accept calls from a block number. Its only 3 people who work here. A woman, a older man and another guy. The guy will call himself Daniel Hoffman or Keith Hollman and some other names

To answer your question: yes, they are stupid.

Here's all the information about the crooks who called you:  http://budhibbs.com/debtcollectorpages/NAAIB.htm

See my message above from Feb. 14 for information on reporting them to federal and state law enforcement.

Just got a call from 240-235-4133 "Special Investigator" so and so....
Asking for my husband..Told him "whatever" and hung up.. Well.. he called back.. I answered again. and told him straight up.. Don't call again. I know your a scam as I checked this number out on the internet.. Do you know, that this fool called back 4 times after I said that. That is what you call stupid!! and when he calls back again. I'll say the same thing. then I'll tell him that my husband works in law enforcement. maybe then he'll get the hint.. that he is the fool not my husband....

If you told an attorney about that phone message, he'd probably need a few minutes to stop laughing. It's all meaningless gobblygook meant to scare someone into giving money to the caller. The people who called you are grifters looking to swindle victims out of money.

If you read the messages in this thread and google these phone numbers, you'll see that each time, the call is the same. The crook refers to himself as "special investigator" and then proceeds to make laughably false threats of arrest or lawsuits.  Obviously, that's illegal. No debt collector -- let alone a crook posing as a debt collector -- has the authority to have anyone arrested for anything, nor do they have the authority to issue warrants. In fact, it's illegal for any debt collector to make any false threats to a consumer.

My suggestion is that you ignore these calls as you would ignore a scam email from the notorious Nigerian email spammers. And if they continue to harass you, file complaints with the following:

1) Your local police

2) The FBI at http://tips.fbi.gov or call your local FBI field office

3) The Maryland Attorney General at 410-528-8662 or http://www.oag.state.md.us/Consumer/complaint.htm

4) Your state's attorney general. The contact info for each state's AG is at www.naag.org

5) The Federal Trade Commission at https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

And check out these websites for more information on protecting yourself against outlaw debt collectors:

Consumer Credit Advocate Bud Hibbs - http://www.budhibbs.com/First.htm
National Association of Consumer Advocates - http://www.naca.net/debt-collection-abuse/
Fair Debt Collection - http://fair-debt-collection.com/
Warren & Vullings, LLP - http://www.fairdebtlawyers.com/
My Fair Debt - http://www.myfairdebt.com/
Consumer Counsel Group - http://www.consumercounselgroup.com

Received a call from "Special Investigator Tyla James" for someone named Henry H? although I couldn't really make out the name.  "This message is in regards to a civil complaint being filed against you and being formalized for your county,  Persuant to case affidavit number RIB1948 where you have been named as respondent and must appear.  You or your attorney can contact my office directly at 240-656-1704(?)"

I tried to call back, but got the "this number is disconnected or no longer in service" message - looked at the caller ID, found that it was the 240-235-4133 number, tried calling that - "The number you have dialed is not in service" message came up.

Wondering WTH was going on, started looking around on the interweb, found this and decided it was worth reporting here to substantiate what others were saying.

I got a call this morning from 240-235-4133 stating that i needed to contact private investigator Scott Cullins (not sure if that is the last name spelling, but that's how it sounded) at 240-483-4601 regarding a suit that had been filed against me in my county in Georgia.  That I was being charged with theft by taking, fraud, and malicious yada yada yada...

here's a little background:
last year I started getting collection calls and letters about a credit card account I never had.  it had my name but not my s.s.# or my d.o.b. So I thought someone had stolen my identity.  When I contacted the first collection co.  they ran the social number and it came back as my brother. I had been listed as a reference.  Somehow during the whole collection process, my name got listed as the card holder, but the account had his social number and d.o.b.. huge mess!  my brother paid off the account in November and I'm still dealing with bs from it all.  He has all paperwork showing that the account is paid.

Now back to the deal with this P.I. Scott Cullins and his phone call to me.  He said I owed a credit card co. so much amount ($7,000.00) and never paid and that they tried to settle with me for a less amount and I was stupid for not taking this opportunity.  I was going to try and explain the whole situation to him but he went on trying to talk over me and me trying to talk over him...it got to be a shouting match and he yelled "see you in court" and hung up on me. so I called back and asked him to please not hang up on me and to just listen, and he said no, you listen...and we went on and on again. then he told me to shut my mouth and I had a few choice words for him and he went on to say that he was going to put a lein on my bank account and they'll see me in court and i was nothing and trash and that my life was going to change so much in the next 72 hrs. that it would make my head spin...etc.  It got very ugly.  My husband called and asked the man for the company's name and address that he worked for and the guy said f*** you.  and said that my husband ain't sh** and neither is his wife. LOL  it's all kind of funny now, but I was sooooo mad at the moment.  Anyway, my husband went to our bank and had it flagged and also went to our police and filed a complaint against them.  They are going to contact the man and will record any future phone calls that are made to us from either number.
I will be reporting this matter further....

Dude, if you have no out standing bills and pay your bills, F these people and the way treat people...
And for the people who do not pay ther bills, does it matter what advise we give.. Dead beats ar dead beats, judgements or not, reading this web site or not, people who pay do and the ones who do not cost us all more....

THEN WHEN THESE PEOPLE REALLY HAVE A JUDGEMENT PLACED ON THEM FOR NEVER PAYING THEIR BILLS, THEY WILL JUST IGNORE IT CAUSE YOU TOLD EM TO....GOOD ADVICE

This is a common tactic used by criminals masquerading as debt collectors. Often the calls are made from outside America and routed through U.S. phone numbers. They're attempting to get your credit card or bank account numbers in an attempt to steal your money. Ignore their calls. (By the way, U.S. law prohibits debt collectors from making false threats of pending lawsuits and arrests, so don't worry yourself with these bogus threats.)

Chances are these crooks have accomplices in the United States; so if they continue to call you, report their calls to your local police, the FBI, your state's attorney general and the Federal Trade Commission.  You can reach the FBI online at https://tips.fbi.gov/  The contact info for each state's attorney general is at www.naag.org  And you file a complaint with the FTC at https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

Someone left a message that they are a special investigator ant are filing litigation against someone here at this house.  He barely spoke English which is already suspicious. AND I could hear many other voices in the background like it's a big phone office.  After checking with my attorney, he reminded me that if someone was filing charges, we would get a letter in the mail from a local Magistrate, or a Certified Letter from this company.
Bring it on....

Had the same call from a William Jordan. Only left file # and no return # but claimed that further action would be taken if I did not respond.  Tried call the # back only to have it go to a voice mail box every time I called.