To all of you with complaints about these scammers posing as debt collectors for CashNetUSA, be prepared, they won't stop. I have been getting DAILY calls from numerous people since October 2007 from these scammers, I have been treathened, I have had one of them call me in the middle of the night from his personal phone, my husband answered and this guy started screaming at my husband threatening him, and I don't mean just threats if we don't pay we going to jail, he threatened to drive to our home. I have talked to people at CashNetUSA, they informed that several personal files had been stolen with minimal information, but enough for them to contact us and try to get money out of us, they even faxed me a letter proving I owe them NO money, but these people keep calling. Until the authorities do something and catch them, we will continue to be victimized and harrassed by these people. I have started a journal that I write every number they call me from. I have caller ID, so if I recognize the number I don't answer, if I don't I answer and as soon I realize it is them I hang up, I don't even answer their questions when they try to get me to verify who I am, I say nothing but 'hello' and I can tell instantly who they are by what they say. So just hang up on them and start keeping a log of the numbers.

I wish a legit attorney would step forward and help all of us who have been victimized by these people who help open up a class action suit for all the torment we have to endure. We should not have to live with this. I have had to deal with this for over 4yrs now, enough is enough. Something needs to be done.

HE IS USING THE NAME NICK JONES THIS TIME.

HE IS THREATENING TO SEND THE DEBT INFO TO MY EMPLOYER. THAT IF I DONT RESPOND ALL THEY IS SAY IS GOOD LUCK AS THE SITUATION UNFOLDS ON YOU
IT IS BS.

They are harrassing me too!

Well here we go again, another threatening call and harrassment.  Eric White, which is a hoax, he is either nigerian, iranian, iracian, this number 310 853 3491, 484 362-2362, 617 531-1244, 661 752-5761, 845 445-2304, same speech, different people using the same voice and very bad english, all american names, scott adams, adam smith, alan scott, and so forth.  Threatening me with an illegal transaction, using me social, called my employer, two of my neighbors, been going on for 3 years now.  Does not want a paper trail.

7129304871 Is a number tracked back to a scammin group that feeds off of internet advertisment by hacking into a larger data base from other online websharers. Usually from people who apply for local loans, apt finders or anything website that ask for a clients information in order to aid their search in a larger data base that branches off and finds other websites that ads or promoters match the similarities in the search. Scammers will creates websites that mimic those ads/websites and will recieve general information about the clients and will then make up excuses to capture or recieve their personal information. By doing this they will call you a numerous times addressing that person, such as yourself and will address you with an issue like you owe them money on an internet loan, or a bill, some say they are a Law firm or just sell you with a product. And they will continue to call and harasse you or the indivisual at home, on your cell, or even harassing calls at your job.I hope this is not effecting your work or any situation in your life? But scammers don't care.

All I can say is to try and block the number, you can file a complaint, you can try and misguide them and lie by saying this person doesnt exist. I hope this helps. and good luck.

Yep, these guys use different numbers from different area codes, but its always the same guy.  He doesnt even use my name, its always a different name.

If you tell him its the wrong number, he'll get offended and ask for your personal information.

I told him if he called again, I'd file a complaint with FTC, etc.  and he said the FBI agent was next to him.  I asked to talk to him then, and he got real nervous, apologized and said he wouldn't call again.

3108533491 Is a number tracked back to a scammin group that feeds off of internet advertisment by hacking into a larger data base from other online websharers. Usually from people who apply for local loans, apt finders or anything website that ask for a clients information in order to aid their search in a larger data base that branches off and finds other websites that ads or promoters match the similarities in the search. Scammers will creates websites that mimic those ads/websites and will recieve general information about the clients and will then make up excuses to capture or recieve their personal information. By doing this they will call you a numerous times addressing that person, such as yourself and will address you with an issue like you owe them money on an internet loan, or a bill, some say they are a Law firm or just sell you with a product. And they will continue to call and harasse you or the indivisual at home, on your cell, or even harassing calls at your job.I hope this is not effecting your work or any situation in your life? But scammers don't care.

All I can say is to try and block the number, you can file a complaint, you can try and misguide them and lie by saying this person doesnt exist. I hope this helps. and good luck.

This company keeps calling for one of our Employee's. We have contacted our local police department.
We asked the company not to call here as it is a place of employment, they called 5 time with a 2 mintue period.

This man has called both my cell phone and my work phone and cursed me saying I defaulted on a loan I never took out.  Do not give any information.  He claims to be a federal investigator and sometimes uses the name Jim Jackson.

I received a call from this number, but did not answer.  A message was left for me saying there was a case against my social security number, and I needed to have   my attorney contact them immediately.  I've been getting calls of this nature, but from various numbers for over a year. They are very annoying!

Best way to stop it make these guys disappear forever

I keep getting a call from this number threatening that I am in trouble and that they will keep calling and harassing me.  How do you get this calls to stop?

Claiming to be legal dept called on job 30x back to back. Claiming to be Nick Jones

Call the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and your State Police. When they call back,

tell them that you are aware they are running an extortion ring, have notified the authorities

and hang up.

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
1-831-607-9214
1-972-674-3753
1-646-918-5211
1-206-202-4942
1-206-337-7992
1-206-339-8218
1-561-318-0446
1-585-250-8090
1-347-827-0921
1-607-398-0725
1-888-610-5486
1-585-861-9940
1-909-233-7338
1-646-416-9016
1-805-262-6170
1-661-270-6724
1-561-705-0140
1-310-807-0220
1-347-637-6473
1-951-582-4832
1-909-503-0682
1-818-579-7691
1-347-321-6497
1-206-666-3611
1-206-203-0712
1-347-875-8418
1-347-875-9600
1-206-629-9392
1-818-532-9007
1-310-853-3491
1-347-377-7368
1-321-300-4091
1-866-840-2030
1-760-588-2207
1-845-360-0920
1-415-259-5025
1-347-637-6452
1-818-275-4539
1-707-673-9475
1-714-485-9593
1-909-565-4286
1-714-733-5614
1-512-501-3639
1-347-688-9900
1-914-269-4450
1-650-425-1020
1-888-500-2534
1-347-827-3814
1-410-849-9353
1-803-400-8483
1-951-281-4802
1-858-224-8121
1-347-637-6485
1-631-209-6009
1-480-463-1613
1-646-719-9237
1-727-487-5327
1-516-453-9112
1-951-582-4833
1-410-834-2832
1-877-906-8903
1-215-207-9364
1-617-531-2607
1-206-892-3600
1-800-622-0484
1-512-524-3409
1-718-713-8750
1-951-582-4840
1-832-460-8297
1-646-396-7759
1-866-805-8001
1-630-332-0774
1-209-560-6572
1-718-819-7997
1-347-349-7287
1-800-373-1577
1-206-388-4845
1-800-614-2800
1-860-657-9599
1-866-792-9306
1-866-659-4140
1-800-985-9285
1-866-415-5400
1-954-979-5946
1-209-790-3795
1-973-500-3118
1-800-435-4794
1-214-446-9831
1-800-654-7444
1-866-443-6227
1-252-458-7493
1-888-407-7872
1-866-853-4965
1-888-387-1419
1-347-418-0224
1800-349-9418
1800-663-0158
1512-646-2003
1310-853-3491
1410-636-1871


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

they are harasing me rite now..how do i get rid of them?

I have been contacted thru cell and work (cell is my home also) phones multiple times a day for about a week. All are very poor reception calls stating I receive a pay day loan and didnt pay it back (did not happen) all are from a poorly speaking man with a very thick Indian accent. very hard to understand. Today he left a voicemail that if i didnt call him back in 5 minutes he was going to have charges brought against my SSN (exact words) and have me arrested. I called back and he had the nerve to tell me he would get my file and call me back in 5 minutes. I told him I wouldnt answer and that he had better speak to me now. When he told me the "story" I told him in very strong language that I had not and I did not owe his company "Credit Net" any money and that they were a scam and I wasnt stupid enough to fall for their scam, then I hung up on him still talking and threatening me with arrest. I then called my husband who called the company and talked to the same man "Joe Brown" my husband told me they have my name, ssn, bank info, and dob. "Joe Brown" didnt like my husband telling him the same thing I did and hung up on my husband. The call back number for "joe Brown" is 310-853-3491.it is a scam that has been working about 6 years and is known to be very abusive towards women because their culture thinks of women as second class citizens. Today they got that back in spades from this "second class citizen"

called my employment again does this man ever give up??????????????? if you are able to help me, please I need all the help i am able to get THANKX!!!!

calls every day even @work. told me he was mark watson from the "legal dept" and a team of investigators along w/governor (couldnt catch the name) were going to appear @ my residence and beat me up for the fraud I committed.  finally got to answer his call again today, told him I was recording message, informed me he was not mark watson but his boss and would give him the message (then why call and tell my you are him) but I could hear my voice in the background (speaker phone i am assuming)  after i told him i was turning my tape recording over to my attorney he said he also was recording me and that he was turning his over to the head of the "court house"  REALLY??? anyway, got no help from anyone i contacted except to block his # from my incoming calls  havent done that yet.  but this man never asks me for anything, just to tell me he is going to download against me on the internet to let every one know that i have committed some kind of fraud. doesnt seem like much, but i hope this helps someone out.

These people call at least daily for a week and then stop.They threatened my wife with being arrested.When they tell us they are goin to sue us.I explain that my lawyer is waiting for them and they hang up.Also,if you call and actually get someone.If you ask for name and number and explain you are reporting them.They hang up immediately.Of course my favorite is someone who claims his name "Jack" and good luck understanding what he is claiming his last name is.Which is very American sounding but he can't speak very well.It is scams like these and individuals like these that need to be met behind the good ol wood shed

They keep calling me telling me I will be sued & they will call my boss & all of my family.  These calls come to my work phone & come every few months. They have the last 4 of my SS #. I have heard of these calls trying to get you to pay bills you don't owe.  I never talk to them, they only leave messages threatening me.

I took out a minimal payday loan of $100.00 from cashnetusa. Paid it off last Friday in full. Next business day, I started getting calls from 310-853-3491, at home and at work. Thankfully at work, it just goes to my private work voicemail and at home it goes to my voicemail there, so we just delete them. I will probably change my checking account with my bank. And at some point change my phone number.
But the guy said, "If you don't call me right now, well....good luck to you....(frickin threats).

Anyway, I am not too worried cause I dont think that can take money from me without authorization.

I unfortunately became a victim of these scum, to the tune of $250 because they did have most of my info. I have filed a dispute with my bank and hopefully something will be done to shut these a-holes down.

This company claims to represent a loan company's legal department. Do not believe their threats and their lies. Do not give them debit card or bank info.

I have received calls from this number also.  So far I have let them go to voicemail.  The message is the same always -- I must call back today and if they don't hear from me or my attorney they will take me to court.  They never say what it's about - they just leave threatening voicemails.  They have called my job.  I told my manager and she is on my side and understands because it has happen to a member of his family and him.

They too have called me as well. They are a fraudulant company.Do not give them any more of your infomation.They want to take money out of your checking account.If you have not done so  call your local FBI office and report it.I wish you luck on this matter.

Call the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and your State Police. When they call back, tell them that you are aware they are running an extortion ring, have notified the authorities and hang up.

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
1-831-607-9214
1-972-674-3753
1-646-918-5211
1-206-202-4942
1-206-337-7992
1-206-339-8218
1-561-318-0446
1-585-250-8090
1-347-827-0921
1-607-398-0725
1-909-233-7338
1-888-610-5486
1-585-861-9940
1-909-233-7338
1-646-416-9016
1-805-262-6170
1-661-270-6724
1-561-705-0140
1-310-807-0220
1-347-637-6473
1-951-582-4832
1-909-503-0682
1-818-579-7691
1-347-321-6497
1-206-629-9392
1-818-532-9007
1-310-853-3491


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

[This post has been removed]

Call the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and your State Police. When they call back, tell them that you are aware they are running an extortion ring, have notified the authorities and hang up.

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
1-310-853-3491

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