Stop callings !!!!!!

he need to learn english.... I had a lot call from this a** holes but I hire a attorney to check all this scam that they are doing.

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

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

says they r from the federal legislator, and that i am under investigation

STOP CALLING ME

The Fact everyone that it appears they have silenced their posts here means they are done.  The scam is over the FBI now has recordings and all the prof they needed to expedite their next step, I have been working directly with them,  I can say this now because the FBI has the case they need to shut this down.  They've been working with foreign governments and know exactly who they are, how many employees their are,  who they have already scammed.  Now our laws would put them in Jail. In the foreign country I am speaking of the Punishment is much more SeVeRe than a comfortable jail cell.
Watch them scurry like RATS!!

really?  a "saphina"  what is a "saphina"?  You guys are such a scam it's not even funny!  I do not owe anything to any finance company and have reported you to the board of trade and Federal Department for Fraud.  I have also blocked your number from my phone - nice try! But no scamming this intelligent, independent woman.  You deserve to be in JAIL!

And funny thing is, when this Indian duded calls, he never gives a company name!\

And when they hang up on you "Jose", they just laugh at you.
Oh, btw, IDIOT, there was no threat in my earlier post.
Brain-dead SCAMMER!

EVERYTHING YOU WROTE IS A LIE.  YOU DONT HAVE THAT INFO YOU HAVE ONLY PART SOC. NUMBER PART OF THE DRIVERS INFO. YOU OBTAINED THAT INFORMATION ILLEGALLY..  THEIR IS A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN JOSE AND HIS NAME IS OBAMA AND HE WILL GET YOU LIKE HE GOT OSAMA!!!!!  YOU ARE A TERRIORIST AND OUR GOVERNMENT NOW VIEWS YOUR PREDATORY TACTICS ILLEGAL AND IMMORAL.  YOU WILL PAY WITH YOU JOB LIFE SOUL.  YOU HAVE NOTHING ON US JOSE ONLY YOUR LIES....

I BET ITS SO HARD TO KEEP A FLOAT. MUST BE HARD WHEN YOU GO HOME AT NIGHT LOOK AT YOUR LOVED ONES AND THINK WOW WE CAN ALL ENJOY ONE MORE NIGHT BECAUSE I EXPLOITED AND DEFRAUDED ANOTHER INNOCENT VICTIM.

THE MONEY IS NOT OWED IN THE FIRST PLACE.  US THE PEOPLE YOU SCAM HAVE NEVER DEFAULTED!  THEIR IS NO MONEY OWED.  YOU WANT SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.  WE CALL YOU A LOSER!!  IF I WAS JIM CARREY IN ACE VENTURA YOU WOULD BE A LOOOOOOSSSSSEEEEERRRR!!!  SO SUCK ON THAT ONE JOSE!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DEFRAUD PEOPLE JOSE??  YOU GO TO JAIL!! THEIRS A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN A***OLE HIS NAME IS OBAMA!!  YOU BETTER GET YOUR DOCUMENTS SHREDDED CAUSE JUST LIKE FREDDY KRUGER....ONE TWO OBAMAS COMMING FOR YOU! THREE FOUR BETTER LOCK YOUR DOOR!!  FIVE SIX GRAB YOUR CRUCIFIX SEVEN EIGHT STAY UP LATE NINE TEN.....NEVER SLEEP AGAIN... ALL EYES ON YOU SCUM OF THE EARTH YOU LEACH YOU BOTTOM FEEDER.  LEARN HOW TO ROT YOU HAVE AN ETERNITY AWAITING...

PREACH ON SISTER LISA DONT LET THE FORKED TONGUED JOSE WHO REALLY IS FROM INDIA ILLEGALLY!!  WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FEDS WILL THINK ABOUT THAT JOSE??  WHERES IS YOUR GREEN CARD??!!!

First off Jack off learn how to SPEAKA DA ENGLISH Comprende my Indian friend.  Not friend really sworn enemy.  Your a scam artist scum of the earth.  Your a bottom feeder praying on the weak.  God will have a special place for you.  Burn baby burn.  Jah knows all and he see's the EVIL in your soulless body.  REPENT SINNER!!

i just got a call like this also the left a message but i know its a scam let them keep talking to your voice mail their get tired and move their time will come to get caught and hung their time will come people just dont be afraid of them they are nobodies fight back document all the numbers and the names that they leave on your voice and if you do talk them tell them to go f*** themselves and have a nice day and hang up

This is a scam.  This telephone number is being trunked out of the United States via computer.  This is not a legitimate effort to collect a debt.  Their modus operandi is to overwhelm you with telephone calls until you simply pay them to stop.  This is a legal violation in most states.  The simplest way to stop this is to change your telephone number and then be careful what data you associate with the new number.  Some telephones and service providers can also block specific incoming telephone numbers.

For your info, 321-300-9109 is a remotely routed number which actually originates somewhere in the Indian sub-continent, most likely Calcutta. The remote router operator is is an American company which reroutes these calls for a fee. Obviously, the American company does not care where or for what purpose these calls are made. All they care about is the fee they collect. This info was collected from the IC3.gov website, which is a branch of the FBI's Internet Scam website. Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done except to ignore these types of calls.

have called me over 50 times at work. cursing out coworkers and everything. they got me over 3 years ago for $150 and never again. My bank couldn't even trace them that's how scrambled they are. These foreign guys threaten and harass a persons job. how can that be right? when i asked what they wanted he's talking about a some kind of crime i couldn't even understand him. I work as a bail bondsman if i didi a crime i wouldnt' be still employed. This is very harassing and someone needs to do something about this.

Jose,

You cannot violate the FDCPA nor state law. You cannot call someone 10 times a day, even if you do not leave a message. Call records have been used in Florida, West Virginia and New York cases in the last 60 days to prove creditor/collections violations.

Also, you, as the collector, are not the actual creditor - which is defined as the first party of the two party contract. Therefore, you cannot threaten legal action or even imply it on behalf of the real creditor. If your company has bought the debt, you have no legal action because you paid for the debt and have no harm - this has been tried many times and never won by the purchaser of debt. In many states, if you threaten legal action, which includes stating that you or someone else needs to come to the place of employment or home of the person you are trying to contact to get a signature on legal documents, then you are in violation of that state's FDCPA laws. You implied you are working for an attorney. Well, you lack the legal background to imply anything regarding the law.

Also, US Bank is one of my clients - I am hoping you are not stating that is who you work for. Their collections is internal and they do not issue payday loans.

The fact that you are talking about the benefit of the call is getting a settlement is a prime indicator that your company is a purchaser of debt or at least a contract to collect firm. If you are sincerely legitimate, then you should change your practice. There are many debtors that would, if approached in a normal manner, would respond to such an offer. There is nothing wrong with putting a time limit on it to strike urgency.

You may be right in some of your assumptions, but your debt collections practices are not legal, making you the one in the wrong. Ultimately, companies like yours either have to change their name frequently or the drop out of the business because the regulatory part of it comes down on them. I would suggest you take my advice and change your approach with integrity and honesty. Otherwise, the avoidance and verbal abuse you take when you make a call like that is well deserved on each and every occurence.

P.S. Get someone to proof read your english. It does not translate well and only affirms the earlier post that your call center is not domestic to the United States and is most likely in India or another asian country.

They called everyday and then finally left me a message. The man who I could not understand due to being foreign. Told me that he needed me or my lawyer to call as he was from a crime scene investigation unit and need to speak to me about a file. He told me that if I did not call him he hoped that GOD would have mercy on my soul as my world was about to rain down all around me. When i called he asked me if I know a guy with a weird name and I told him no and he started telling me that he knows that i know who this guy was and started getting all upset. I told him again that I didnt know that person and he said just let him know that the FBI is looking for him due to check fraud and to have a good day.

I took out a very small pay day loan years and years ago, have my paperwork that its all paid off, never got a call from the company i took it out with that I was in debt and I currently have no debt (only bill I have is car insurance) i dont even have any credit cards...ran a credit check and it shows the same thing.  every time this number calls me or i call it back ( 3 times in the past year) i cant understand a word these people are saying, then they get frustrated and yell and call me a very very bad person...really?  know your rights people.  I work for a police agency and people are getting themselves into trouble every day by giving these people their personal information.

Excellent post! One of the best and most informative I've ever seen. We need more good people like you on our side. The tide is building and jokers like Jose will have to run for cover, soone or later. Everyone is encouraged to read your post. Thanks!

The following was copied from the ic3.gov website, which is the Internet Crime Division of the FBI.
It bears directly on this type of fraudulent and malicious calls, sometimes made to computer phones but mostly to regular land-lines. If you want more information, go to the website. You can then submit a complaint against these people. If you can record the call it's even better. Keep a record of all calls, emails, threats, etc.

Threatening IC3 Impersonation Calls

The IC3  ( ic3.gov)  has received thousands of complaints pertaining to payday loan scams; however, recently some of the callers have claimed to be with the IC3. Recipients described the callers as "very nasty and could barely speak English." Victims were told a complaint had been filed against them regarding a payday loan and they must repay the loan as soon as possible to avoid court and jail time. The amount of the loans vary, but average around $600.

Other complainants reported that the caller claimed to be from the Attorney General's office and told the recipient they were being sued by the IC3 and private detectives for not repaying a payday loan.

In both scenarios, the caller had the recipient's social security account number and bank information. Some recipients reported that the checking account number was incorrect. Others reported receiving calls from individuals claiming to be "officers" with the IC3. Recipients reported being told they were being investigated and were threatened by claims that information would be used against them in court proceedings, but they did not provide any additional details about the calls. These callers were described as having an Indian accent, called the recipients multiple times, and used various names.

Jose IS A LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR. LIAR.

Banks check with ChexSystems, not the Shared Check Authorization Network (SCAN), to screen out account holders who have previously abused deposit accounts like write bad checks. Before a bank will issue a new account, it wants to know if you've previously abused bank accounts. ChexSystems has your bank-account history (a history of all bank accounts you've ever held in your whole life per your SSN and everything that happened on those accounts), SCAN does not.

Retailers scan your check at checkout and send it to SCAN, not ChexSystems, to decide whether to accept or decline a customer's check that's presented to pay for merchanise. All retailers care about is whether routing and account numbers on the check have been used in the past on bad checks. If it has, your check will be rejected. What this means is if you wrote a bad check to buy a TV from an electronics store, you'll be unable to write a second bad check on that *same* checking account to pay for clothing from a department store later. SCAN won't have your SSN either because all it ever receives are scans of checks and your SSN does not appear on your checks, does it?

Jose is a lying scammer shill who can't even tell a story right. Jose claims to work for SCAN ("The bank will decline to open the new checking account and provide the customer with an 800 number to call SCAN.  our customer will then call the number provided which will direct them to our staff") but he is lying in so many ways and on so many levels.

Legit collectors per section 809 of the FDCPA http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf *must* tell you at initial contact, or send you paperwork within 5 days of initial contact, the following:
1. $amount of debt,
2. name of the current creditor (which may differ from the original creditor who might have sold your debt),
3. a statement that that debt will be assumed to be valid unless you dispute in writing within 30 days,
4. a statement that that if you do dispute in writing within 30 days, the collector must mail you written verification of the debt,
5. a statement that if you ask the collector in writing within 30 days, the collector must send you the name and address of the original creditor if it's different from the current creditor.
If you don't get the 5 disclosures, orally or in writing (you do not have to ask for them, the FDCPA requires collectors to provide them), treat the collector like you would any SCAMMER.
Has the statute of limitations for your state http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/SOL-by-State.html expired on your debt? If expired, don't pay.
Collectors generally have to be licensed by your state to practise (collect debt) in your state and you can find out by calling your state Attorney Generals Office. Ask if a license is required and does this collector have one. If not licensed, don't pay and file a complaint.
Read useful debt-collection FAQs from the FTC here http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm
Be aware that scammers are using bought/hacked/phished loan application data to extort payments for fictitious debts from victims and victims' families and friends.
The FBI warns about payday loan extortion scams here http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/paydayloanscam_120710
The BBB has issued several alerts on this scam, just google "bbb.org alert phony debt collector"
Report to the Internet Crime Complaint Center http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx , the Federal Communications Commission http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm , the Federal Trade Commission https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ and your state AG, as appropriate.

Why We Love Complaints  & What We  Can Expect!
In fact we receive these
types of complaints every day.  AND WE LOVE THEM!!  Here is the
latest complaint received by our office (the only modification to
this complaint is the phone numbers and last name):

"I have left numerous message's reguarding my account on check
#1248 that has been paid in full. please update your system and
contact me asap @ 909-999-9999 cell or @ home 951-999-9999. This
matter is very urgent and requires your immediate attention. I can
not wright checks!
                         Thank You,
                        Tim XXXXXXXX"

So, why do WE LOVE COMPLAINTS?  Read on and learn.

All right! Something like 7 to 12 out of every 100  loan
customers fail to pay as agreed;  then expect up to 25 out of 100. Their references either
don't exist or claim they never heard of our customer. That
employer phone number provided by  borrower turns out to be
their sister's cell phone.  The 3 collection letters you sent to
your borrower's residence were all returned; stamped "undeliverable
- no forwarding address".

What is a  lender to do? Luckily, we do have our customer's
key information such as bank account number, social security
number, and in many cases a copy of their driver's license.

So every story has a happy ending, right?
We do have their
account with us, right? Yes? OK then. . We enter their "bad customer's" data
and bank account information. Then, sit back and relax!

Eventually our "bad customer" will get her (OK, so it could be a
him.)  life back together. It could take two weeks, three months,
six months, a year, maybe even three years or 5 years.  BUT,
EVENTUALLY our "bad" customer will need to open a new bank account
(yes, the service tracks by Social and driver's license which are
both required to open bank accounts) or they will need to use that
check to make a purchase at their local grocery store. Then we'll
get them!  Finally, redemption at last :o)

You see, the customer's new prospective bank will check the Shared
Check Authorization Network (SCAN) database BEFORE allowing the
customer to open that new checking account. The bank will decline
to open the new checking account and provide the customer with an
800 number to call SCAN.  our customer will then call the number
provided which will direct them to our staff .Upon payment or
satisfactory arrangement,  and we remove our
EX-customer from SCAN so they can get their financial life back.
Ah, it's all so easy!  So easy, we even automated the process.

This scenario happens every day; by the thousands.

If we don't get our customer at the bank, we'll get them at
Wal-Mart or Target, or... Eventually we will get them. And
eventually  WE WILL GET YOUR MONEY.

No more chasing customers. No more Small Claims Court. No more
write-offs. All that is required is a LITTLE PATIENCE and Internet.This information is for all those who want to disappear with borrowed money.

Don't use offensive words and gig don't try to threat,We talk to authorities almost everyday.

Give it up!! We're onto you!

That's right, regulators and consumer protectionists attack scammers and that's *YOU* --- a no-good, lying, scumbag of a scammer shill.

With regulators and consumer protectionists attacking us daily it's
more important than ever to pro-actively defend ourselves.