I just got the same call from the same mark Johnson at a "lawyers office" he said I couldn't us my checks or credit card to pay the debt that I had to go to the store and put 500 dollars on a pre-paid card and call him back with the card number and he was leaving work in 45 min so I would have to do this before he left work and if I couldn't do this I would be arrested for pay day loan fraud he even new what bank I banked at I told him sorry couldn't do that and he wasn't happy and said the law would be at my house at 11:30 the next morning . I've dealt with payday companies and even if u miss payments they will work with you . These guys just tick me off and need to a good a** kicking!

I also got a call from this phone number and they claim to be cash loan USA and they were trying to get me to go to the store and get a moneypak valcher card from CVS Pharmacy and then I was supposed to call them back and given this card and they were going to put 1000 dollars in my account for a loan I never knew you had to give money to get a loan this is a scam

OI just got this call just a min ago and he was tellinh me that there are charges being filed against me and when I started to cuss him out he hung up quick fast and a hurry...shoot don't play with me! Talkin about I got charges he couldn't even tell me what they were and when I told him I was gnna check it out myself he hurried up and said don't call back anymore thank you and have a nice day.. like wtf o-0

I too am receiving this harrassing, threatening phone calls. I know it's a scam because I have clients that received these calls on a daily basis. It's still a nuisance and I would love to catch them. They are probably out of the country and can't be traced but it would be nice to catch them. The number I get called from is 323-786-1365. If you block one number they will call from another so it's really hard to ignore them. I work for an attorney and I think next time they call I will have him answer the phone and let them know I have an attorney and they would be glad to help him, into jail.

wow, the exact word for word call happened to my husband on thursday.  I told him to f---- off and we filed a complaint with the public utilites company.  they said they were leting the telecomunications company know to block that number.

this Just happend to me I am glad I looked this up they were trying to get me to pick up a green dot card it was the same guy called me from 323-345-1343

This man knew my ssn and said about terms and conditions.He demanded money. He scared me calling again and again. He knew my name my address. He took $500.00 from me.

i too just got the same call  i felt very threatened and did not know wut to do please help any info would be greatly appreciated

Dude is saying his name is Mark Johnson and that he is an attorney. He is telling me that this message is time sensitive and that I should call him immediately. Failure to do so would have severe consequences. He then ended the message by saying if he does not here from me then all he can do is wish me good luck and god bless. This is a total scam. you could barely understand him and he is clearly an Indian guy with the name Mark Johnson. Tell him that you are at your local FBI field office and that the message is being recorded, he will hang up immediately and never bother you again.

i recieved a few calls from this number also..he was a rude as hell and when i tried asking questions he told me to stop and listen to him even though he made no sense..he didnt give me any information about anything except that i owed for a loan..and btw i dont qualify for loans so my mom called him back and told him to leave me alone and i will report it

I ALSO RECEIVED NUMEROUS CALLS FROM THIS GUY. WHEN I GOOGLED THE NUMBER I FOUND THIS BLOG SO I CALLED HIM BACK AND TOLD HIM TO REMOVE MY NUMBER FROM HIS CALL LIST BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS A SCAM AND ALL HE SAID WAS '"F**K YOU B**CH"' SEVERAL TIMES AND HUNG UP. I WILL BE REPORTING THIS PHONE NUMBER AND
SHOWING THE VOICE MAILS TO MY LOCAL POLICE SO THEY CAN THEN INFORM THE FBI. I THINK EVERYONE RECEIVING THESE CALLS SHOULD DO THE SAME SO THIS CREEP IS STOPPED!!!!

I recieved a call from this number and they hacked my voicemail on my cell phone retreving an unlisted number of a family member who they then contacted, they have call my place of employment, they are using different numbers too 8669046562 that number is from India ,

I received a voice mail at work from this character.  He sounds like Arnold Swartzenegger, something about an attorney and how I better call back repeated the 323-786-0799.  Ending the message that he wishes me luck as this situation unfolds!!!! What a creep!!!!

One leg of this scam has been shut down:

Even scam artists are outsourcing. On Tuesday in its first crackdown on fraudulent telemarketing in South Asia, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it was shutting down two California-based companies that used a call center in India to defraud Americans out of more than $5 million over the past two years.

Workers in India made threatening calls to Americans getting them to pay money on debts that they didn't owe, the FTC charges. At an FTC press conference in Chicago on Tuesday, fraud victim JanLaree DeJulius explained that she had received a call from someone claiming to be an enforcement officer from the (phony) "Federal Department of Crime and Prevention," who threatened to have her arrested and have her wages garnished if she didn't pay a bill of more than $730. The scam artists had gotten her name and information from a payday loan her ex-husband had taken out in her name.

"It was very embarrassing," Dejulius said. "He knew everything about me so I agreed to set up an installment." She is not alone. According to the FTC, more than 8 million calls were made since 2010 and at least 17,000 transactions processed across the United States related to the global scam.

On Tuesday under request from the FTC, a U.S. District Court in Chicago stopped the international operation, charging Varang K. Thaker and two companies he owned, American Credit Crunchers, LLC, and an affiliate Ebeeze, LLC, with violating the FTC Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

"This is a brazen operation based on pure fraud, and the FTC is committed to shutting it down," said David Vladeck, director of the FTC's consumer protection bureau. "Consumers should not be pressured into paying debt they don't remember owing. Legitimate debt collectors must provide consumers with both written information about the debt, and instructions for protecting themselves if they don't think they owe the debt."

According to the FTC's charges, Thaker used Social Security numbers and bank account numbers obtained from payday lenders to identify the victims for his scam. He outsourced the work to an Indian call center, where workers made threatening calls to American consumers to pay fake debt or collect on bills for which they were not authorized.

Thaker was not available when contacted by telephone on Tuesday. A woman who claimed to be Thaker's older sister and asked not to be named for privacy reasons said he is working with the FTC to help the Indian government pursue the fraudster call center operators. She also said he was innocent in the scam. "He was being used by somebody. He didn't even know where they got the information," she told The Huffington Post by phone. She said that her brother got 10 percent of the earnings from the scam operation.

The FTC charges against Thaker are the latest in a series of police actions by the government agency to put an end to rogue debt collection operations that have become more frequent in the aftermath of the Great Recession. In January, the FTC struck a $2.5-million settlement with debt-buying company Asset Acceptance, LLC, charging that the company had falsely represented itself to customers, including making up phantom debts that customers no longer owed. Last October, the FTC filed a complaint against seven other fraudulent debt collectors, alleging that they had engaged in the same techniques -- demanding money from customers who owed nothing at all.

The growing number of Americans who are unable to pay their bills has meant there are more companies looking to profit from their economic difficulties.

Debt collectors have been taking more aggressive tactics as fewer people are able to make ends meet or are in a cycle of debt. More than 30 million Americans are in debt collection, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Since 2010, more than 4,000 complaints have been filed with the FTC and state attorneys general about fraudulent debt collection calls, the FTC said.

Charles Junitkka, a personal bankruptcy attorney who represents clients in the New York City area, said, "In the last few years, the desperation of the collectors and their efforts have intensified because of the economy."

This story has been updated to reflect comment from a woman who says she is the sister of Varang Thaker. Thaker himself was unavailable for comment.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/21/ftc- ... _n_1289751.html

Consumers across the country report that they're getting telephone calls from people trying to collect on loans the consumers never received or on loans they did receive but for amounts they do not owe. Others are receiving calls from people seeking to recover on loans consumers received but where the creditors never authorized the callers to collect for them. So what's the story?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, is warning consumers to be on the alert for scam artists posing as debt collectors. It may be hard to tell the difference between a legitimate debt collector and a fake one. Sometimes a fake collector may even have some of your personal information, like a bank account number. A caller may be a fake debt collector if he:

is seeking payment on a debt for a loan you do not recognize;
refuses to give you a mailing address or phone number;
asks you for personal financial or sensitive information; or
exerts high pressure to try to scare you into paying, such as threatening to have you arrested or to report you to a law enforcement agency.

If you think that a caller may be a fake debt collector:
Ask the caller for his name, company, street address, and telephone number. Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice." The notice must include the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor you owe, and your rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
If a caller refuses to give you all of this information, do not pay! Paying a fake debt collector will not always make them go away. They may make up another debt to try to get more money from you.

Stop speaking with the caller. If you have the caller's address, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files. By law, real debt collectors must stop calling you if you ask them to in writing.

Do not give the caller personal financial or other sensitive information. Never give out or confirm personal financial or other sensitive information like your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number unless you know whom you're dealing with. Scam artists, like fake debt collectors, can use your information to commit identity theft ? charging your existing credit cards, opening new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, writing fraudulent checks, or taking out loans in your name.

Contact your creditor. If the debt is legitimate ? but you think the collector may not be ? contact your creditor about the calls. Share the information you have about the suspicious calls and find out who, if anyone, the creditor has authorized to collect the debt.

Report the call. Contact the FTC and your state Attorney General's office with information about suspicious callers. Many states have their own debt collection laws in addition to the federal FDCPA. Your Attorney General's office can help you determine your rights under your state's law.>

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt076.shtm

I got a call from this guy bob johnson supposingly sounds like the same guy that left a message in the first place when he spoke to me on phone and just realized it I figured this was a bogus call and I'm going online research the name i was correct but the only problem is he also has my social security number

I kept getting calls from this number so I decided to answer the call today.This guy with an accent claiming to be from a lawyer's office. I told him to F*** off and hung up on him. He called me back twice back to back and I told him the same thing. I'm pissed that this a***ole would call me time after time after time and sometimes the calls start as early as 8am. I thought for a second to get my number changed then I thought to myself that no A***OLE is going to make me change my number. I know it's because I applied for one of those pay day loans. I'm no fool and he can kiss my A**!!!!! I guess this is how he got my information and no more applying for those loans because if I need one I have a reliable payloan company I can use now.

I received a phone call today from someone claiming to be a legal aide and that I needed to contact 323-786-0799 ASAP to speak with lawyer Mark Johnson. According to him there is a pending lawsuit against me for Cash Advance?! The guy was unable to provide me with any information and told me that I would be arrested. I told him to provide with corporates number so I could see if I needed to resolve this but was informed that they did not want to settle with me but file a lawsuit but wait... there may be some kind of deal I can work out!! I wanted to tell that no english speaking a** to dive off of a bridge but I just googled the phone number!!! Wow I am not the only one.

I just got the same thing at 10:30 AM CST at my place of employment.  That scares me but I know its a scam otherwise I would have received something in the mail.

I just got this a***ole calling me about a "lawsuit" AARRGG

I received this same call.  He was very rude and said that the local authorites were coming to place of employment unless I paid him $749.99.

file a report with the fbi read below you are not the only one. next time he calls tell him you are recording the conversation and that the fbi have a warrant for his arrest for fraud. he will hang up and never bother you again.

?    I just got the same message in regards to my husband.  The same thing happened to us, we looked into it and never got anything and now they are trying to get us to repay for a loan we never received.  When my husband called them back and told them he was going to coutersue for false information, the guy said never to call back and hung up.  Sounds like a scam but its scary to know he had all of my husbands information
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Sad but True replies to Andrea
8 Feb 2012
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
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Mike... That's all your getting replies to Sad but True
8 Feb 2012
I have recieved this as well as a co worker. Same scam, claiming to be with ace loans. As soon as I countered the guy hung up the phone. Then I called back and he wouldn't tell me anymore information and also told me not to call anymore. I will prosecute this guy if he calls anymore. It's totally a scam, with more holes in it than answers
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dsmith replies to Mike... That's all your getting
9 Feb 2012
same message today.  I called local police.  I am unaware of  IC3 validity

i recieved the same call today saying they are going to throw me in jail at 11am.  i researched and the number is an unlisted cell number and it is just bull!

this asshat tried it with me to. i offered him my attorneys number and he hung up. so i looked the number up here, saw this, like i figured. now i call every 15 minutes and tell him im attorney mark h
johnson and he is delinquent on a loan and i need im to remit a payment by visa immediately. sometimes i get bored and call the number and just let out a bloodcurdling scream , or answer this way whenever the mood strikes me. i encourage everyone who has been harrased by these fraudsters to do the same. lts give this asshat something to do with his time besides harass people.

Had the same call from "atourney Mark Johnson" I believe this is the same individual. He had an extremely thick accent and was claiming that I recieved a pay day loan from Cash Advance USA and was having criminal charges filed against me up to and including fraud. He also went to the extent to tell me that the local sheriffs office was coming to arrest me at my job. I reported this number and person to ic3.gov and am planning to file a police report today also I am also talking to legal council about a law suite.

Caller said he is a lawyer and the police and investgartors will be at my job and house.

I had, just received the same call by some guy with a thick accent and it took me a second to understand what he was saying but once I was able to comprehend what he was saying I,immediately  became agitated. I began yelling at him and was told that the company he was representing was only wanted to sure me and I could away them by paying 500 dollars and putting it on a prepaid debit card because they didn't want any of my personal banking info. I did get a loan from a company but it was all paid out and when I called the loan company they verified that I'd already paid them back and that they had no case against me. I then googled the number the supposed lawyer called me from and this site. I hate these kinds of people times are already hard right now without thieves and cons adding to the distresses of innocent people. I sure hope these people get what's coming to them.

Said that his Name was Andrew Thomas from some Lawyers office (couldnt understand him)...and that a  legal action had been filed against me and they needed to speak with me but left no phone number...they called my cell and my work phone

I recive the same call saying he a lawyer and the police and investgartors will be at my job and house as well he ask me for my account number and things I told him I dont know what you talking about so he hung up the phone

same message today.  I called local police.  I am unaware of  IC3 validity

I have recieved this as well as a co worker. Same scam, claiming to be with ace loans. As soon as I countered the guy hung up the phone. Then I called back and he wouldn't tell me anymore information and also told me not to call anymore. I will prosecute this guy if he calls anymore. It's totally a scam, with more holes in it than answers