352-353-0247
FL, US
Alfalfa
Alfalfa
2012-06-08 23:12:35
Unknown
Phantom Debt Collectors From India Harass Americans, Demand Money

By BRIAN ROSS (@brianross) , CINDY GALLI and MATTHEW MOSK (@mattmosk)
June 7, 2012

Hundreds of thousands of cash-strapped Americans have been targeted by abusive debt collectors operating out of overseas call centers suspected of links to organized crime in India, law enforcement officials told ABC News.

The calls are part of a massive scam, one that appears to target struggling Americans -- especially those who have gone online to apply for payday loans. Armed with personal information from those pilfered applications, the threatening callers, who claim to be debt collectors poised to initiate legal action, have managed to pry loose millions of dollars from their victims -- even when the victims never owed money in the first place.

"This is what we call a phantom debt collection scam," said Jon Leibowitz, the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. "It's a very pernicious and innovative new fraud."

Working through call centers in India, the commission estimates that the criminals have dialed at least 2.5 million calls, persuading already cash-strapped victims to send them more than $5 million. Some have reported receiving dozens of calls per hour. They are victims like Cindy Gervais, of New Orleans, who went online for a quick loan when her husband's car was hit by a driver who didn't have insurance.

Even though she paid the loan off, the so-called "phantom" debt collectors with Indian accents began calling to say she still owed money.

He more or less told me that if I didn't pay, they were going to have someone on my doorstep to arrest me," she told ABC News. "And that they were going to contact my place of business, and tell them what kind of person I am."

At first, she said she resisted. Then the calls became more frequent, and started to ring on her cell phone, and at the grocery distribution company where she had worked for 27 years.

"I was more or less was in panic mode because he told me there would be someone before noon at my place of business to arrest me and take me to jail," she said tearfully. "So I agreed to pay him."

After receiving scores of complaints, investigators with the FTC said they began tracking the calls, and following the payments. They alleged the payments led them to a California company run by an Indian-American named Kirit Patel, and that such scams would not be possible without American front men.

"I would say that all roads of this scam, or many of the roads of this scam, lead back to Mr. Patel," said the FTC's Leibowitz.

ABC News tracked Patel for weeks, from the suburbs of San Francisco to Austin, Texas.

Patel refused to talk. But his lawyer, Mark Ellis, said he believes it is far too early to pass judgment on his client. Ellis, a Sacramento-based attorney, told ABC News that Patel was hired for a nominal fee to set up an American shell company, and had no idea what the call centers in India were doing.

"I can tell you, he was as snookered by the people in India as anybody," Ellis said. "He's a 69-year-old man who is nearing his retirement who thought all he had to do was set up some corporations and everything was on the up and up. He's completely dismayed that he has become the lightning rod of this entire problem."

A close friend of Patel's also defended him in a brief interview at his home, saying Patel was not trying to defraud anyone -- he was just an unwitting, bit player in a larger scheme.

"If Mr. Patel was just a cog in the wheel he seems to have been a pretty big cog," Leibowitz said. "It is clear that Patel was integrally involved with this scam."

Leibowitz points to thousands of pages of financial and phone records gathered by the FTC and filed as part of a civil case brought against him in the U.S. District Court in Sacramento last month. When FTC lawyers sought to freeze his assets and prevent his business from continuing to operate, Patel responded by invoking his rights against self-incrimination. His lawyer told ABC News he has had to be careful in how he responds to the allegations in civil court "because there is a potential criminal action," but that Patel maintains the allegations against him are false.

Federal investigators said the phantom debt collection operation that allegedly benefitted from Patel's assistance was one of several that all trace back to the same small town in Western India called Ahmedabad. Callers use technology to make it appear that the calls originate inside the U.S. Victims provided ABC News with recordings of dozens of the calls, and many of the thickly accented callers appear to be reading off a script.

"Subpoenas have been readied, and Monday morning you're going to be picked up from your home," one caller says on a victim's voicemail. "And you have children. Don't worry about your children. We have a childcare department to take care of the children."

"You will be behind bars for six months," said another caller. "And once you go behind bars, you will lose your job. Once you are behind the bars, you won't get a single drop of water."

William Peerce Howard, a Tampa attorney who represents victims of harassment from debt collectors, said it takes an especially twisted criminal to use threats and coercion to pry money from someone who is already struggling financially

"These guys really are the most visible villains in America today," he said. "They make a living scaring people."

Mark Merola, of Florida, said he just panicked when the caller told him he might be arrested at the deli where he works in a Florida retirement community.

"I was nervous. I didn't want to embarrass myself, my family," he said. He used his debit card to pay the collector $576.

Afterwards, he says he realized "how stupid I was."

"It just happened so fast," he said. "I got scared."

Leibowitz said he hopes with more attention, future potential targets of the scam will recognize red flags before they turn over any money.

If callers say they are from the police, consumers should know that law enforcement officers do not collect debt for private parties. If the caller is speaking with a thick Indian accent, but calls themselves by a names such as Officer Mike Johnson, that should be a tip off. And if they're calling 40 times in two hours, that's another red flag. "Legitimate debt collectors, legitimate pay day lenders don't do those sorts of things," he said.

Merola said he would like to see anyone involved in the scam prosecuted aggressively.

"There's no place in society for these people," he said.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/phantom-debt-co ... 16512428&page=2
Nathan Sayre
Nathan Sayre
2012-06-08 22:54:53
Debt Collector
Saying they are a lawyer, the have all my info s.s. # address and all.
lone stranger
lone stranger
2012-05-12 11:15:55
Unknown
So your answer to being scammed is to scam other people?

You are a faker posting to try and propagate a scam.  Go somewhere else to try your dirty tricks, they will not fly on this site.
lia Barry
lia Barry
2012-05-12 07:31:21
Unknown
I?m Elia Barry by name.
I live in Singapore,i want to use this medium to alert all loan seekers to be very careful because there are scammed everywhere.Few months ago I was financially strained, and due to my desperation I was scammed by several online lenders. I had almost lost hope until a friend of mine referred me to a very reliable lender called Mr morgan john who lend me an unsecured loan of $70,000 under 24 hours without any stress. If you are in need of any kind of loan just contact him now via [removed]@live.com I?m using this medium to alert all loan seekers because of the hell I passed through in the hands of those fraudulent lenders. And I don?t wish even my enemy to pass through such hell that I passed through in the hands of those fraudulent online lenders,i will also want you to help me pass this information to others who are also in need of a loan once you have also receive your loan from Mr morgan john,i pray that God should give him long live to help the world.
God bless him forever.
Pam
Pam
2012-04-19 15:12:24
Debt Collector
Correction I don't have clue what is about.  I don't do payday loans
Pam
Pam
2012-04-19 15:09:45
Debt Collector
Not only did I receive a phone call from this number I also received an email.  I have a clue what they are talking about and it needs to be looked at asap.
Paul
Paul
2012-02-03 11:58:01
Unknown
I got this same message today.  The good news is that the phone numbers, address and bank account information they have for me is all out of date.  Bunch of losers.  And since you have to give your SSN to just about everyone, I guess I shouldn't panic that these people have it too.
syretta
syretta
2012-01-31 18:16:52
Unknown
My name is  Attorney Nicole Willson . and as you know I  have you listed as the  primary suspect in question on a case being downloaded in county today at time. The nature of my e-mail is to as certain your attorney information so that I can be able to fax the affidavits to your attorney before the allegations are pressed. Do you have that information handy>?Now if you would please allow me to relay all the information from the affidavit to you first then ill address any questions you may have okay?U.S. national bank Is pressing chargestoday against name and  S.S.N   # Regarding three allegations. They are,Count 1 VIOLATIONS OF FEDERAL BANKING REGULATIONS,Count 2 COLLATERAL CHECK FRAUD,Count 3 OKAY.THEFT BY DECEPTION,Now they are further stating on The affidavit  that on   date   you were monitored using your email soliciting funds on a website owned and operated by US national bank. The funds were deposited in your bank account Utilizing a E.F.T which stands for electronic funds  transfer.When they attempted to extract the funds back the E.F.T was returned constituting under state statutes of an electronic check. As of today?s date rather than chasing you or making harassing calls or disturbing you at your P.O.E for the money they have opted to simply write the money off deeming it to be stolen and press charges against you in county at.FOR YOU THIS MEANS THREE THINGS :-1). if you?re on any state supervised probation or payroll you?ll need to contact the attorney and make  them aware that these charges will constitute a violation.2). if you have any prior convictions including but not limited to worthless checks , grand theft or money laundering please be aware they will treat your case of that of a habitual offender as name the respective state is a zero tolerant state.3). Lastly you do have the right to an attorney and if you cant afford one , then one will be appointed to you . Now since you?ve not been briefed on the case I?HAVE INFACT documented HERE that once you are picked up on the charges that you need to have on appointed to you. That way if the judge sets a bail you can have someone on the standby to get you out.
jurgen
jurgen
2011-10-06 12:45:18
Unknown
someone who has good computer skills needs to send him a nasty virus that will fry his computer
TIRED
TIRED
2011-09-20 12:35:24
Debt Collector
I got this email just today at 4:20 am from this attorney Nicole Willson and of course the spelling was wrong.  I immediately thought this was true but so thankful for this site.  What do you do to resolve this?  I don't like them having my information that is very crazy so I will report them to www.ic3.gov/complaint as the 800-251-7581 number told me to do but I think I should close out my bank acct that I have had now for over 15 yrs because they have my information.  What should I do - what have you all done to ensure your identity is not stolen.  This is crazy how they can get ALL of your information.
kate
kate
2011-09-02 22:05:41
Unknown
I got the email today thinking this was from an attorney. they had all my information I sent an email stating I was going to make payment arrangements. (because I has some debts from my ex) A friend told me that it was not - look at the information
Thank you
Shane
Shane
2011-08-23 15:36:32
Unknown
I received an email from a supposed State Attorney who states her name is Nicole Willson and her office is in 2041 NW 11th Ct Sunrise Florida. I happen to know the State Attorney's office is on 500 E Broward Blvd, Ft Lauderdale and Nicole's phone number was 352-200-2205. I pulled up her information and got comments from all of you which was very helpful. I have had one payday loan which was paid off and recently reapplied which I wish I hadn't because this is when this started. I have a very ill husband and my life is upside down right now and this was upsetting because she threated me unless i sent $1000.00 which I do not have and if I had I would have checked her out first. Her spelling has improved but there is something very wrong about a State's Attorney would go onlineand threatened anyone. I will follow everyone suggestions for notifying indiviudals who can help but it was very upsetting and at this time in my life I really do not need anything else. Thanks to all of you for telling your story. somehow these individauls need to be stopped.
No Longer A Victim
No Longer A Victim
2011-08-11 15:14:36
Unknown
I got the same letter today via email but it was from Attorney Nicole Willson. The reason we are getting these types of things because  many companies use India to outsource their work to for cheap labor(cheap doesn't mean good. you get what u pay for). These people get our private info and use it for their own purposes which result in stress to hardworking American people, identity theft, etc.

Sad state of the world that we are living in. Beware of attorneynicolewillson@gmail.com Phone # 352-200-2205(these are spoofed numbers that are international phone numbers made to look like US phone #s)
ck
ck
2011-07-12 23:01:25
Unknown
Interesting. I just got this same email today. I looked it up and they are full of it. I never got a payday loan with these people and they are trying to make threats and what not.
How can we turn them in?
Barbara Armijo
Barbara Armijo
2011-07-12 22:04:39
Unknown
I got the exact same email today only the number I got was 352-200-2691 but was also from a Jerry Smith.
Barbara Armijo
Barbara Armijo
2011-07-12 22:03:03
Unknown
I received the exact same email today and I did get ahold of comeone at that number and the so called Jerry Smith could not give me the information to get ahold of the company for which I so called owed this bill. I think it is a scam  for I wnet on the interent and looked up all the attorney in Florida and he does not exsist
AmyLouWho
AmyLouWho
2011-06-06 20:46:46
Unknown
Received a phone call from 201-244-7722 (an NJ phone number) a day after I got a call from 352-353-0247 (a FL phone number).  The NJ call was following up on the FL call.  

The FL call was from Richard Hamilton - stating he was a Legal Affidavit Processing Officer.  I told him he needed to email me everything in writing - I have almost been a victim to these scams before several times, so I demand things in writing then check up on all the information.  
He sent me two documents via email.  I contacted the payday loan company he stated he was representing directly.  They were great, verified I had never borrowed money from them, they do not offer payday loans in my state and even emailed this all to me in writing so I had documentation.  
I was sent some bogus certificate from the payday loan company, with words spelled wrong then an invoice from a company called SGQ Processing Inc.  - this is bogus.  There is no company at the California address on the invoice.  The fax # is from Barlet, IL.

Basically - my point is - NOTHING MATCHES UP.  Do some research and demand things in writing before you do anything.  

Oh.....and the REAL payday loan company had me listed with my married name.  The two dates I supposedly took out loans per this scammer was after I got married but they were still using my maiden name.  SCAMMERS!
Melanie
Melanie
2011-06-06 20:46:46
Unknown
Got a missed call
Philatonian
Philatonian
2011-05-03 19:22:59
Debt Collector
I've been going back and forth with "ATTORNEY JERRY SMITH" today and finally decided to just submit his information to http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx. I know the loan he is referring to, although I believe it was paid in 2006. Nonetheless, if it's on my credit report I would like to resolve it. But I'm not going to submit an unsecured $1000 to an unidentified law firm or collection agency using a gmail address and a private cell phone. My initial loan was in the amount of $430 and I'm pretty certain were this ever to somehow make its way to court, would wind up costing me no more than the initial amount.

Attached to the initial email was a scanned letter from the supposed "U.S.A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE". What's even more amusing than the improperly formatted "USA", is what followed: "UNITED STATES OF ATTORNEY".

The letter is filled with legal jargon clearly misused, such as "class action" and "power of attorney," neither of which have anything to do with collections. I would think the letter was funny if it didn't have my social security number at the top of it. The most frustrating thing about these types of collectors is that they often get flustered and hang up on you, and then turn off their phones. The reason this happens is because the Pay Advance industry deals with collections in bulk. The job of the claims processors is to email threats in bulk, and hope that 1% are so afraid of the prospect of court that they pay the $1000 immediately. If they get that 1% they have made their money back. Unfortunately it makes it impossible to deal with when you're attempting to clean up your credit. If you ask them anything about removing it from your credit report, they will get frustrated, claim you're try to get out of it, and hang up on you. They are only versed in threats, legal buzz words, and processing $1000. And they aren't in the United States. The call is routed through a Florida number. Most of them are working from their cell phones and handling a multitude of calls from various industries.
Ninan
Ninan
2011-04-29 13:33:01
Debt Collector
Omg i got the same thing and i knew something was fishy right away about Jerry Smith, so i researched online and found this forum and im glad i went with my instincts. And what is up with his accent? They even called my friend and i have kNow
idea how they got her number, and my new number?...they also have my very old address
posted. Not falling for it!
melissa
melissa
2011-04-28 17:51:11
Unknown
i recieved the same thing.  email that is exactly the same.
moyo
moyo
2011-04-14 15:45:36
Unknown
yes i just got the same email they have all of my info i was scared at first but  i think it's a scam stupid people mines dated way back in 2006  misspelled words
beliardlydia
beliardlydia
2011-04-14 05:26:38
Unknown
that is the exact info i had received from my e-mail and his name was Jerry Smith and he was rude and telling me that I am going to end up in prison and have my wages garnish I tell him that go ahead you still won't get the money if I end up in prison and I will quit working if my wages get garnish what an idiot
beliardlydia
beliardlydia
2011-04-14 05:21:22
Unknown
omg I was about to pay him the money cause he had all my info. and he told me his name is Jerry Smith from Sunrise, Fl an attorney what is going on here ID theft is already bad enough in the U.S.A now we have India trying to steal American"s money.OMG what the F is this!!!!
Sabrina
Sabrina
2011-04-07 19:22:59
Unknown
Same thing but his name was Jerry Smith LOL>
kaycee
kaycee
2011-03-31 10:01:43
Debt Collector
I received the same E-mail and when I called the nuber this man said is name was Jerry Smith and he had an Indian accent , he sent me this E-mail. I almost fell for it until I researched the address that he claimed was the head office in Florida and my surprise it was the backyard of someone. I emailed him and told him to kick rocks and that I was going to ford the email to my attorney and I have not heard from this Jerry Smith again. The number he gave in the E-mail was 352-200-2691

            I HAVE A LEGAL CASE FILE ON YOUR NAME IN REGARDS THAT YOU
HAVE TAKEN THE INTERNET PAYDAY LOAN YOU WERE CLEARLY MONITERED USING
YOUR MAIL ADDRESS TO SOLICIT FUNDS FROM A WEBSITE WHICH WAS RUN AND
OPERATED BY (CREDITOR NAME) ON THE DATE  THE FUND WAS SUCCESFULLY
TRANSFER IN TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT (BANK NAME AND ACCOUNT NUMBER)
UTILIZING AN INTERSTATE EFT WHICH STATES FOR ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER
WHEN THEY ATTEMPT TO EXTRACT THE FUNDS,THE EFT WAS RETURNED
CONSTITUTING A WORTHLESS ELECTRONIC CHECK

UNITED LEGAL INVESTIGATION BUREAU HAS STATED 4 SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS
AGAINST YOU AND THEY ARE

(1) Violation of federal banking regulation
(2) Colletaral check fraud
(3) Theft by deception
(4) and the bigesst one is E.F.T.that is electronic fund tranfer

SO MANY PEOPLES HAVE BEEN PROCECUTED IN COURT HOUSE AND THEY HAVE BEEN
IN TO JAIL  BECAUSE OF THIS ALLEGATIONS
SO THIS IS LAST AND FINAL COURTSEY REMINDER GIVEN TO YOU TO SETTLE
THIS DEBT BEFORE I FORWARD YOUR CASE FILE IN TO COURT HOUSE

THE CHOICE IS TOTALLY YOURS YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO WITH
YOUR CASE FILE YOU WANT TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER OR SHOULD I DOWNLOAD
YOUR CASE FILE IN TO THE COURT HOUSE IF ONCE I WILL DOWNLOAD YOUR CASE
FILE IN TO THE COURT HOUSE THAN YOUR SSN NUMBER WILL BE BLOCKED AND
YOU WILL NOT GET WORK ANY WHERE IN USA AND YOU WILL BE FACING LIFE
TIME SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND IN COURT HOUSE YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY $10,000
INSTEAD OF $1000

IF YOU WANT TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER THAN IMMEDIATELY CONTACT ME ON MY
DIRECT PHONE LINE NUMBER THAT IS 352-200-2691 AND MY FAX NUMBER IS
2066007332




ATTORNEY JERRY SMITH
Victim 123456789
Victim 123456789
2011-03-22 19:08:58
Unknown
Not to mention it is a gmail account...I dont know of any reputable firms, companies or state or federal agencies that use gmail accounts
Maggie
Maggie
2011-03-22 16:26:03
Unknown
I am curious to know if you had retyped that or cut and paste it. The reason I ask this, is because I received the same thing, but they did not have proper spelling or english. It sounded like a 2nd grader wrote it. Just curios.
Maggie
Maggie
2011-03-22 16:13:56
Unknown
Report them to the FBI fruad department @ 1-800-251-7581. He is not with the Attorney General's office nor is he an attorney period. I researched and there is no one by this name in the state of Florida and there is no Bar number form him...he is a fruad.
Maggie
Maggie
2011-03-22 16:11:31
Unknown
The FBI is very serious about the internet fruad. This is considered theft and they cannot collect form you.The Attorney General's office gave me the information and said to report it. By all means research and do all that you can to protect yourself. Also if you are in the state of California it is a law that payday loan companies cannot loan more than $300.00 and that includes their fee. Be carefull and don't fall for this.
1-859-325-5943 1-899-171-0000 1-284-645-1115
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