04/09/2014 - Just received the same call from Special DEA Agent Anthony D. Williams - indicated the same threats as mentioned with all of the other postings. Special agent, investigating illegal pharmaceutical purchases made on-line, there's a warrant for my arrest, going to prison for 3 years, US Marshal going to knock on my door in 5 minutes, blaa, blaa, blaa. Call DEA Washington division - indicated they don't make calls over the phone like this - it is a scam - and forward my call to the LA DEA division, who has the real Anthony Williams. Gave them the info - they are going after this nut case.

I have to admit - this caller is very convincing - red flag popped up when he said; I don't want to destroy your life, if you pay a fine of $2,500, he would clear my name - RED FLAG.
Caller: 866 - 978 - 6581
Call Type: Prank Call

04/09/2014 - Just received the same call from Special DEA Agent Anthony D. Williams - indicated the same threats as mentioned with all of the other postings. Special agent, investigating illegal pharmaceutical purchases made on-line, there's a warrant for my arrest, going to prison for 3 years, US Marshal going to knock on my door in 5 minutes, blaa, blaa, blaa. Call DEA Washington division - indicated they don't make calls over the phone like this - it is a scam - and forward my call to the LA DEA division, who has the real Anthony Williams. Gave them the info - they are going after this nut case.

I have to admit - this caller is very convincing - red flag popped up when he said; I don't want to destroy your life, if you pay a fine of $2,500, he would clear my name - RED FLAG.

They may--if you report them:

Report Extortion Scam: 1-877-792-2873

ALERT - EXTORTION SCAM - ALERT

DEA Warns Public of Extortion Scam by
DEA Special Agent Impersonators

The Drug Enforcement Administration is warning the public about criminals posing as DEA special agents or other law enforcement personnel as part of an international extortion scheme.

The criminals call the victims (who in most cases previously purchased drugs over the lnternet or by telephone) and identify themselves as DEA agents or law enforcement officials from other agencies.  The impersonators inform their victims that purchasing drugs over the lnternet or by telephone is illegal, and that enforcement action will be taken against them unless they pay a fine.  In most cases, the impersonators instruct their victims to pay the "fine" via wire transfer to a designated location, usually overseas.  If victims refuse to send money, the impersonators often threaten to arrest them or search their property.  Some victims who purchased their drugs using a credit card also reported fraudulent use of their credit cards.

Impersonating a federal agent is a violation of federal law.  The public should be aware that no DEA agent will ever contact members of the public by telephone to demand money or any other form of payment.

The DEA reminds the public to use caution when purchasing controlled substance pharmaceuticals by telephone or through the Internet.  It is illegal to purchase controlled substance pharmaceuticals online or by telephone unless very stringent requirements are met.  And, all pharmacies that dispense controlled substance pharmaceuticals by means of the lnternet must be registered with DEA.  By ordering any pharmaceutical medications online or by telephone from unknown entities, members of the public risk receiving unsafe, counterfeit, and/or ineffective drugs from criminals who operate outside the law.  In addition, personal and financial information could be compromised.

Anyone receiving a telephone call from a person purporting to be a DEA special agent or other law enforcement official seeking money should refuse the demand and report the threat.

Report Extortion Scam: 1-877-792-2873

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm

Anthony Williams just left me a message using # 760-621-4702.  Clearly a scam and he hasn't given up.  Cant the real DEA find this guy?

Special Agent Pena and Special Agent Anthony Williams contacted me and told me they had a warrant for my arrest and U.S. Marshals would be knocking on my door within minutes.  They said I was part of a 10 year investigation into the pharmaceutical industry and they had proof I had bought Viagra online in 2006.  They said I would be extradited to the Dominican Republic if I did not send them $3,800.00 via western union within the hour.  

I CALLED THE FBI AND DEA.  I WAS TOLD THIS IS A SCAM!! THIS SCUM BAG NEEDS TO GET A REAL JOB, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO HUSSLE HARD WORKING AMERICANS OUT OF $$. I HOPE THE REAL DEA AND/OR THE REAL SPECIAL AGENT PENA / SPECIAL AGENT ANTHONY WILLIAMS  GETS THEIR HANDS ON THIS CLOWN.    

This is not your run-of-the-mill scam. These guys had a fake DEA switchboard with extensions for agents in the field.  They had done their homework.  They raddled off USC statutes they say I violated.  They threatened  to ruin my career and my family.  At one point when I said I was going to ask my wife something they told me that she would be indicted for conspiracy if I mentioned anything to her about the supposed "on going" investigation.

Yeah, I heard from Special Agent Anthony Williams. He fished for my name and phone number. He got my name wrong. He said folks were on their way to my house with a subpoena. I was at work, so I didn't have time to play. I didn't stick around for any clues to his endgame. Apparent, there is a real Special Agent Williams in SF, CA. But this call came from Baltimore. I did ask which office he was from, and he said Baltimore.

Was left a message from 443-977-4514 & to call back 877-315-3773. I called back & left a message for officer "Pina" (? Heavy accent) but then Googled the phone number & saw these warnings. I called & left another voicemail to "not call me back & I would be reporting him".
After reading all these posts I don't know if I should contact my real DEA office or the attorney general.
It pisses me off, I have enogh to deal with, without having to deal with stuff like this.
Wonder where they get our names and numbers from?

I got a call from the San Francisco DEA Agent Thomas Harrigan (Thomas had a very heavy New York accent). I called back and was told that I ordered online diet pills six years ago and the man who sold them who is from the Dominican republic is in custody and testifying against me!  When I asked for more information as to who this man was and refused to give personal information ( and started to laugh) he hung up his number was 415-692-4047 and the call said it was coming from San Francisco CA

I usually Don't  answer any calls that indicate just the city and state or the state and USA but this guy left a message and it got the better of me!

States he is from the DEA

They said i was going too be arrested if i dont give them 1900.00 For diet pills years ago

Got a call at work on my pesonal cell. I thought at first they were soliciting, then they told me they had a warrant for my arrest. To which I replied, OK, come get me. Curiousity got the better of me. I called back, and got an answering machine with no identifiying name and number. Left a brief message. Called back again, and got the same guy. He went into his scam, stating he was coming to get me, 3-5 years in jail, since I had purchased pharmaceuticals online (which I had ten years ago).  Scared me! Tried to get him to slow down, wrote down all the information. Talked to my corporate attorney in my shaking state, who immediately called the DEA. They checked it out, no warrants on me. The fake DEA guy called back while the real DEA guy was on the phone. We gave him the phone number, but did not answer the call.  He called back a few minutes later. The attorney talked to him, and the guy said, "it's important that she calls me back".  I am drinking a glass of red wine, relaxing, and hope this will be a distant memory in a few days.  My first reaction was correct, I'm too old for this s***!!  I hate being duped and vulnerable.  dammit...they called on my personal cell phone.

I already have a fake DEA agent (619-819-5440) and don't need another. Sheesh...

Just received a call from "Special Agent Anthony Williams" phone #443-977-4514 telling me US Marshalls were on the way to my home to arrest me, that I was going to jail for 3-5 days until my court appointment. He said that an overseas pharmacy was busted and the pharmacist was giving all of his previous customers' info from the last 4.5 years over to the DEA in a plea bargain. I asked him for a date because I hadn't purchased any prescriptions on the internet in the last 4.5 years and he said that info would be used against me in a court of law. Googled his name and both the number he called from and his name came up on this site. I called my local DEA office to report.

I just got a call from the "DEA" who asked if Mr. Johnson was available? I asked who was calling, and he replied DEA.......... and was he talking with Mr. Johnson. I said yes speaking how can I help you. He replied by saying the local Police were on there way to pick me up. I replied good, I'm here waiting. Silence........... He then told we I had committed a crime and was going to prison for buying medicine over the Internet without a prescription. I asked for his name and where he was located. Which he replied F_ _ _ Y_ _  Click.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning the public about criminals posing as FDA special agents and other law enforcement personnel as part of a continued  international extortion scam.

The criminals call the victims -- who in most cases previously purchased drugs over the Internet or via "telepharmacies" -- and identify themselves as FDA special agents or other law enforcement officials. The criminals inform the victims that purchasing drugs over the Internet or the telephone is illegal, and that law enforcement action will be pursued unless a fine or fee ranging from $100 to $250,000 is paid. Victims often also have fraudulent transactions placed against their credit cards.

The criminals always request the money be sent by wire transfer to a designated location, usually in the Dominican Republic. If victims refuse to send money, they are often threatened with a search of their property, arrest, deportation, physical harm and/or incarceration.

"Impersonating an FDA official is a violation of federal law," said Dara Corrigan, the FDA?s associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. ?FDA special agents and other law enforcement officials are not authorized to impose or collect criminal fines. Only a court can take such action.?

In most instances, victims of extortion-related calls have also received telephone solicitations for additional pharmaceutical purchases from other possibly related, illegal entities located overseas. The extortionists use customer lists complete with extensive personal information provided through previous purchase transactions. These include names, addresses, telephone numbers, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, purchase histories and credit card account numbers.

Typically, these criminals use telephone numbers that change constantly and make it appear as though their calls originate in the United States.

No known victim has been approached in person by a law enforcement impersonator associated with this scheme.  

The FDA?s Office of Criminal Investigations, with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, with the support of various U.S. Attorneys, are pursuing multiple national and international criminal investigations.

Arrests have been made and additional prosecutions are pending; however, the scheme is likely to continue. The FDA has issued similar warnings in the past:

§  FDA Warns Public of Extortion Scam by FDA Impersonators1 (11/12/2008)

§  FDA Warns Public of Continued Extortion Scam by FDA Impersonators2 (12/29/2009)

Victims of this scheme who have suffered monetary loss through the payment of funds in response to an extortion call from a person purporting to be an FDA or other law enforcement official regarding illegal pharmaceutical transactions may obtain a victim questionnaire by contacting the FDA?s Office of Criminal Investigations3 and clicking ?Report Suspected Criminal Activity.?

Anyone receiving a purported official document on agency letterhead may verify its authenticity by contacting that organization directly via a publicly available phone number. Additionally, all federal agencies use email addresses with a ?gov? email extension.

The FDA also reminds consumers that pharmaceutical products offered online and by telephone by sources of unknown origin can pose a substantial health risk. Products recovered during this investigation that were purchased from online or telephone sources have been found to contain trace amounts of heroin, other undisclosed and potentially harmful active pharmaceutical ingredients, or no active ingredient at all. Purchases should only be made from licensed pharmacies located in the United States. In addition to the increased risk of purchasing unsafe and ineffective drugs from Web sites operating outside the law, personal data may be compromised.

For more on unlawful drug sales on the Internet, see Protecting Yourself4.

Questions and Answers
How did these people obtain my information?

They likely obtained the victim?s information based on a previous online or telepharmacy transaction, or from a submitted medical questionnaire. These instances could have occurred years ago, with personal information now on customer lists trafficked by these criminal groups.  These customer lists can contain tens of thousands of names and a substantial amount of self-reported data provided by consumers during previous transactions.  Typically, victims are being contacted by multiple unrelated groups, often for different purposes. (extortion, selling illegal pharmaceuticals, etc.)

How do I make the calls stop?

The extorters, just like the majority of telephone solicitors for illegal prescription medication, are based overseas and use voice over internet protocol (VOIP) telephone numbers, most commonly ?Magic Jack?.  These services provide the extorters with the flexibility to constantly change their phone numbers and select ones with U.S. area codes.  If the victims  change whatever number(s) were used to contact them, and do not engage in any additional risky pharmaceutical transactions, the threatening phone calls and associated telephone solicitations for pharmaceuticals should cease.

What proactive steps can victims take?

Individuals who purchase medication online or via tele-pharmacies are frequently victims of credit card fraud, since this is how the medication is often purchased.  Victims may want to consider alerting their applicable financial institutions to ensure that identity theft has not occurred.

Why is FDA only asking victims who have lost money to contact the agency?The most effective way to track these criminals is to investigate the permanent record established when money transfers take place.

Have individuals been arrested?

Yes.  However, this scheme will likely not be eradicated and instead will continue to evolve.  For example, the extorters now occasionally reference other countries, such as Costa Rica, instead of the DR, as means to avoid all of the publicity regarding this scheme.

Am I going to be able to get my money back?

In almost all instances victims will not be able to recoup losses.  Multiple criminal groups employ this scheme, principally from overseas, and large monetary seizures are not anticipated.

Am I in danger?

In terms of physical danger, no victim has ever been approached in person, and the vast majority of these callers, regardless of their intent, are based overseas.  Their use of ?police-type scanners?, law enforcement language and fictitious documents are attempts at a false sense of legitimacy. Extorters also occasionally reference cars parked on a victim?s street -- information that can be obtained online at various Web sites, as a way to frighten individuals into believing the extorters are near their residence.  If an individual feels threatened for his or her personal safety, immediately contact the appropriate local enforcement agency.

Is it possible that these callers are part of some ?secret? investigative group, and FDA is just not aware of it?

No.  Law enforcement officials from both the U.S. and the Dominican Republic are pursuing these criminals.   More information regarding this scheme is available on FDA and DEA Web sites, or through online searches.  Extradition proceedings  between countries require close cooperation and often a formal treaty, and this often takes an extended period of time to complete.

http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/CriminalInvestigations/ucm239309.htm

he called several times this morning. Finally I answered and he identified himself as officer pina. He then hung up. at first i thought it was a charity for police or something but then we got disconnected.
I entered the number in google and came to this site. Yet another scam!

I feel bad for the people who fall for this scam. Wish they would be stopped.

Same thing happened to me at work.  I was shaken at first but then I got over it and realized it was all BS.  I even forwarded their voice mail to my local police department and they told me it was a scam.  I would like to meet this f'ker in my driveway - he has no idea who he is messing with....  the numbers that called were 347-441-6154 & 443-977-4514....

Got the same call today. From DEA agent Anthony Williams.
I asked him where he was from and he said district 97 field division.
I started laughing and told him I Googled this and said there is no such place.
WELLL! this set off a fury in him! He started ranting. While I was laughing even harder
He started into the expletives. Saying F...ing something and F..ing something
else. I said I didn't know DEA agents could say those things and I said I can't understand you
He was really mad and hung up!!!
HAHAHA! foiled again!

This is baloney. Called me on Memorial Day and threatened me saying DEA was on their way to arrest me. Do not believe it. If I find this guy I will turn him over to the DEA.

Called and said he was with the DEA and to call 877-315-3773. Have been called too many times and getting sick and tired.

FYI... I am an IRS agent and it is possible for a federal agent to be calling you if you've been selected for an audit or if you might be a witness in an investigation of some sort, but no agent will be calling you out of the blue to make threats or ask for money.

I too received a call from an Anthony Williams just today asking me to call him back at 817-315-3773.  I have not decided if I will call or not.  Probably not.

Same deal today!  Anthony Williams, DEA Agent - then turned me over to another guy Robert (443-977-4514, x225) and then their Fines Director, James Pamphile (829-386-1021). I kinda thought it might be a scam but still wasn't sure and of course they scare the s*** out of you threatening you with a wknd in jail before you can see a judge and 3-7 yrs jail time!!  They want you to use a website XOOM.com to send $$$ ($1500 in my case) to Mercedes Robles.  I started to send money but thankfully my trans was cancelled by the the receiving end.  After speaking to someone from that end they advised that the recipient indicated had been placed on their list of bad accounts.  They tried to get me to send it again to someone else and I told them they should just call the cops since I didn't think this was on the level and hung up.  They called back and I didn't answer.  They left a message that the police were being dispatched unless I called them right back.  Haven't heard a peep since.  I did however call the San Francisco DEA office (from CT) and asked about this.  They said it was absolutely a scam and not to deal w/ them.  I knew it!!  But still they can shake you up when you first get the call -- legit or not!  So I decided to play their game and called them back at one of the numbers and advised them that all of the names and phone numbers I'd been privy to earlier in the day had been given the SF DEA office along with Anthony Williams Google page!!

I just got a call from a Robert Corso as well.  It went to voicemail and he gave me the same line about being with the DEA and federal charges are pending on me.  Thanks to this forum I see that it is a scam.
I am calling 1-877-792-2873 to report this.

Report it to 1-877-792-2873. This guy gets real nasty when you tell him you know it is a scam

Same thing as everyone else. Make sure you report this to the DEA at 1-877-792-2873.  My caller pretended to be Robert Corso,  when I called the Detroit office I was told this is a scam and thar Mr. Corso is one of there head people. These people found his name online and used it. They are getting hundreds of calls about this.

I just received a voicemail Anthony Williams Special Agent with DEA phone number 443-977-4514 ext 2013.  I didn't call back but did a search online.

Hopefully people check with this site when they get these bogus calls.  As a follow-up to my earlier post, I reported my client's experience to the DEA's extortion hotline.  They called me back and were very professional + informed me it was a nationwide scam,  Also, they are using a service to make the calls appear to be domestic, but they are really orginating from the Dominican Republic, which I am guessing is why they haven't been shut down yet.

443-977-4514  called our home and told my husband the FBI was headed to our house to arrest him.

My husband gave me the number and I called and gave him a false name and he preceeded to tell me about the case against me and the charges pending etc but eventually he hung up on me

Yup, same findings on my end as the attorney in IL who commented.  I am an attorney in NJ and my client received the same call from "Anthony Williams" at 443-977-4514.  Clearly this scammer uses multiple phone numbers (several from fictitious area codes).  I contacted him and when I began asking detailed questions (badge number, personnel ID) he quickly hung up twice.  I called again and asked to speak with a supervisor and again a hang up.  A final time he changed his tune and claimed he was the supervisor.  I checked and the DEA does not have an office in the area code he is using, so I reported all the information to the (real) DEA's extortion hotline.  Amazing they haven't been able to nab him since has been going on so long, using many of the same #s no less.  I told my client to tell him DEA agents were being sent to HIS door to arrest him for the scam (though he's likely outside the US), and to ask for his social security number and mother's maiden name just to screw with him.  Lol.