445-269-4182
 | Melissa 2012-10-03 13:38:06 Unknown |
I got a call from an officer this morning from this number and they left a message saying that they were calling in regards to a complaint against my name. I have gotten two calls from them this morning. I am not answering the calls. They are in India I believe and are very rude. The last time they called me it was about a year ago and I filed a police report but have not heard anything else as of yet.
| Christine 2012-10-02 22:44:17 Unknown |
Got a call from Pennsylvania today asking for a person who does not live here anymore. The person on the other end did not like that at all and started swearing at me in broken English. When I hung up on him he called me back twice from a different number, twice, and continued to swear at me. He called twice because I hung up on him. The final call I just answered the phone and said absolutely nothing, the dude preceded to swear and make nasty comments and noises on the phone, when he didn't get me to respond HE hung up.
WTF? Is there anything I can do if and when this happens again? When I tried to call the other number back it turned out to be someones Cell phone number from Washington.
WTF? Is there anything I can do if and when this happens again? When I tried to call the other number back it turned out to be someones Cell phone number from Washington.
| Alfalfa 2012-09-20 20:49:35 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
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
| Arthur 2012-09-20 20:46:48 Unknown |
I received a call from this number at by my office and on my cell number. They left a message on both phones and the office phone was not my direct line, but the receptionist's desk. He said his name was Shaun Michaels and had a lot of my information. When I called back I told him I knew it was a scam and he cussed me out calling me a F'ing SOB and hung up. He call back number that was given to me was (501) 313-0373.
| Older citizen 2012-09-18 14:22:52 Unknown |
If you have ever applied for a loan online or payday loan, they have just enough if your info to seem legitimate
But they try to intimidate you into giving more info so they have access to your bank account. This s another scam being run by foreigners. They always ave an American name but you can tell by their accent they are not, and the way they speak! They will sometimes cll very early in the am while you might still be sleepy. Beware these folks, they are all over the Internet trolling for personal info. Be very careful what info you put out there.I told Mr. Davd Brown, the federal givt doesnt work this way-and I know because I am retired FBI! I'm not but what the heck, they are lying to me and then I hang up.
But they try to intimidate you into giving more info so they have access to your bank account. This s another scam being run by foreigners. They always ave an American name but you can tell by their accent they are not, and the way they speak! They will sometimes cll very early in the am while you might still be sleepy. Beware these folks, they are all over the Internet trolling for personal info. Be very careful what info you put out there.I told Mr. Davd Brown, the federal givt doesnt work this way-and I know because I am retired FBI! I'm not but what the heck, they are lying to me and then I hang up.
| so annoyed! 2012-09-17 17:55:50 Unknown |
I have got the same messages and have talked to the same rude people. When I refuse to pay and try to get their information they cuss and call me all sorts off things. This has been going on for awhile now. I gave all the info to my local police department and they are investigating it in hopes to charge them with harassment and impersonating a police officer. I am also contacting an attorney.
| angelia 2012-09-11 14:43:37 Debt Collector |
I THINK THESE PEOPLE NEED TO STOP CALLING PEOPLE THIS REALLY SCARED ME I KNOW I DID NOT TAKE ANY PAYDAY LOANS,IT MADE ME THINK THAT MAYBE SOMEBODY GOT MY INFORMATION.STOP CALLING MY NUMBER !!
| Really upset 2012-09-07 21:55:55 Unknown |
This number has called my work and my cell first saying he was "officer" Dominic Johnson then it was "officer" Shawn turner saying I was going to lose my job if I didn't call him back in a thick foreign accent. I called them back not giving my name and continued to ask what company it was and the person same person that called me and left a message saying good luck hope u don't go to jail hung up on me and did not answer my question! Really!?!?
| JE 2012-09-07 20:14:05 Unknown |
Same type of message like others have said about this person or persons. He did know my name which is scary, but hung up on him and he did call back about three times. I am wondering did nayone turn this no into the FBI. He was very threatening and I use to get these a ways back ubt just kept hanging up on them or not answering and they do quit.Of course until today they had quit. do not give them any info, money or anything. Try calling your local police and see if they can do something. the FBI is bombarded with thses so maybe a local authority could do something. I am sure it is very scary to some but just think how awful this is to do top someone. If anyone would have any suggestions to get these callers caught I would really like to help. You think they could trace the phone no.. Stay safe.
| FEDUPNYC 2012-09-07 18:43:00 Debt Collector |
This number 425-269-4182 has been calling my mobile for weeks. I don't ever answer and they leave these voicemails about money I owe froma payday loan. I have never gotten a payday loan impossible because I have no bank account to do so. This is not the first time this has happened. Its the same group of people either Indian or Pakistani but they used a different company name before. ai am not afraid or worried about them because they are liars, it is just harrasing to me.
| c 2012-09-06 18:31:28 Unknown |
Officer Badge#18601
He called left message on my cell phone stating his is an officer and he can come to my job(knew where I worked)or home to arrest me for a debt, if I do not return the call. I return call, it was answered "What Can I do for you?" I asked for Officer John Peterson-there was a series of clicks and the same person got back on the line and stated he was officer John Peterson. He was from the Federal Crimes Investigations Unit and wanted to verify my ssn and I asked him again what the name of his group and the phone number to call back to verify his identity. He stated you do trust me, I said NO. He yelled, will F*** You, Motherf******, s*** my **** and hung up. Now this is supposed to be an officer the law.LOL
He called left message on my cell phone stating his is an officer and he can come to my job(knew where I worked)or home to arrest me for a debt, if I do not return the call. I return call, it was answered "What Can I do for you?" I asked for Officer John Peterson-there was a series of clicks and the same person got back on the line and stated he was officer John Peterson. He was from the Federal Crimes Investigations Unit and wanted to verify my ssn and I asked him again what the name of his group and the phone number to call back to verify his identity. He stated you do trust me, I said NO. He yelled, will F*** You, Motherf******, s*** my **** and hung up. Now this is supposed to be an officer the law.LOL
| Aly 2012-09-06 17:41:05 Unknown |
I am a receptionist at a nursing home. They just called here 5 times with just silence. they called again and asked for an employee who hasn't worked here in months. I said she no longer works here and his response was "Alright F*** you." I said, excuse me? And he said I know you are lying. I said no I am not, she doesn't work here and hasn't in months. and he continued to reply "okay you lying mother f****er." I laughed he asked why I'm laughing I said she doesn't work here, I'm not lying, and hung up.... yes these people really are a joke.
| Shemeka Penn 2012-09-06 13:41:10 Unknown |
This company keeps calling my place of employment asking me to verify the last four digits of my social and my address. He said some company if filing a complaint against me and if I do not pay, I will be taken to court. I asked what company is he referencing and he said he will be able to tell me once I confirm the last four digits of the social and address. I told him to stop calling my workplace and he kept talking. I hung up on him, he called back and said he will talk with my supervisor and then he called me a mother-f*****!
| tmmeriweather 2012-09-05 18:08:32 Unknown |
I received a call from officer"Jeremy Wade" threatning to throw me in jail and have me fired if I did not call me back. He claims to be from the Federal Governments Financial office and wants to have me call him back. He had the last four didgits of my ss# and claimed that it was an important matter. I knew the minute I heard the broken Language and listened to the "script" he was reading this was indeed a scam. Who can W
E call to report these people. I dont have anyone from the federal government looking for me and I dont think they would call and give you a heads up as well. I would warn any of you to not even call back. the numbers they give are false and I do believe this is a scam. Watch you pockets nad dont send any money.
E call to report these people. I dont have anyone from the federal government looking for me and I dont think they would call and give you a heads up as well. I would warn any of you to not even call back. the numbers they give are false and I do believe this is a scam. Watch you pockets nad dont send any money.
| Valerie Scott 2012-09-05 17:49:15 Unknown |
Ask me about a payday loan, said they were from a lawyer's office asked me why I didn't have a job. Called me a bi***, then hung up!
| Angry 2012-09-04 00:55:52 Unknown |
He calls me and leaves me a harassing voice mail, pretending to be an officer. First of officers don't call you and NOT identify what city or state branch their calling from. You can ask then their badge number and they have to give it to you..He's a joke!! He told me to call him back or else! I am saving his voice mails to report his a**. He needs to stop and this isn't the first time he has called me..he tries scaring me by telling my my phone number and my address. So far no one has came to arrest me yet..j*** off.
| sourthen boy 2012-08-25 17:19:56 Unknown |
I had my talked to them he's is army captain had talk to them.They have to stop calling me .But they have calling me back with a number it's 000-000-0000 my had found that they are Texas some wear .
| sothern boy 2012-08-25 16:57:54 Unknown |
I had the same person. I tried my sheiffs at my home town. My dad had talled and told that talk to his chief,of the us army .They tried tell they he was FBI but my dad said that a lier so when called me back my gave his in captain . They have'nt called me back.
| Katie 2012-08-23 20:14:20 Unknown |
I have also had this number call me claiming to be an officer trying to collect money I had borrowed around x-mas. I knew I hadn't borrowed money so when he said id be arrested I told him id be waiting. Obviously nothing. He calls at least once a day it seems and I usually just silence it but I accidently answerer today and told him my moms name when he asked (since the phone is in her name) thought maybe he'd stop calling then. Instead he replied back with "Diana? That's a f****ng ugly a** name." Wow really? Someone needs to stop this guy!
| Tia 2012-08-22 15:32:18 Unknown |
I got a call from this number stating he was "Officer" Roger Adkins. He could barely speak English and told me I had to pay or I was going to jail also. I hung up on him and he called me back screaming at me what was my problem and that I better pay. Does anyone know who we report these calls to?
| Fernando 2012-08-15 21:06:57 Unknown |
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-445-269-4182
CONCERNED
9 Aug 2012I RECIEVED A MESSAGE ON MY CELL PHONE FROM OFFICER "SHAWN MICHAEL" FRO MTHE FINANCIAL GRIME INVESTIGATORS OFFICE STATING I NEED TO PAY $650.00 OR I WILL BE ARRESTED. ALSO ADDED IF I DONT SETTLE OUT OF "COURT" I WILL BE BROUHT TO COURT TO PAY $5,000. HE LEFT # TO CALL BACK 657-548-7913 I ASKED HIM TO SEND ME DOCUMENTS AND TOLD ME TO PAY FIRST THEN HE WOULD SEND ME 16 PAGE DOCUMENTS. MMMMM.......THE CALLER AHD BROKEN ENGLISH AND WAS VERY ABRASIVE. THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have the exact same problem and I think that I even sent him a $200 money order because I got confused and thought that indeed I owed about $600 to some collections agency. He called me again asking for more money and I told him to stop calling me or I would report him. He called me six times today and left another message saying that I had to call him or I will be arrested. This is a total scam and I wonder if anyone knows how to report this idiot.
CONCERNED
9 Aug 2012I RECIEVED A MESSAGE ON MY CELL PHONE FROM OFFICER "SHAWN MICHAEL" FRO MTHE FINANCIAL GRIME INVESTIGATORS OFFICE STATING I NEED TO PAY $650.00 OR I WILL BE ARRESTED. ALSO ADDED IF I DONT SETTLE OUT OF "COURT" I WILL BE BROUHT TO COURT TO PAY $5,000. HE LEFT # TO CALL BACK 657-548-7913 I ASKED HIM TO SEND ME DOCUMENTS AND TOLD ME TO PAY FIRST THEN HE WOULD SEND ME 16 PAGE DOCUMENTS. MMMMM.......THE CALLER AHD BROKEN ENGLISH AND WAS VERY ABRASIVE. THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have the exact same problem and I think that I even sent him a $200 money order because I got confused and thought that indeed I owed about $600 to some collections agency. He called me again asking for more money and I told him to stop calling me or I would report him. He called me six times today and left another message saying that I had to call him or I will be arrested. This is a total scam and I wonder if anyone knows how to report this idiot.
| Alfalfa 2012-08-15 20:38:13 Unknown |
Report them to the FTC: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
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.Call Type: Debt Collector
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.Call Type: Debt Collector
| Fernando 2012-08-15 20:24:33 Unknown |
I have the exact same problem and I think that I even sent him a $200 money order because I got confused and thought that indeed I owed about $600 to some collections agency. He called me again asking for more money and I told him to stop calling me or I would report him. He called me six times today and left another message saying that I had to call him or I will be arrested. This is a total scam and I wonder if anyone knows how to report this idiot.
| Mike 2012-08-15 12:41:44 Unknown |
Whose # is this? Any help is appreciated.
| upset 2012-08-15 03:02:57 Unknown |
had a voice mail message saying they were officer garit smith from federal grants investigations and that it was urgent I call them back because of being implicated in a crime (something like that --- he was hard to understand) and if I didn't call that this meant officers could came be showing up at my work, etc. the number he said to call back at is 562-248-5292 and when i call that number it just gives a fast busy type signal every single time. I check my phone and it shows that the call actually from 445-269-4182. I tried that number and I get the message that my call cannot be completed. that upset me further thinking how am i supposed to get them to this person and what if people show up at my work or something... I found this website and apparently it is some sort of scam and this should not be allowed because I was really worried because of what he said. He even left my last four digits of my social security number on the message stating that he wouldn't have this information about me if he wasn't a federal officer (something like that). Scares me now that someone apparently does have some personal info about me though. What can you do to stop these calls or to get in touch with them to tell them to knock it off?
thank you.
thank you.
| anonymous 2012-08-14 15:12:34 Unknown |
THIS IS AN EXTORTION SCAM. Scammers pretend to be law enforcement (police, sheriff, Feds, AG's Office, fake cop agencies with made-up names) and may be using bought/hacked/phished loan application data to extort money or personal info for fictitious crimes.
The real DEA warns about fake-DEA extortion scams here http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/2010/denver111010.html
The real FBI warns about payday loan extortion scams here http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/paydayloanscam_120710
The real FBI warns again http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releas ... nt-payday-loans
The real FDA warns about fake-FDA extortion scams here http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2009/ucm195814.htm
The real FDIC warns about fake-FDIC extortion scams here http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/specialalert/2010/sa10131.html
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 http://www.naag.org/current-attorneys-general.php as appropriate.
The real DEA warns about fake-DEA extortion scams here http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/2010/denver111010.html
The real FBI warns about payday loan extortion scams here http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/paydayloanscam_120710
The real FBI warns again http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releas ... nt-payday-loans
The real FDA warns about fake-FDA extortion scams here http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2009/ucm195814.htm
The real FDIC warns about fake-FDIC extortion scams here http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/specialalert/2010/sa10131.html
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 http://www.naag.org/current-attorneys-general.php as appropriate.
| tired 2012-08-14 13:54:03 Unknown |
i also recieved a phone call from this number 8 times in a row. going to take me to court over a payday loan that i never had. very broken english asked for docmentaion. officer robert whatever said he would produce it in court. told him to contact my lawyer gave him dial a prayer number hope he gets it . then recieved call back from a steve austin what movie stars and wreslers are doing scam calls. i gave him fbi numbers. enough with this calling some auth to see what can be done
| Concerned Citizen 2012-08-13 17:49:53 Debt Collector |
Got the same call this morning, twice, back to back, 445-269-4182, then a call from 5269-4182. After reading the comments, I realize I had the same call about 6 months ago, demanding $650 or a court case with $6,000+ in fines. I too, asked for documentation in relation to what was a valid bill from years ago. No documentation was ever received and the calls stopped till this morning. Very abrasive caller. What a SCAM!!
Apparently there are scammers getting their hands on old bill collection lists and calling those people attempting to "scare" them into payment. I took bankruptcy several years ago and have a fresh start, so any old bills of this kind are null and void, but it is still disturbing toknow that this kind of crap is going on.
Apparently there are scammers getting their hands on old bill collection lists and calling those people attempting to "scare" them into payment. I took bankruptcy several years ago and have a fresh start, so any old bills of this kind are null and void, but it is still disturbing toknow that this kind of crap is going on.
| INVESTIGATOR 2012-08-10 22:32:20 Unknown |
IF YOU CALL ME AGAIN ON MY CELL I WILL BE THE ONE TO ARREST YOU SO STOP CALLING THIS IS THE NUM THAT IS CALLING MY PHONE 445-269-4182
| JRA 2012-08-10 14:32:42 Debt Collector |
Got a call from the number said that he was a federal officer calling from ohio. Said he worked for the federal government. I made him repeat himself several times. He was trying to collect $150.00 from the previous holder of my phone number. This was at 10:30 eastern standard time 8/20/2012. The name of the collecting company was "www.cashnet.com". My understanding is that impersonating an federal official is a 4th degree misdemeanor in Ohio - http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2921.51. Phone number 445.269.4182
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