567-248-7508
OH, US
Mark Ledbetter
Mark Ledbetter
2012-08-27 21:55:54
Debt Collector
trying to sue me for taking out a payday loan, which I never did, nor did I receive any funds
amanda mueller
amanda mueller
2012-08-22 22:33:59
Unknown
i have had the same thing happen. They called 2 times today and left a very angry message saying that the information they had was time sensitve. The first time i delt with them was a month ago and they said i had gotten a loan from payday cash advance. I told them i had never heard of that company and havent gotten any money. They harrased me a bit saying 'are you sure you havent?' and finally i snapped saying that i was looking at my bank statements and there was no 300 dollars sent to my account and that i would hire a lawyer to have them call this 'attorney'. They stopped calling till today. They said if i dont go to court tomorrow i would be found guilty, go to jail, and be fined 5k or more. Dont believe a word!
kim
kim
2012-08-15 20:50:05
Unknown
I am getting the same calls.. They started about a year ago and I have gotten about 80 in the last couple of weeks. He calls my work phone and I have tried everything. I have told them that they have the wrong number. My job has told them I no longer work there and he just calls a lair and tell us that we can have charges filed against us... He has use all kind of different names the news one is Dewayne Foster.... I have ask him to send me something that show were I signed for it or some kind of papers saying how is company is and he tells me that he doesnt have too.. He have threated me with the cops coming to my job or home I told him to send them on...
Private
Private
2012-08-15 19:47:28
Unknown
oh, your callers name was John Smith, my callers name was Dwayne Foster. telling me to call immediatly, or i will pay for it. Left no name of the company, but had a really bad accent, yeah and his name is John or Dwyne , then wished me Good Luck, "WHAT A CROCK" !!!
Heather
Heather
2012-08-14 22:42:11
Unknown
They've been harassing me for months. In January they claimed there was a warrant out for my arrest and if i do not confirm my social with them i will go to jail. I essentially told him to go do multiple things to himself and immediately called the police to see if I had any warrants. They reassured me that my record is squeaky clean. These people do have your SSNs. DO NOT CONFIRM OR DENY ANY INFORMATION WITH THEM.
Keith
Keith
2012-08-11 04:44:19
Prank Call
This is NOT a debt collector they are seeking identity theft.  These guys are telling my wife that they will take legal action and they threaten to send my wife to jail.  Legally, a collector cannot do this.   It's illegal to do that.     I put a fraud alert on our accounts, filed a federal IC3 complaint, Federal Trade Comission and now a police report.  Document as much of these incidents as you can.  They had our SSN#'s.  Save your messages, file reports, get the incidents documented.
Alfalfa
Alfalfa
2012-08-08 19:18:40
Unknown
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
bram0922
bram0922
2012-08-08 19:16:30
Unknown
These guys keep calling my wife, called her at work.I told them I know about there scam and the guy hung up.now they are calling again.I want it stopped.we are on the do not call list.wish I could press charges for harassement.
Coryna Price
Coryna Price
2012-07-28 13:08:44
Unknown
Total scam.  The guy, who does not speak very good English, is very threatening and talking of legal action....I know its BS cause I work for an atty...lol.  This mess happens to me at least 1X a year.  How do I get my Numbers of their call list?
Wade
Wade
2012-07-28 00:51:14
Debt Collector
These people have been calling me non stop today. Same issues that everyone else posts about. Foreign accent and phones ringin in the background. When they 'transfer' me to their supervisor they literally place me on hold and I can hear them talking. They are out of control. What has anyone done in the past about this and what can we do?? Please help!!!
mmp
mmp
2012-07-27 17:01:16
Unknown
I recieved several calls from this phone number about a year ago, telling me that this was a time sensitive matter and that me or my attorney needed to contact them or they wished me luck.  I was really concerned about it so I contacted my attorney as well as the local police department.  Both told me that it was a scam and not to give out any information to them when they call.  Never heard from them again until today.  A gentlemen by the name of Daniel Stevens left a message at both my work number and my cell again said it was a time sensitive matter and either me or my attorney needed to call them back immediately or if not I wish you good luck.  So this time I called them back and told them that the person they were looking for was not at those numbers.  The gentleman that answered the phone started threatening me that I was going to go to jail and proceeded to hang up on me.  They then called me back 5 times within an hour, the last time I answered the phone and told them I did not want anymore phone calls because they are a scam and if they continued to call I was going to turn the number over to the police.  They hung up.   This is a scam and a bunch of sick individuals......
SP
SP
2012-07-26 22:20:06
Unknown
I guess I'm lucky - if he left a threatening message I don't know it because I couldn't understand what he said. "Robert Jackson" left a message on my voice mail. The only words I could understand were "Robert Jackson" & "5672487508".
CR
CR
2012-07-26 21:53:37
Unknown
My husband started "the calls" again so this morning I answered and told them that he was in a car accident two days ago.  I thought that he would just hang up like usual, but he said "I'm so sorry mam" in that lame accent that comes and goes.  Let's see if the calls stop...Fed up with these douches!
Ymc
Ymc
2012-07-26 17:58:48
Unknown
Sheesh here we go again.. These guys are resentless.. they keep calling and calling.. I transfered the call to the Police last time.. they have left me alone for a few months.. but there BAAAAACK!.. Buttwads
charles sexton
charles sexton
2012-07-25 21:49:57
Debt Collector
Had like 10 calls on my work phone from these folks. Called back and got someone, to be honest he sounded indian, very thick accent. He also, I believe, deliberately mumbled the name of the company. I told him who I was and that he was NOT to call my work number. That they could contact me via registered mail for any legal request. I told them if they continued to harass me I would make a police report. It made no impression on them at all. I had one of these about a year ago that really freaked me out. Then I googled the company and the number and found out they were a new type of scam going around. Now I am just irritated because their calling my work number.
Blair
Blair
2012-07-25 18:16:25
Unknown
I continue to get calls from an Indian speaking "John Smith".  He continues to call my phone and make threatening remarks and leave me 20 back to back voice mails with fellow yapping Indians in the background.  This is so a scam and watch out because they had social security information and everything.  I don't know how they are getting this stuff but it needs to be stopped.
chris
chris
2012-07-24 18:49:21
Unknown
i just recieved a call from these people.
They called a year or two ago saying the same things.
This time they said they were with Bakers and Mckenzie law firm and that I had not been re paying a loan from the company "Cash Advance".
They said if i dont explain to them why, they would call my job and local authorities.
I told him, "You all called me and said this last year and you never sent the police" he said oh ok bye and hung up the line.
Susan Levy
Susan Levy
2012-07-23 22:40:51
Debt Collector
I've really had it with these bill-collector boiler rooms, all with Indian/Pakistani accents.  They ask for me or [my] retained attorney of record" and make all sorts of threats.  Seems to me that debtor's prison was abolished in the 19th century.  They end with saying that if I don't call back they can only wish me "good luck" or "have a blessed day".
Seldom sean
Seldom sean
2012-07-23 18:07:46
Debt Collector
Same game last year
it was arab's this indie's next african's
confrence called my job threatened to have popo pick me up
laughed at him got all bent bout that told me that I was a theif,
p.o.s and to go F**K
myself lmfao
bernie c
bernie c
2012-07-21 18:04:56
Unknown
called said i owed them money and also called my work. said is name was tom smith threatned me as well
bernie
bernie
2012-07-21 18:02:20
Debt Collector
called and threatned me i owe them money called my work as well said his name was tom smith
Dynagirl 13
Dynagirl 13
2012-07-20 19:29:57
Unknown
I had been harrassed by this group before and actually had my attorney contact them. They said they would fax over the paperwork and never did. They were very rude with me and threatened to garnish my wages and have me arrested. It has been over a year, but they just contacted me again. I called them back and told them that I worked for the local Sheriff's Office, and they promptly hung up on me. When I tried to call them back they wouldn't answer the phone, so I called from my work phone. When the same guy answered the phone and I asked for the person who left me the message again, he recognized my voice and said, "Police" and promptly hung up. You should all try the same!!!!
Private
Private
2012-07-20 19:29:44
Unknown
They've been blowing up my phone all day. Voicemails are hard to understand. I think they're looking for Francine but not sure. Regardless, there's no way what they're saying could be confused for my name so I finally called back to have them remove my number. Guy insisted on having my name and when I refused, he started yelling at me to give him my damn name. I told him it's none of his effing business and not to call again. Guy's name was "Craig". Yeah, right.
Private
Private
2012-07-20 19:23:03
Unknown
These jerks have been blowing up my phone all day. I can hardly understand their voicemails but sounds like they're looking for someone named Francine. I just called back to tell them they have the wrong the number and the guy wanted my name. I told him he doesn't need my name since I'm not the one he's trying to reach and he started yelling at me to give him my damn name. I told him it's none of his (insert my favorite f word here) business and not to call again.
Ken Myers
Ken Myers
2012-07-19 15:43:27
Debt Collector
We got 2 calls from these a***oles at whatever boiler room they're using within 5 minutes of each other.  Same thing-very thick Indian accent and common ficticious name.  Scam city.
annoyed
annoyed
2012-07-18 18:44:47
Unknown
oh my idiot said his name is Mike Davis...HAHAHAHAH... yeah and My name is Princess Dianna... what a bunch of mooks... he said he was from some law firm Bakers and (something) uninteligable... i aske where they were located and he said Ohio..  i  said i wansn't here, and can i give me a message and he sadi i need to call back about a "legal" matter....what a crock.... i'm almost tempted to call back and F with him , but probably wont... unless i *67 them... havn't gotten a scam payday loan call in a while....looks like "their back"....LOOSERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike
Mike
2012-07-18 18:31:26
Unknown
I got the same call today from the same people and left 3 messages but all i hear is talking and phones ringing in the back ground - not even one voice saying who they are , what a scam .
MD
MD
2012-07-18 18:20:41
Unknown
I received the same call from John Smith but with a thick Indian accent. I asked him where he was located and the name of his company... he hung up.
M. Whittle
M. Whittle
2012-07-13 17:43:11
Debt Collector
A representative from this phone number called me speaking with an
East Indian accent claiming to be John Smith. I suspected that this was a false name so I asked who his company was. He gave no response. I told him that I do not know him and he proceeded to call my phone 20 times in succession. He is calling again as I type this message. They will not identify their company name which is why I know this is a scam.
SoTired
SoTired
2012-07-13 01:34:08
Unknown
Got a call yesterday from these "so called attorney" requesting my representative info for a summons. Told them to give me their info so that I can have my people get in touch with theirs. Of course they told me never mind.
1-360-461-1361 1-949-111-7689 1-907-331-7766
Call Type:
Comment:
Your name:
Validation:
© WHOSCALL.IN 2011-2024 - Privacy