I got a call as well, voicemail told me to either call them back, or have my attourney call them back. And if they didn't hear from me all they could do is say "Good luck" Person leaving the message identified herself as Kiena Richards and had an Indian accent.

Sounds a bit fishy to me. When I recieved the voicemail I called back, only to sit on the phone forever with it just ringing. Eventually there was an automated voicemail message saying to leave a message, and then it told me the mailbox was full.

I have gotten a call from this guy saying his name is Brandon Brown..He claimed to be an attorney, and that criminal chargers were being charged to my social security number..He called me back in january, i was scared so i agreed to make arrangements to pay back.. i payed 200.00, and was suppose to pay back the rest in february, when i didnt answer his call, he took the money out of my acount anyways..785.00.. I got the money disputed from the bank, he just called back today. He wasnt happy that i disputed it, he told me that i was i had serious charges, and that tmrw i would be arrested at work, from the Sheriffes dept.. I was scared so i called the sheriffes dept, and they came out and took a report.. They said there wasnt anything that could be done to me, cause there wasnt any warrant.. I called they guy, and the cop got on the phone to him,, he thought the cop was lieing of who he was.. I filed a report.. This isnt the only number that has called me.. Please dont give any money to these people. Please call police and report it,, Thats all that i know to do.. I hope this can help..

I have received 3 phone call from them first Paul Collan 760-269-3823, second Allen watson 760-269-3824 and that was Bradon Brown 661-240-9193, I figured it was a scam so before I would agree to any thing I for paper work same story. There is non. I did some research and found a few thing on these numbers. So I called them back and return the favor. I sent my computer to call the number very 30 second and all they heard when they answered was chipmunk singing. After about 3 hours of this the phone are no longer active. I have also reported these scum bag to FTC, BBB, and the local police. I think if we all turn the tables on them they my get the point. Have not got another call as of yet.

I just received one of these calls too.  What can we do to make it stop.  I don't like the fact they have all my information, banking account, ssn, you name it.  I will be changing banks.  Some payday loan place is selling our information and needs to prosecuted before someone loses his/her job over their harrassing calls.  I will be contacting the FTC today.  These people are pathetic and I don't know how they sleep at night.  BTW I am not in debt to a payday loan company.

Oops forgot the number they called from in the first message:

Beware of 805-727-4608

I just received one of these calls too.  What can we do to make it stop.  I don't like the fact they have all my information, banking account, ssn, you name it.  I will be changing banks.  Some payday loan place is selling our information and needs to prosecuted before someone loses his/her job over their harrassing calls.  I will be contacting the FTC today.  These people are pathetic and I don't know how they sleep at night.  BTW I am not in debt to a payday loan company.

I had the same thing happen. Only I did have a payday loan last month. He kept stating I was going to jail and telling me if you want me to read this affidavit I will but dont interupt me. I listened and asked the name of the original creditor, he said Cash USA. That is not who gave me my loan. I told him he was full of S**t and to put the lawyer on the phone. He wouldnt. I hung up and called him like 50 times and each time he answered I punked his stupid a**. DONT BE AFRAID OF THESE WORTHLESS SACKS OFF CRAP! THEY COUNT ON YOU BEING AFRAID. Arm yourself with information, first they cannot take you to jail and charge you. Second, this is how these low lifes make a living! DOnt fall prey to this. Get mad and cuss out a foreigner!!!

I have been receiving these calls since June 28th 619-399-1693 and now they are calling from 619-342-3715.  This Loyld Connor keeps telling me that I am being prosecuted for Theft and Fraud for a Payday Loan that was not never paid.  However, when I ask him to provide me with the name of the Loan place and the amount that I supposed to have borrowed. He states that he can not provide me with any information.  He stated that I received a email about 2 weeks ago, which I did not and then he called my job today harrassing our receptionist and she told him no personal calls but when he called my cell phone he sounded all frantic and sounded like he was from overseas but that I need to give Keith Nelson a call back and stated that I owed $5500 yeah right but he wanted my credit card info and license info, really scary

I have been receiving these calls since June 28th 619-399-1693 and now they are calling from 619-342-3715.  This Loyld Connor keeps telling me that I am being prosecuted for Theft and Fraud for a Payday Loan that was not never paid.  However, when I ask him to provide me with the name of the Loan place and the amount that I supposed to have borrowed. He states that he can not provide me with any information.  He stated that I received a email about 2 weeks ago, which I did not and then he called my job today harrassing our receptionist and she told him no personal calls but when he called my cell phone he sounded all frantic and sounded like he was from overseas but that I need to give Keith Nelson a call back and stated that I owed $5500 yeah right but he wanted my credit card info and license info, really scary

I received a call from 530-466-7616 as well. This guy stated hiname as Martin. He talked about a payday loan that I allegedly took out for $862.74. My first thought went directly to scam because payday loans don't come in those types of increments. I then asked him the date of the payday loan and he could not disclose. So, I then called him back from another number and pretended to be my attorney only for him to try and talk over me and ask for a badge number. I then told him not to contact my client (me) any further. I checked my account  because I haven't used it in awhile and my statements go back to November of 2009. There weren't any deposits of this sort so  am contacting the Attorney General, the FTC, and reporting this company through my local postal service.

I have been receiving these calls since June 21st 1st from 530-466-7616 and now they are calling from 619-342-3715.  This Loyld Connor keeps telling me that I am being prosecuted for Theft and Fraud for a Payday Loan that was not never paid.  However, when I ask him to provide me with the name of the Loan place and the amount that I supposed to have borrowed. He states that he can not provide me with any information.  He stated that I received a letter in the mail about 2 weeks ago, which I did not.  Not sure how to get him to stop calling.  He is calling my work place and it is getting frustrating.  I really think this is a SCAM, but how do we find out?

This person Charles Johnson called me wanting my lawyer information. If I did not call back good luck.
What does good luck mean?

Thank Sheila R.

same thing here - going to jail - wish me good luck  and all kinds of crap. name is brian king.

I got the same msg "Good luck" but he said his name was Charles! Even called my job.

I too have most recently recieved calls from these people. I am trying to get their address so I can send them a cease and desist letter. They called my place of employment yesterday. I have to get this in order. If it comes down to it I will hire an investigator to find out where they are located. As well I am going to complain to my state attorney and FTC.
If anyone has investigated this company and has the address please post it. If I find out I will post it for everyone. So far I have figured out that 619 is a southern San Diego area code.

I got over 10 call from this number today and the guy told me he was a lawyer and yeld at me on my voice mail. I think its a scam but he harressed me till i was crying and telling me i was going to jail for a something i never done it was crazy.

I keep getting harrassing phone numbers. They say they are lawyers from a paid loan company. I ask them questions like what is the paid loan number and name they are represting. I think it is fake. I tell them to mail me infomation. They wont i think they are from india and trying to get money.

I received a call from 619-342-3715 UNITED ATTORNEY SERVICES OF CALIFORNIA, the Indian fellow said. He stated that I was being prosecuted for fraud because of some loan from Instant Cash. When I asked him to prove it by giving me the amount and date, at first he couldn't do it. Then he got upset with me for questioning him. My husband got on the line with him ,Jason was his name, and he told my husband that he was wasting his(jasons') time arguing over this. We went online to check our bank account and there ws no activity and has been none for several months. We actually called our Bank and talked to an agent because of all this and she only confirmed what we already knew to be true. She advised us to call the police the next time it happens and report it. This has me really upset.

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-646-274-1143/3

For at least the last four years, possibly longer, a group has been calling former payday loan applicants advising them that they have defrauded a bank and are now being sued for non-payment of a loan.  The callers will claim to be calling on behalf of an attorney's office (name varies), the Dept. of Law and Investigation, ACS, or other similar combinations below:

United Legal Processing Division
Midline Marketing
Crime Monitoring Services
Monetary Crime Division
U.S. National Bank
Attorney General?s Office (usually in California)
American Legal Services
Affidavit Consolidation Services (ACS)

You will be threatened with arrest, a costly trial and possibly worse.  In no shape, way or form can you be arrested for non-payment on a consumer debt.  Do not believe these threats, as they are without merit and cannot be carried out in the manner they allege.  

Who are they?

In the past when pressed by law enforcement for an address, the callers have provided the following information:

David Morgan and Associates
Morgan & Associates
Morgan Associates
954-727-8481
1155 Northwest 85th Street
Wintergarden, Florida  33150
(Address is likely invalid)

The collector's MO matches a once legit collections agency called Ellis Crosby & Associates.  Here are some links on them:

http://www.budhibbs.com/collectorpages/ellis_crosby_and_associates.htm
http://www.budhibbs.com/collectorpages/EllisCrosbyJudgment.pdf

They have been previously fined over $1.3 million for various violations.  They have been known to use phone banks in India to make their calls, which more or less coincides with the difficult to understand accent many of us detect when we are contacted.  

The last time this group went by any "official" name was back in 2008:

Ellis Crosby & Associates / Douglas & Morgan Associates
4494 Southside Boulevard Suite #200
Jacksonville Florida 32216
Phone:  800-928-3536 / (904) 928-3536
(Address is likely invalid)

There are NUMEROUS consumer alerts out against this group of individuals:

Florida:
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/061107/met_176207561.shtml

Kansas:  
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/01/ks_debt_collection.html

Colorado:  
http://www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/press/ ... lls_likely_orig

Rhode Island:  
http://www.collectionscreditrisk.com/news/rho ... -3002135-1.html

West Virginia:
http://www.wvago.gov/internetloanscam.cfm

Missouri:
On July 15th, 2010 a Public Awareness Bulletin was sent out by Missouri Information Analysis Center.  

"..received reports from individuals in Ohio and Illinois reference suspicious telephone calls they received. In both instances, the callers are reporting that a voicemail is received from a man, with a Middle Eastern accent, identifying himself as an officer working with the Financial Crimes Unit.  The message indicates that the reason for the call concerns a loan made by the receiver or someone in the receiver's family. The voicemail requests that a return call be made and a telephone number is provided. When a return call is made, the caller is asked to provide personal identifying information such as their date of birth and social security number.

Reports indicate that the calls are frequent and persistent and that they even threaten arrest or legal action if information or money is not provided. It appears that the individuals making these calls may have access to some records connecting individuals and their relatives.  Missouri does not have a Financial Crimes Unit and all indications are that this is a fictitious agency. If you receive a similar phone call, please be advised that it is a scam and please contact your local law enforcement agency or the Missouri Information Analysis Center at 866-362-6422."

Bottom line:

Do not supply the callers with any additional information.  Inform them you have reported them to law enforcement and hang up.  If you haven't already, go ahead and report the calls to local law enforcement, your state's Attorney General and beyond.  Look up the local Secret Service branch's information in your area and get in contact with an agent there.  

If you ever applied for a cash advance online, your information is out there.  
Possible sources for the breach of your privacy are:

* The scammers obtained your information from Teletrack - a reporting agency used by many cash advance lenders to determine their risk lending to you.  The service is able to tell cash advance lenders if you have existing loans with other companies, for example.  Many state laws prohibit borrowers from having more than two cash advances out at the same time.

* The scammers created their own fake payday loan application site.  People looking for a cash advance went to the site and applied, thus freely providing the scammers with their information for malicious use at a later time.  

* The scammers were able to get into the database(s) of cash advance lenders - probable targets being Sonic Payday and Cashnet USA.  


How to protect yourself:

* Inform your employer.  You are likely getting calls at home and/or at work, so make sure your employer is aware the calls are part of a scam and to not take them seriously.  Advise the callers that they are no longer allowed to call you at work.  If they continue to call, document the date and time of the calls you received.  Save voice mails left if at all possible.  

* Change your number(s).  For some this may not be an option, for others a one-time number change can be done free of charge.

Be advised - any references you listed on your payday loan application will be contacted.  Let those people know that this is a scam, and they can disregard.

* Use Google Voice.  Google Voice is a great replacement voice mail system for just about any phone number you use.  Messages can be transcribed and voice mail recordings can be saved as mp3 files.  

Pro Tip - call the scammers with a Google Voice number before turning off your old phone numbers.  Make sure when you call you identify yourself so they can start up their script.  At any point after they have your information pulled up just hang up.  They will then start religiously calling your Google Voice number.  At this point, you are free to change your regular phone number(s) and enjoy not having these people ever call you again.  (And laugh at the fact these people are basically talking to a brick wall several times a day)

The scammers change their numbers frequently.  Law enforcement used to think it was because the callers ran out of minutes on their prepaid wireless accounts or they were shuttered due to fraud, but now they understand it's simply to evade detection by savvy consumers online.  With the proliferation of VoIP, it's even easier for the crooks to stay a couple of steps ahead of law enforcement.  Below is just a sampling of the 30+ numbers that have been used in recent memory.

1-201-244-7722
1-209-349-7382
1-209-797-2212
1-212-500-0839
1-213-256-0408
1-213-995-3039
1-281-763-0433
1-347-289-3902
1-347-844-6817
1-347-844-6831
1-424-354-4270
1-516-232-8905
1-516-232-8935
1-518-212-0219
1-561-300-8018
1-561-210-4185
1-626-200-4646
1-631-456-4041
1-646-274-1143
1-646-810-8635
1-650-241-4604
1-707-401-4056
1-707-633-2789
1-708-401-0535
1-716-442-2824
1-717-862-4080
1-718-705-8669
1-760-514-0132
1-760-563-5384
1-772-318-4938
1-850-201-1111
1-858-777-1977
1-859-908-2281
1-866-860-4509
1-877-226-7488
1-888-706-7463
1-888-771-9249
1-888-785-4479
1-909-327-4870

So can they really do anything to you?

It's not a simple yes or no answer.  Logic dictates that, if they really wanted to take you for a ride and drain your bank accounts, they already would have.  

So, why haven't they?  

Authorization.  

Why do you think you are being called so much?  Perhaps it is because they like the sound of your voice?  No, they have to have your authorization to take any form of payment from you, period.  The callers know their audience, and that audience is typically a bunch of people that have applied for payday loans in the past.  Most of those people they call couldn't afford an attorney if they wanted one, and are so used to receiving collections calls that so long as they sound like a real collector, they will likely be perceived as one.

Furthermore, they don't even really want to talk to your attorney - that just sounds official and scary enough.  A real attorney would take the callers to task and write them off as two-bit con artists.  The callers need you, in writing, to authorize payment against the fictitious debt they claim you owe.  Go ahead, ask them for proof you owe the debt - more commonly known as verification of debt.  See what they say.  A phone authorization carries very little weight, so if they have something signed by you on file, you are done for - and the callers know that.  That authorization is the only thing these callers are doing by the book, and for good reason.  If they just went all willy nilly and made an ACH debit from your checking account, without your written approval, you could in turn report the transaction as fraudulent to your financial institution.  In about 7-10 business days, you would get the funds returned to your account.  Then the scammers would be up against a bank and their team of lawyers and investigators.  

Bottom line:

If you haven't paid the callers a dime, don't.  If you planned on paying them to shut them up, just don't.  Remember - you are not being contacted by a legally licensed, ethically owned and operated collector.  Read up on the FDCPA - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf - and know your rights.

PS--The FBI sent out a Press Release on this scam just last week:

Extortion Scam Related to Delinquent Payday Loans

Washington, D.C.
December 07, 2010  FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691

? filed under: Press Release

The Internet Crime Complaint Center has received many complaints from victims of payday loan telephone collection scams. Callers claim the victim is delinquent in a payday loan and must repay the loan to avoid legal consequences. The callers purport to be representatives of the FBI, Federal Legislative Department, various law firms, or other legitimate-sounding agencies. They claim to be collecting debts for companies such as United Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Net, and other Internet check-cashing services.

According to complaints received from the public, the callers have accurate data about victims, including Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, employer information, bank account numbers, and the names and telephone numbers of relatives and friends. How the fraudsters obtained the personal information varies, but in some cases victims have reported they completed online applications for other loans or credit cards before the calls started.

The fraudsters relentlessly call the victim?s home, cell phone, and place of employment. They refuse to provide any details about the alleged payday loans and become abusive when questioned. The callers have threatened victims with legal actions, arrests, and, in some cases, physical violence if they do not pay. In many cases, the callers harass victims? relatives, friends, and employers.

Some fraudsters have instructed victims to fax a statement agreeing to pay a certain amount, on a specific date, via a pre-paid Visa card. The statement further declares the victim will never dispute the debt.

If you receive these calls, do not follow the caller?s instructions. Rather, you should:

Notify your banking institutions.
Contact the three major credit bureaus and request an alert be put on your file.
Contact your local law enforcement agencies if you feel you are in immediate danger.
File a complaint at www.IC3.gov.
Tips to avoid becoming a victim of this scam:

Never give your Social Security number?or personal information of any kind?over the telephone or online unless you initiate the contact.
Be suspicious of any e-mail with urgent requests for personal financial information. The e-mail may include upsetting or exciting but false statements to get you to react immediately.
Avoid filling out forms in e-mail messages that request personal information.
Ensure that your browser is up-to-date and security patches have been applied.
Check your bank, credit, and debit card statements regularly to make sure that there are no unauthorized transactions. If anything looks suspicious, contact your bank and all card issuers.
When you contact companies, use numbers provided on the back of cards or statements

http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/paydayloanscam_120710

This guy called Indian/Pakistan accent left a voice mail and stated have your lawyer call me before your gold house gets torn down? Enough is enough the problem is when this nuts call I am thinking it is one of my sons (who are currently in Afghanistan serving in the Marine Corp) since it shows up on call ID as a out of country #. Does anyone know what I can do ?

Consumer Alert: Attorney General warns Kansans of debt collection scam

January 29, 2010 -- Attorney General Steve Six is cautioning Kansas consumers about telephone calls from apparent fake debt collectors who are impersonating law enforcement officers in an effort to extort money from consumers.   Consumers are warned to not submit payments to these fraudulent debt collectors.

When calling, the scammers most often state they are attempting to collect a debt related to an internet payday loan obtained by the consumer, but which the consumer never repaid.  Consumers state they have never obtained such a loan or paid off the loan years ago.  The scam artists have most recently identified themselves as ACS, National Affidavit Processing Department and United Financial Crime Division, but may use additional phony names.  It appears the phone numbers used by the scammers are ?spoofed? numbers, so that the number appearing on a consumer?s caller ID is not the actual number of where the call originated. It appears the calls in question may be originating from outside the United States.

When questioned, the individual calling refuses to disclose the full name or address of the collection agency they claim to represent.  These scammers have been able to provide consumers with identifying information, such as the consumer?s social security number, home address, e-mail address, names of family members and the consumer?s computer IP address.  Since the callers are able to provide valid personal information, consumers may become confused and believe they are being contacted in regard to a legitimate debt.

If the initial debt collection scam is unsuccessful, consumers have been re-contacted months later with the scammers posing as law enforcement officers or officers of the court.  Typically, the consumer is threatened with arrest for fraud or some other fictitious crime unless the consumer agrees to immediately wire money via Western Union.  The fictitious officers strive to frighten and confuse consumers into compliance by using legal sounding terms such as ?We?re filing an affidavit against you? or by stating a lawsuit has been or is in the process of being filed against the consumer.

A hallmark of each scam has been calling consumers repeatedly at their place of employment.  This scam hit home when an employee of the Kansas Attorney General?s Office was repeatedly called both on her cell phone and at work.  Despite the employee?s repeated verbal disputes, the caller refused to provide any identifying information to allow her to send a written dispute. The scammer also continued to call her numerous times a day regarding a payday loan she denied obtaining. Two months later, she was again contacted by telephone by an individual identifying himself as an ?officer?.

?I denied owing the debt and refused to pay without being provided validation of the debt. I was then told, ?If that?s the case, I will have local law enforcement come to your place of business and drag you out kicking and screaming?,? stated the employee.

?It is important for consumers to know their rights under the law,? Attorney General Six said. ?If a consumer is receiving calls from a debt collection company and believe it is a scam, I encourage them to contact our office immediately.?

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), collectors are required to send consumers a written notice within five days of the initial contact.  The notification should contain  information such as the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed and a statement informing the consumer they have thirty days to contact the debtor in writing to dispute the debt or request validation of the debt. In addition, legitimate debt collectors are prohibited by the FDCPA from making false or misleading representations, such as the consumer has committed a crime, implying nonpayment will result in the consumer?s arrest, or using the threat of violence.

More information is available on the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf.

To register a complaint with the Kansas Attorney General?s Consumer Protection Division, call 1(800) 432-2310 or visit www.ksag.org.

http://www.ksag.org/page/consumer-alert-attor ... collection-scam

I had the same situation with a loan I supposedly took out with the parent company Instacash. See my post for June 29 for 973-735-5438. They also have called me on this 619 number.

See my post for June29 for 973-735-5438. They also calle me from this 619 number.

I just got two messages left saying to get my attorney to call or me and If I don't call him back that it was time sensitive and if I don't call him back or hear from my attorney that the only thing he can do is wish me luck.

I just got off the phone with these people.  I told them that I work at the County Court house and I wanted to know how come I haven't been served with papers to appear in court.  I also told them that in Texas they don't come pick you up to take you to court, if you don't show up, they issue a "Failure to Appear"  I told them to cease and desists all phone calls to me and that I would be checking with the District Attorney about this and if they continued to call me that I would sue them for harassment.  It's amazing how they can be named "Jason" or "Martin" but can barely speak english.  Won't give you any information and won't e-mail any paperwork to you.  And how did a loan go from $300 to $8400 in 6 months.  That is all the information that I got out of them and then they started yelling at me, and I told them not to call me back.

This number called me saying I was going to jail, the subpoena would show up at my job and i would be escorted out. told me that they would tell my employer what i was being charged with. said that i took a loan and refused to pay it back but couldn't provide the loan date or any other information. the minute i said i was hiring an attorney, i was hung up on. i attempted to call back several times and one time they even answered the phone by saying hello and my first name. when i asked to speak the the attorney they supposedly work for, i was hung up on.

Called me with a threaten voicemail

this is definately a scam. they call me many times a day with a blocked and unknown number. they make threats and say we owe them money and are goin to jail. i applied for an online loan and have problems ever since...

this number is continueing to call saying he is a lawyer... is this legit??   and when asked questions . they refuse to release information,,