I received a call as well today: From DEA Agent Brian Crawell? 1-800-914-5270 x 101.. landline number 804-767-8688 saying the exact sam things that thye have  awareent for my arrest and a seasrch warrent.. I was like Oh yeah,..,.. search me Mother effer. What b***s***. Seriously a DEA agent calling me? RIGHT.  I would think you have better things to do than scope out a squeeky clean 40 year old. LOSERS!

the same guy just called me. he has a new phone number 805-308-3760 and said he was mark bryan with the california division of the DEA. I called my local police fraud dept and I am filing a report. This guy messed with the wrong person.
he is a fraud.

This scam is still occuring. I got a phone call from a women stating she was with the DEA and that I would be arrested. I told her that I did not order anything over the internet and she said well then you must have gotten call from a company on your phone asking if you wanted to order any meds. I told her I had not done so and she had my credit card number, at least the last four digets of it. I asked what it said I ordered and she said it was tramadol. I said I was going to contact my attorney and she said all that is going to do is cost you more money. I said when did this so called order take place and she said in 2006. She threatened to have me arrested if I did not send money. I said send them out because I had not ordered anything. My credit card number number had been stolen by someone and used about seven years ago. I do not know if someone used my card for this or not. I looked at my credit card purchases at the end of the month and found purchases made on a gaming site. I don't know how they got it but they did. I got a refund for this but I think they sold my information. I cancelled this card but it had been almost a month before I found out it had been used. The DEA will not call you and let you know they are coming to your house with a search warrant. I know how scary and realistic they sound but if you take a moment to think about it then you would realize this is a scam. Why would the dea give you notice they were coming to your home, so if you did have anything in your home you could get rid of the evidence? Please anyone who gets a call from these people just hang up. I contacted the police in my area to let them know what happened.

I fell for it.  I don't know how to get my money back.

its a company out of florida, called medical arts the come up as a massage palor, they obviously have pharmacists making $$$$$ on the side, and threating folks they are on w.atlantic blvd. turn them in

This Chris Torres just called me as well... Had me fooled for a second, the DEA does not make phone calls. They just kick your door down.

I'm glad that you guys are writing about this, it just confirmed my suspicions that it was a scam.

It happened to me today, July17, 2012.  Christopher Torres Drug Enforcement Narcotics Division Badge F3956 Division 38 Docket 01738302-12 - very convincing and scary.  619-209-8542 was the phone number he used.  Arrest warrant being issued and must pay $395 within 2 hours to stop the arrest and further prosecution.  Send money via Wal-Mart Green Dot Money Pac Relocard.  Called back 5 or 6 times and left a message to call back immediately.

He is not arrested...He is calling

Torres called me today at from 6192098542.  Left a message same as everyone else.  I thought it sounded fishy.  And I guess it was.  If I had answered, wouldn't have told him anything anyway.

Has anyone received a call from Garces Cheyenne or Christopher Torres saying that there is a warrant out for your arrest?  Once they scare you to death saying that the Federal Marshall's are on there way to arrest you they call a second time and ask if you want to enroll in a First Time Offenders program to "make it all go away.". This is wrong and we need to get together and fight this!  

OK, I have more information. He messed up yesterday and gave us an address. I looked up the address and it goes back to a law office named Federal Defenders Inc. of San Diego.  I am calling officer Adams tomorrow with this new information.

There is a chance this jerk is calling from a new number -- 619-209-8542.
The a-hole pulled the exact same routine. Thank you for posting this thread. I will also post this warning on the 619-209-8542 number so others can learn from us. Thank you for sharing the info.

I received a message from this guy identifying himself as Special Agent Christopher Torres with the DEA Criminal Investigations Bureau.  Je stated that he was investigating an ongoing criminal case in which my name  had come up and that it was very important that I return his call and make my statement today. I was travelling and it not only peaked my curiousity to a level 10+ but scared me to death.  I pulled over and called the number (1-619-752-9998) and was answered by a recording of "DEA Criminal Investigations".  I left a message stating that I was returning his call, however, I had no idea what this was in reference to.  I was a "basket case" all the way home.  I then had the good sense to look up the number when I got home and, by the Grace of God, saw all of the threads.  I then attempted to call Officer Adams to report, however, nobody seemed familiar with this officer.  Thank you "Special Agent A***ole" for putting a damper on my otherwise wonderful day!

Im getting calls from this guy to same story as the rest of you, He is still in operation and does sound very convincing. Im so glad I Googled his number and found this guy out Thanks All for post and exposing this fool.

I just rec'd a call from a fake agent also calling himself Chris Torres and will definitely report him now. He couldn't get anywhere with me because I felt it was a scam from the moment I heard him.

I got a call from the same Christopher Torres today at the same phone number.  Thank you for this thread because it puts my mind at rest.  He is still active, so apparently the call from the Police Department didn't stop him.

I received the same phone call today, I reported it to the Dea and local police.

Long Beach Police Dept has a report on him. Officer Adams 562-435-6711
its against the law to impersonate a police officer.
Officer Adams spoke to him.

I received a phone call from this number from special agent christopher torres regarding an ongoing criminal investigation.  He said he was with the San Deigo DA's office so I called them. They have no idea who this person is so I filed a complaint with Long Beach Police Dept. Feel free to call  and speak to Officer Adams 562-570-7381 or 562-435-6711. this guy is a fake...and a bully.

I recieved a phone call from a special agent Cristopher Torres who said he was with the san deigo DA's office and that there was a drug investigation and my name kept coming up. I called the DA and DEA's office and they dont know who this is. I am reporting it to the police.I kept the recording....
his call back number is 619-752-9998
Isnt it against the law to inpersonate a police officer?????

This guy scared the CRAP out of me!  I want to know if any authorities have found this man!  I did nothing wrong and at a VERY stressful time in my life that phone call was the topping on the cake.  If anyone knows if he has been arrested let me know please.  Sorry this happened to all of you.  I ordered online with a Doctors Prescription long time ago it was totally legitimate.  I still was scared when you  hear your name is on a list that the DEA is looking into an investigation.  The phone number is in California San Diego.

Christopher Torres put me through he entire show. Everything mentioned above. I was so scared I believed him at first for quite some time till he said that it was confidential and that t couldn't discuss it with my husband or my father who is an international maritime attorney. He said if I did I would have two ct officers come and arrest me. As I was starting to question the whole thing I started to google all the information he made me take down badge number. Court house address I was to appear at on Thursday or I would be arrested for 3 to 10 years.  Thank god for people like you who are spreading the word. I told him I would have my attorney investigate the information he provided me with. I then contacted the FBI the bridgeport ct office and they confirmed its a scan and had me fill out some paperwork on line. Christopher's partner an Eric or Ed sullivan tried again this evening and I let him know the FBI are very interested in getting a hold of them and that I provided the with all the information they made me initially take down. Needless to say they hung up quickly

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 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, as appropriate.

"Christopher Torres" called me today from phone number:  (619)752-9998.  Saying he is Criminal Investigator with DA or DEA  and that my name came up in an investigation and I need to call IMMEDIATELY so he can take my statement.  I googled the name before calling back because I thought it was so odd and found this site.  Thank you!!

Wow.  Terry's story reads just like mine.  This knuckle head should Google himself.  We're not all as stupid as he is. He did mess up, because i let his calls go to voice mail and after about 3 times he left a message witt all of his information and our local police now will use it to catch his dumb a**.

FDA NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Jan. 7, 2011

Media Inquiries: Christopher Kelly, 301-796-4676 christopher.kelly@fda.hhs.gov

Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Questions and Answers
How did these people obtain my information?

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

How do I make the calls stop?

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

What proactive steps can victims take?

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

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

Have individuals been arrested?

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

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

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

Am I in danger?

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

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

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

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

Hello.....I recieved the very same voicemail.  I returned the call because I thought someone was using my identity and this Torres threatened me.   He told me I had been ordering narcotics (not true by any means) and I had to go to San Diego on Monday.  Wonder why Americans have reservations regarding calls from other countries.  WOW!!   I am not racist but when someone like this threatens me, I do take it personally and I will admit, it does make me have some harsh feelings.  I would feel the same if he was from the US.  I have reported this.  What a 'want to be' scam artist.  He obviously doesn't know what google is and that his name and number is plastered all over the web.  

Chris, quit being a criminal.  It is YOU that is being just what you are saying we are doing.  Karma is not nice you loser.

Creep called my cell phone which I am pretty sure got number from my home phone answering machine message (3 calls minutes apart) I didn't answer call as most people when number is recognizable, "Office Torres" did leave a message but not threatening. I too have been down this road before...

Yep - same story here. Pure SCAM. This is the second one of these for me, but they all want money.

same thing here - Christopher Tores, DEA agent, supposedly in an on-going special investigation and my name came up, call him immediately at 619-752-9998 - I don't answer numbers unless I Know them and he left voice mail. Here's the thing, I do order two meds online until I find another family practice doc, mine retired, everyone wants to try new and different things and the old stuff works fine, they are not controlled substances but do require a script, i.e. Diflucan, Imitrex and Fioricet.  I did careful research and order from a place in my state, dispensing from a pharmacy not far from my city and am so disappointed because this means they were hi-jacked or got shady..I tried to do this above board..but I've been around the block enough to know that with a DEA office in my city there's no way I'm doing anything illegal (asked my doc  before he left, it's not optimal but not illegal since no controlled substances)  and DEA in CA would not be contacting me.  Nothing but a scam as I've seen on many sights he does the same schtick...send him money or else..Puleeze....what he doesn't know is the contacts I have in the Atty General and State Police office but doesn't matter, these people will just spoof numbers from elsewhere so they could be calling from freaking Siberia for all we know. I ordered from office in Philadephia PA and the pharmacy is in Stroudsburg PA...COD so credit card info isn't compromised, thank heaven..

It happened to me, very scary. Same man except these pills were for migrains with cocain in them. Never got to money part because I told him I was calling state troopers.

This guy just called me today, Monday, Feb27, 2012.  He said his name was Special Agent Christopher Torres, Narcotics Unit#78, Badge#F3956, Case#CP201398802-12.  He said he was sending a police officer to my house with a summons for me to appear in court on Friday in San Diego, CA  225 Broadway Ste 900 San Diego, CA.  (I was not at home).  I kept saying that I had not done anything illegal, but he said that I would need to either go to court and proove my case (with an attorney), or pay a fine of $2500 and enter a special program.  He was very convincing and short-tempered.  I believed he was a cop, and I could not go to California(!) to prove my innocence.  So, I considered "paying the fine".  I assumed the money would be sent to a legitimate address.  But, when I got to the Western Union store, he told me the address to send the money to (using a debit card):

This is where he wanted me to send the money:

Bethania Reyes Moya
Bani
Dominican Republic

I said "The Dominican Republic!  I'm not sending money to the Dominican Republic!!  How do I know you're even a police officer?  You answer your own phone.  I have no information that you are legitimate."

At that point, he tried to get me to send "$1000 now, and send $1500 tomorrow after you get proof of all of this".  (and, he got mad about the "answer your own phone" part)

(I'm glad he doesn't have my debit card number!!! He could probably get more money out of my bank account if he had it.)

He said he would send a policeman to the Western Union store to "help me send the money", but I told him I was already in the car on my way home.  He got really angry at that point, and said I was wasting his time and asked me what reason he had to try to get money from me?  I said "Are you kidding!"

He said he'd send a cop to my house with the summons.  I said OK.  He hung up.  He called me a bunch of times later, but I did not answer.

Guess what?  No cop has arrived at my house.