This is a criminal extortion scam operating out of India. They are making the calls utilizing VOIP and the names of legitimate firms to make it appear the calls are originating from within the US. There is NO "company" or "debt" and you will NOT be arrested. They are harvesting and/or buying consumers' personal identifying information from unscrupulous websites like the one you may have filled out an application with, and you need to do whatever you can to protect yourself. This includes: Notifying the FTC: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/, placing fraud alerts with all three credit bureaus, notifying your bank and employer and letting these criminals know you are aware they are attempting to extort money for a non-existent debt and have alerted the authorities.

ABC News released an investigative report on this scam a year ago:

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/phantom-debt-co ... ory?id=16512428

I also received a phone call from this so called Gerald Rose but it was at work.  My co workers are looking at me like I am some idiot or something.  I have also done a pay day loan online and am getting ready to make some phone calls.  This person should never call me at work to begin with and to do that is also insulting my intelligence.  First off, a person who has a heavy accent and is claiming to be someone he isn't is in deep water anyway.  I am going to make phone calls to the FBI myself

My phone rang 2x's this am, the scary part was that it came through as an "emergency" number. The first time there wasnt anyone on the line. I immediately called my husband to make sure he was ok. Then they called back, this time a guy stated his name was, Gerald Rose FBI, NY Division, and he needed to speak to my husband. Paniced I asked why and he said, "we are issuing a warrant for his arrest...and he couldn't discuss details with me.  WHAT????!!!!  I got his call back number, 646.571.4611 and contacted my husband IMMEDIATELY!!!!... He was just as confused. Thank goodness for this site!!!!!

My coworker received a call at work from a person claiming to be special agent Rodriguez.  He had a very thick accent and it seemed like it took forever for him to respond, kind of delayed like the call was forwarded. He asked for my coworker by first and last name, stating she would be arrested for a bad check, unless she would cooperate and make a payment. She hung up on him. A while later another call came in from the same caller, this time the person, who had a heavy foreign accent identified herself as Angela Wilson of the FBI. They again requested to speak with my coworker. Suspecting this was a scam, I told them she stepped but they would be welcome to speak to the supervisor. "Angela Wilson" agreed and I put the phone on hold. A few minutes later I told them the supervisor was on another call but would call them outback. She told me her call back number was 646-597-9858, and I made her spell her name twice acting like I just couldn't get it right. It seemed like she was having trouble spelling "her" name.

Then we googled the name and number, which led us to this site.

Someone with a VERY thick Indian accent claimed to be FBI special Agent Adam Jones. I told him the person he was asking for (me) wasn't available, but I would give them the info. He gave me the callback number of 646 597 9858 and the name FBI Special Agent Adam Jones. I then Googled the number and found this. I have added them to my blocked numbers (they called my cell). These people REALLY need to be stopped.

I just got a call from "Gerald Rose" At first , I was worried and then as the call proceeded and I was asking all kinds of questions, it started to sound really funny. It wasnt until "GERALD" said I had two option the first was to hire attorneys the second was to pay a fine and it would go away. After, I paid the fine then I would receive all the paperwork!! They had answers to all my questions, this is what I asked and this was there response:

1. Who is the Plaintiff - he say he didnt have that information.
2. What's your address: He gave me the right address that is listed on the website.
3. Who is your superior? He said he couldnt give me that information

Then came the two options. One was for $2775.00 the other was for $783.00, so of course (playing along mind you because I have nothing better to do on a Friday night), I choose option two. Since he told me that I was to be arrested tomorrow (SATURDAY) at my home if I didnt pay. I asked him if he would send an agent to my house to pick up the certified check!!  His response was, that my method of payment was already determined and it wsa to go and get a GRENN DOT card. I told him that after I reserach these claims, I would call him back. I then asked how late he wsa going to be in the New York office, since it was already 6:00pm, he said for an hour, but if I didnt call him back they would be comig to arrest me in the morning!!! I am not mad at them because it lets me know that it could happen to me and I need to alert. The only thing that bothers me was that they had my S.S.#. Not that they would get a whole lot from it but just that fact that they had it.

This is a criminal extortion ring operating out of India. ABC News released an investigative report on it in June. The FTC has indicted one of its ringleaders for criminal fraud:

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/phantom-debt-co ... 16512428&page=1

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2012/08/bgm.shtm

In the meantime, you are going to have to do whatever you can to protect yourself. That includes letting them know they are running a scam and are reporting them to the authorities.

Yes this person has been calling me.  I finally talked to him and he told me was an FBI agent named Gerald Rose and he a warrant for my arrest.  When he said that, I immediately google the number, because I knew there was not a warrant out for me. I also Google FBI agent Gerald Rose who is a real person.  So all the time I am know this is a scam I listened to him to tell me the stupid charges against me and I was going to be arrested tomorrow.  Scary thing was he said my ss#.  Anyway, he said the easiest way to avoid arrest was to pay $583.93.  I did not let him go any further.  I told him I had googled this number and Gerald Rose and I knew this was scam and I had already notified the FBI. He hung up.  SMDH.. IDIOT!!

THIS SAME IDIOT JUST CALLED MY JOB! SMH, LOL

stop this man please

The same man using the name jerald rose contacted me with the SAME STORY. He gave me my "case number and said i had 2 options- either go to jail- or set up a payment plan! I hung up on him! now that ive seen these post i will make sure not to speak with him further. He needs to be stopped!

I received two phone calls today from this number at my job and the man said he was a FBI Agent and his name was Adam Jones. So I questioned him what was the reason of this call and why are you calling my job. So he said do you know what this call is about, so I said hell no because I have not done nothing wrong to do with any law enforcement for a FBI agent to call me on my job. So I ask this so call Mr. Jones why are you calling me and come to find out it was for a debt to be collected. So I thougtht to myself no FBI agent would not be calling my job asking for a debt collection. So I told Mr. Jones let me called my personal attorney after I told him that he hung up quickly. ALL it is a scam per what my attorney told me.

I received a phone call from this number.  The caller identified himself as Special Agent Gerald Rose, (who is a real person in the FBI) and to get a Walmart green dot card, load money onto it and call the number back and give Mr. Rodriguez the code on the back.  After panicking and paying the original amount of more than $500.00 they continued to call and want more money.  They sent me a dummy report from the Department of Justice, you could tell it was cut and pasted together and said if I didn't pay the additional $1,400.00 I would be arrested.  I agreed and said I would call tomorrow.  I went to my local FBI office and gave them my recordings from my phone and a copy of the email. They had very thick Indian accents and Mr. Rose, nor Mr. Rodriguez have any accents at all.  They acted insulted when I told them I knew they were scam artists and said they were only trying to stop me from being arrested for fraud and bank theft among three other counts.  I was scared to death until I saw all these postings, now at least I know other people have been the victims of these people.

This same guy called me also impersenating an FBI agent. I hung up because he insulted my intelligence and is clearly NOT FBI. Something needs to be done about this man breaking the law. I have him saying it on my anawering machine, think ill go see the REAL FBI and see what they say..

I received a call from this number all today. My husband talked to him...he said his name was Diego Rodriguez from the FBI. Told me there were three charges against me and to either hire 2 attorneys and pay $2775 in court cost or pay $583. I told him I would call him back. He called back again and told my husband to have me go to Walmartm purchase a green pack card with four digits on the back, put money on it and call them back with the card number. We contacted the FBI, spoke to Diego Rodriguez and he said that was not him that called. He said the FBI would never tell you to put money on a card and give them the card number.

this is some STRAIGHT B.S.... STRAIGHT SCAM.

I reported them using that website above.

Came into work tonight with a missed call from "911" and had a message from Diego Rodriguez from the FBI New York division saying to call him back at 646-597-9858.  Glad I could find some information online about this scam.

These people called my job today saying they was fbi with deep accent. i asked. would you like. to. leave. a msg nothing but scumb bugs

Report them to the FTC: https://econsumer.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.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/phantom-debt-co ... 16512428&page=2

SAME NUMBER HAS CALLED ME 6X THIS MORNING STATING HE WAS WITH THE FBI AND WAS GOING TO ARREST ME? I DISCONNECTED CALL ONLY TO HAVE HIM CONTINUE TO CALL MY NUMBER 4 MORE TIMES.

Man with a heavy accent who identified himself as "D. Rodriguez" called me and said that he was with the FBI and he had a case on me for check fraud. I didn't give him much chance to give further details before I snapped at him and told him that I hadn't bounced ANY checks. I also told him that impersonating law enforcement is a crime and that if I owed money to anyone then that would be a civil matter, not a criminal matter. He again insisted he was from the FBI, so I snapped again that I WANTED him to take me to court and that I wanted to see his face in court!! He hung up on me.