716-242-8322
NY, US
 | Buddah 2012-10-26 12:49:36 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
| Dr. Sandy Williams - Montgomery Cty 2012-10-26 12:46:02 Debt Collector |
I have received several telephone calls from FRG and Associates regarding a Civil Complaint for Franklin County from a Christie Bradley, telephone number: 1-716-362-0930.
The potential litigation against Anthony Williams per Ms. Bradley background check indicated that I am Anthony Williams? mother. They background check was performed and that I am Anthony?s mother. Well, I concur that I have a son, but his name is not Anthony. I asked her how old is my son? Of, course, Ms. Bradley would not release any information, but, insisted that Anthony Williams was my son. She said that Anthony Williams gave them my name and telephone number and that I need to find him and see why he gave them my name and telephone number.
Ms. Bradley was persisted that Anthony Williams was my son and that if I did not want to give Anthony Williams the information to protect him. She asked for the Social Security Number of my son. I told her ?no.? I will not give you my son?s Social Security Number. She mentioned how I could be offended if I did not know Anthony Williams. Well, the table turned, she hung up the telephone on me. I immediately called Ms. Bradley back because I was not finished with my conversation and that she was not going to call me and say what she wanted to say and that is the end of the conversation.
I truly understand rectifying and attempting to collect monies voluntarily and out of court. However, it is very distasteful when you contact the wrong person to insist that they know the person indebted to their firm.
I understand that the Litigation Department wanting to collect funds but be professional about it. You cannot disrespect a person?s home, period. However, I should not have allowed myself to tune out Ms. Bradley because she disrespected me. I am receiving entirely too many telephone calls from companies who continue to contact me regarding issues for Mr. and Mrs. Michael (Sandra) Williams who lives in Xenia, OH.
I do not appreciate being accused of being the Sandra Williams that companies are looking for all the time when they really want Sandra Williams in Xenia, OH. To date, I have never lived in Xenia, OH.
Ms. Bradley said that a background check was made and that I was Anthony Williams? mother. True, I have a son and my last name is Williams, but, I do not have a son name Anthony Williams. Ms. Bradley said that Anthony Williams gave the firm my name and telephone number and told me to find him and see why he gave my name and telephone number.
I contacted 911 (Information) and 0 (Operator) and this company is not listed. I have no clue what City or State for FRG and Associates, but was given ?Franklin County.? I requested to speak to Ms. Bradley?s supervisor and was told she did not have a supervisor. The Case Number left on my caller ID by Ms. Bradley for Anthony Williams is: 272841.
The potential litigation against Anthony Williams per Ms. Bradley background check indicated that I am Anthony Williams? mother. They background check was performed and that I am Anthony?s mother. Well, I concur that I have a son, but his name is not Anthony. I asked her how old is my son? Of, course, Ms. Bradley would not release any information, but, insisted that Anthony Williams was my son. She said that Anthony Williams gave them my name and telephone number and that I need to find him and see why he gave them my name and telephone number.
Ms. Bradley was persisted that Anthony Williams was my son and that if I did not want to give Anthony Williams the information to protect him. She asked for the Social Security Number of my son. I told her ?no.? I will not give you my son?s Social Security Number. She mentioned how I could be offended if I did not know Anthony Williams. Well, the table turned, she hung up the telephone on me. I immediately called Ms. Bradley back because I was not finished with my conversation and that she was not going to call me and say what she wanted to say and that is the end of the conversation.
I truly understand rectifying and attempting to collect monies voluntarily and out of court. However, it is very distasteful when you contact the wrong person to insist that they know the person indebted to their firm.
I understand that the Litigation Department wanting to collect funds but be professional about it. You cannot disrespect a person?s home, period. However, I should not have allowed myself to tune out Ms. Bradley because she disrespected me. I am receiving entirely too many telephone calls from companies who continue to contact me regarding issues for Mr. and Mrs. Michael (Sandra) Williams who lives in Xenia, OH.
I do not appreciate being accused of being the Sandra Williams that companies are looking for all the time when they really want Sandra Williams in Xenia, OH. To date, I have never lived in Xenia, OH.
Ms. Bradley said that a background check was made and that I was Anthony Williams? mother. True, I have a son and my last name is Williams, but, I do not have a son name Anthony Williams. Ms. Bradley said that Anthony Williams gave the firm my name and telephone number and told me to find him and see why he gave my name and telephone number.
I contacted 911 (Information) and 0 (Operator) and this company is not listed. I have no clue what City or State for FRG and Associates, but was given ?Franklin County.? I requested to speak to Ms. Bradley?s supervisor and was told she did not have a supervisor. The Case Number left on my caller ID by Ms. Bradley for Anthony Williams is: 272841.
| Outraged 2012-07-22 04:25:59 Debt Collector |
I received a very harrassing threatening message from Christopher Thomas. He stated that I was involved in
fraudulent activity and he was going to post information about me all across polk county. He told me about judgements in my name and appeared to have taken much time to look up any information with my name that he could find. He even accused me of using a dead man's social security number. If he represents a company I have not received anything in the mail regarding this matter. This company seem to be preying on what they think are my fears. My daughter is an attorney and is already researching to see who owns this company and we plan to file complaints with the Office Of The Attorney General for unethical practices, harrassment and hopefully a law suit for their lies, harrassment & threats. It is my belief that thiw Chris reported by others is the same Christopher Thomas also using telephone number 1-877-906-8903 ext. 507. We will be contacting the company they claim to represent and all that receive telephone callls from them should do the same. Please tell the companies they claim to represent about the potential litigation aginst this alledged collection agency and possible the creditor for hiring such a "trashy" bunch of "PUNKS"!
fraudulent activity and he was going to post information about me all across polk county. He told me about judgements in my name and appeared to have taken much time to look up any information with my name that he could find. He even accused me of using a dead man's social security number. If he represents a company I have not received anything in the mail regarding this matter. This company seem to be preying on what they think are my fears. My daughter is an attorney and is already researching to see who owns this company and we plan to file complaints with the Office Of The Attorney General for unethical practices, harrassment and hopefully a law suit for their lies, harrassment & threats. It is my belief that thiw Chris reported by others is the same Christopher Thomas also using telephone number 1-877-906-8903 ext. 507. We will be contacting the company they claim to represent and all that receive telephone callls from them should do the same. Please tell the companies they claim to represent about the potential litigation aginst this alledged collection agency and possible the creditor for hiring such a "trashy" bunch of "PUNKS"!
| teach 2012-06-12 00:03:17 Unknown |
Keeps calling and threatening a civil lawsuit for fraud. Today Mr. Mizik from the litigation and fraud department of FRG and associated called for the 3rd time. He added my husband's name. "If I don't hear from you at the end of business by tomorrow, I will contact and enlist prosecution of you to the fullest extent of MI law. I haven't committed fraud, my husband hasn't committed fraud...THIS IS A SCAM. I am referring the matter to the MI Attorney General. People don't sue over the phone.
| Bridgette Jones 2012-05-21 19:58:51 Debt Collector |
They have the wrong phone number
| Jessy 2012-05-18 19:06:22 Debt Collector |
I got a call from a Mr. Mazyck and he also told me that if I did not call him back then he would procede with the legal procedings and have me served. He said he wanted to give me a chance before he did so on my voicemail. He also called me work which is completely illegal. After looking the number and the company name up on the internet i cam across a bunch of other complaints and they are a complete fraud and try bto scare you into giving them your money which more than likely does not go toward any debt that you owe. I called them back afetr doing research on them and left a message to let them know that I have been a victim if identity theft and did research on them and found out they are not who they say they are and if they call my work again I will file a complaint against them! We will see if they call back...
| mlg 2012-04-03 16:51:59 Unknown |
This company called me today on my cell phone & said she was Mrs Amberton or Mrs Anderson from Legal outsourcing, a legal law firm, FRG about a civil matter & someone has retained council & it will go to Jurisdiction for Arbitration. I have no idea what she is talking about & who would be filing a civil lawsuit against me. I will be giving this to my attorney. This is the 1st time I have gotten a voice mail from this company. I know I am in debt & have lost my job 2 years ago, & only work 2 days a week, because of slow business where I work
| Jeff 2011-12-03 00:34:11 Debt Collector |
First off, if they are telling you somebody is coming out to serve you and that you are being sued that is ilegal against the Fair Debt Collection Act. Second of all, they use numerous numbers as the number they called me from was different, but I compared the two and its the same recording, same voice, same hold music, etc.
If they call you again tell them you are filing a report with the FTC, ask them to verify your debt, and they will likely get nasty with you. They are breaking the law if they are telling you that you are being sued with out intent to do so, and if they tell you that you will be arrested.
BudHibbs.com doesnt have anything on them yet, but you can email him and ask what you can do. He is a very helpful, free recource.
Good luck everyone!
If they call you again tell them you are filing a report with the FTC, ask them to verify your debt, and they will likely get nasty with you. They are breaking the law if they are telling you that you are being sued with out intent to do so, and if they tell you that you will be arrested.
BudHibbs.com doesnt have anything on them yet, but you can email him and ask what you can do. He is a very helpful, free recource.
Good luck everyone!
| Gules 2011-11-17 16:42:21 Unknown |
This total bi***, identifying herself as "Mrs. Anderson" called my WORK, got my SUPERVISOR, and tried to get this person to turn her over to Human Resources to have them institute garnoshment procedures over some PayDay loan. I called the above number, (the one they also put in MY WORK VOICEMAIL), to try to inform this bi*** that I was not ignorant of the law, that what she was attempting to do was ILLEGAL, and that if she had a legit claim to pursue it LEGALLY in a COURT OF LAW, otherwise she had to STOP CALLING MY PLACE OF WORK!!! All she would do is scream over me, saying she could do what she wanted, because I had committed fraud, and she was going to have me served. I told her to go for it, and then slammed the phone in her ear. I am now going to call my State Attorney's Office.
| Virginia 2011-10-18 17:30:27 Debt Collector |
They scare you and lower theirselves to the lowest of professionalism. Chris Sanders is the lowest life of all. After explaining my leave of absence from work due to cancer treatment, and telling him to do what ever is next in their process, he continues to call my son who is an active United States Marine. Maybe Chris Sanders should try to get a real job where he has to look people in the eye instead of being so disrespectful hiding behind a phone. His Mother is probably very proud, huh?
| uneasy 2011-08-02 15:00:41 Debt Collector |
I got a call and they claim they have a courier out to serve me. To call them as soon as possible so as they resolve any outstanding issue and can recall the coutier.
| Tracey E Lockridge 2011-07-29 23:25:21 Unknown |
I need help here and I have known in the past the scare tactic that creditors will use . I am filing for bankruptcy and I gave my lawyer this number because I am overwhwelmed in debt and with thinking hearing from these type of companies what they will do with what little paycheck you bring home.You try and get help with a debt company and they refuse to work with your creditors what are we left to do?.And as far as the company goes I can never understand when they leave me messages I believe they are saying ,''FRG& Associates.
| ladyTracey 2011-07-29 23:19:26 Unknown |
I am getting the same here I was told this was a law firm and to call before a summons was sent out before me.So today when I called back to identify the name I looked or tried to look this law firm up and nothing so I called my sister who is also a lawyer and advised me to type in the phone number and guess what this is what I found.I have contacted my own personal lawyer I know I have debt to pay but to use people or scare them this way is against the law they keep calling me I have given my lawyer this number on his voice mail his office was already closed. I will pay what I owe but not this away.
| scared 2011-07-26 20:36:44 Unknown |
I was called by someone from this number that said I was being sued if I didn't pay them over the phone today with my credit card. They are calling my cell phone and my work.
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