Consumers across the country report that they're getting telephone calls from people trying to collect on loans the consumers never received or on loans they did receive but for amounts they do not owe. Others are receiving calls from people seeking to recover on loans consumers received but where the creditors never authorized the callers to collect for them. So what's the story?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, is warning consumers to be on the alert for scam artists posing as debt collectors. It may be hard to tell the difference between a legitimate debt collector and a fake one. Sometimes a fake collector may even have some of your personal information, like a bank account number. A caller may be a fake debt collector if he:

is seeking payment on a debt for a loan you do not recognize;
refuses to give you a mailing address or phone number;
asks you for personal financial or sensitive information; or
exerts high pressure to try to scare you into paying, such as threatening to have you arrested or to report you to a law enforcement agency.

If you think that a caller may be a fake debt collector:
Ask the caller for his name, company, street address, and telephone number. Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice." The notice must include the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor you owe, and your rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
If a caller refuses to give you all of this information, do not pay! Paying a fake debt collector will not always make them go away. They may make up another debt to try to get more money from you.

Stop speaking with the caller. If you have the caller's address, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files. By law, real debt collectors must stop calling you if you ask them to in writing.

Do not give the caller personal financial or other sensitive information. Never give out or confirm personal financial or other sensitive information like your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number unless you know whom you're dealing with. Scam artists, like fake debt collectors, can use your information to commit identity theft ? charging your existing credit cards, opening new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, writing fraudulent checks, or taking out loans in your name.

Contact your creditor. If the debt is legitimate ? but you think the collector may not be ? contact your creditor about the calls. Share the information you have about the suspicious calls and find out who, if anyone, the creditor has authorized to collect the debt.

Report the call. Contact the FTC and your state Attorney General's office with information about suspicious callers. Many states have their own debt collection laws in addition to the federal FDCPA. Your Attorney General's office can help you determine your rights under your state's law.>

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt076.shtm

I got a phone call from a girl just after 8am, saying she has paperwork and asking if I am ___  ___ with the last four of my social being XXXX.  My response was "Uh, ok...." like confused.  She put me on hold and came back on with her boss,  Mr. Shapiro claiming he is "attempting to collect a debt" from 2004.  He restated my social security number, asked me about all of my previous addresses, which he already had, and told me that he can give me any information about the place that I supposedly owed including my old bank account information, address of the store, and listed off the place where the debt supposedly came from....First of all, how does he have ALL of my previous addresses?  He shouldn't be looking at my credit information even if they are debt collectors, they do not need to look at my credit file, just the file they have bought.  Next flag would be that when I asked to mail a money order they said they do not do that, that it must be an ACH transaction.  Next big flag was that, they are calling my cell phone number...how did they even get that?  And to top it off, a week or two ago my husband got a similar phone call from a different number, saying they were a different company trying to collect on an old payday loan from the exact same company that this place claimed to be trying to collect for.  I called the FTC and filed a claim after seeing many of these posts.  The post included below is one that I found particularly helpful and I am going to add the information I have to this list below.


TheLibrarian
24 Jan 2012


This is from a bottom feeding Debt Collector - Consumer Recovery Associates. All you have to do to stop the harrassing calls is tell them: "Don't ever call me again, or I will report you to the FDCPA".

If they call you, they have illegally tapped into your credit file in hopes of collecting debt that is beyond the SOL (statute of limitations) for collecting. DO NOT OFFER ANY PERSONAL INFO like your social security # or banking info.

If you want to take positive action:

* Report them to the Virginia Attorney General:

http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/forms-pdf/cp/oca/complaint/oca1complaint.pdf

* Call the Federal Trade Commission at +1.877.382.4357 and file a complaint


If you receive a call from this number, you may have been called by junk debt / collection agency that buys debt from original creditors that has been written off or settled and is beyond the statute of limitations in most states. They may be trying get the money for themselves, not the original creditor.

They are reportedly a serial violator of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). They may be illegally using credit information obtained from Experian or other credit reporting agencies.

This company has been known to contact and harass people they believe may know the person they are trying to reach including distant relatives, ex-spouses and possible former co-workers.

NEVER answer these calls if you see this as a caller ID. NEVER return these calls. NEVER give them ANY information about the person they are seeking or refer them to others.

Any ?positive? comments you read in these notes about the company may have been written by employees of the company.

The company is:

Consumer Recovery Associates
2697 International Parkway #4
Suite 270
PO Box 2916
Virginia Beach, VA 23450-2916

The following is the most comprehensive information gathered about this company from various sources on the Internet.

***If you?ve been called by a number not on this list or by someone using a different name, please copy this list, add the number/name in the correct order and repost it in its entirety.

Company Names that CRA reportedly uses:

Consumer Recovery Associates
CIA and Associates
CC Associates
Consumer Credit Association
Consumer Recovery Associates
Court Company
CR Associates
C&R Associates
C & R Associates
Farm CIA & Associates
J Lamb and Associates
and possibly GC Services

Phone numbers that CRA reportedly uses:
215-325-1354
234-542-2874
310-601-7244
310-734-6338
310-855-3688
310-860-6293
317-536-5458
319-892-0349
323-319-5178
404-474-4884
404-963-8760
430-200-0007
505-349-0354
505-718-4945
517-879-4821
615-469-5268
617-674-2967
619-564-4447
619-564-4473
620-273-4256
702-946-0389
703-280-1121
706-417-9193
713-518-1966
757-271-6637
757-271-8786
757-271-8787
757-271-8788
757-271-8789
757-271-8888
757-271-8889
757-368-3622
757-368-3623
757-368-3627
757-368-8004
757-368-8331
757-368-8337
757-368-8537
757-468-0169
757-716-7190
757-716-7193
757-716-7196
775-293-4583
800-762-9864
800-913-4915
801-241-2616
801-349-2616
801-386-7803
805-284-9506
816-332-6242
859-514-0968
864-335-7028
866-272-3041
866-367-0328
866-374-6604
866-418-3360
866-442-2693
866-499-6608
866-563-9556
866-645-6269
866-645-8525
866-645-8654
866-655-0659
866-656-5380
866-657-1658
866-657-6525
866-673-1748
866-857-3916
866-861-9257
866-946-1358
877-213-3830
877-217-7084
877-240-5390
877-240-9350
877-241-4559
877-284-6622
877-289-4690
877-298-7036
877-298-7306
877-298-7806
877-320-5615
877-326-5615
877-334-2942
877-360-1616
877-394-0392
877-394-0396
877-407-9274
877-507-3402
877-738-4814
888-253-9713
888-310-5679
888-413-8823
888-706-4381
949-873-2855

Individual names that CRA reportedly uses:

Donald Adair
Mark Adair
Chris Adams / Christopher Adams
Allie
Amy
Laura Angelini
Charles Bambino
Ms. Beagles
Ms. Blaine
Sarah Brevard / Sara Brevard
Peter Bronson
Tracy Burman
Mr. Cagle
Mrs. Campbell
Ms. Catasin
Kirby Chapman
Vincent Cignerale
Ms. Claine
Sarah Danvers / Sara Danvers
Raymond Davis
Marion Dunham
Ms. Elder
Ellie Faircloth
Jennifer Feagles
Denise Flynn
James Fox
Gail
John Gibson
Mr. Gilam / Gillum
Bert Glenn
Laura Glenn
Sidney Albert Glenn
Conrad Gray / Conrad Grey
Paul Gowl
Miss Harris
Christy Hartman
Mr. Hartman
Miss Howard
Jane
Mrs. Jenkins
Ms. Jewel
James Johnson
Mrs. Johnson
Perry Johnson
Mrs. Jones
Jay Lamb / J Lamb
Mr. Lane
Tyler Lang
Mr. Ludwig
Kelly
Ms. Kitchens
Ms. Kitchum
Kristen / Kristin
Lindsay / Lindsey
Lisa
Marisa / Marisha
Stephanie Martin
Melissa
Monica
Chad Miller / Chat Miller
Gary Miller
Sherri Morse / Sherry Morse
Mr. Parker
Rebecca
Gary Reison / Gary Reasons
George Reasons
Jennifer Segal
Liz Segal
Tonya Sells
Scott
Eric Scott
K C Scott
Randall Scott
Richard Scott
John Sheldon / John Shelton
Ms. Silva / Silvia / Sylvia
Mr. Shapiro (extension 2013)
Michelle Silver
Mr. Sitton
Liz Spiegel / Spiegle
Christine Spruill
Stacy / Stacey
Jim Stewart
Curtis Taylor / Curtis R. Taylor
Mrs. Thompson
Tony
Vivian
Mr. Wang
Mr. Weippert
Ms. Wells
Maranda Whiten / Miranda Whitten
Gina Williams
Mrs. Yelder

If you want to take positive action:

* Report them to the Virginia Attorney General:
http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/forms-pdf/cp/oca/complaint/oca1complaint.pdf
* Call the Federal Trade Commission at +1.877.382.4357 and file a complaint

On March 13th 2012 at 8:50a.m. my phone rang. Normally I do not answer the phone when I do not recognize the number however for some reason today I did. Well right from the start the woman was a bi***, would not tell me her name, would not let me even get in a word wise. She was a smart a** from hell threatening me and for 1 that is illegal for a credit agency to do that. It needs to be reported to the States Attorney Generals office. Needless to say I told her she needed to stop being so rude and let me get a word in and explain. I was trying to tell her that I was not currently working and that I had no income coming in at all. I also told her that I did not have any paper work or any contact information to be able to get ahold of the company that I supposedly owe the money to. She refused to give me the information and told me that it was my job to contact them. How can someone contact them when they do not have the proper information or no information at all?? She then threatened me with the IRS and some other stuff however I am not sure what she was talking about. I finally could not take the rudeness anymore and finally hung up the phone.

Got a call this morning from this number said her name was Tiana sounded like she was on a call phone asking me if I was me and this is the last four digits of my social and debt collector giving me a courtosy call. Its all bogus... Please tell me whom this person is so I can report them!

I received a call from this number asking to verify last 4 of social,  the caller then proceeded to hand off the call to his "supervisor" who threatened to submit a 1099 C to the IRS declaring unpaid credit card debt from 1999 as miscellaneous income, including all interest and penalties accrued.  This is an illegal and underhanded tactic to threaten and scare consumers and I'm in the process of filing harassment charges for their tactics, though I'm sure these leeches have a dozen layers of protection and hiding to shield them as they are low life's who hide behind annonymity.

Called my sister on her cell phone and I told them she's not available that I would take a msg. Then then asked who I was adn told them I was her sister they asked me if I knew her cell number.....I said no then they said you dont know your sisters cell number? I said of course I do but I will not be giving it to you!!! As they would not tell me what company they were calling from just that they had very important paper work to go over with her and it was imperative that she call right away..... You would think that they knew it was her cell phone they were calling in the first place!!! John Shelton is who was instructiong her to call back at 877-349-0396 and Caller ID showed757-716-7193. When I asked agian what the name of the company they were calling from they hung up on me!

This same person called me before. Says his name is John Sheldon?? Works for the office of consumer recovery associates??? At least that's what I could make out from the voicemail. I have no idea who this is. I'm also on the do-not-call list. Has anyone actually seen this guy? I'd like to ring his neck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

they are verry rude!!! saying i took out a loan and never paid it back. told me theyy had me on camer.AND I need to pay them back.

idonotknowanyoneinvirginapleasestopthisnumberfomcalling

What a bunch of psychos! So rude and unprofessional! Talked to the same two people when I called four times from two different numbers and they used different names! They cussed at me and threatened me because I called them back. They wanted my husbands social security number and because I wouldn't give it to them they started accusing me of fishing for information because I must be his ex-wife or something. He doesn't have an ex wife! I wouldn't say these people are a collection agency per se, more like scam artists! Yikes!

Here we go again with this debt collector, for something that isn't even my bill. Also was taken care of already by the person it belonged to. They have lawsuit against them in multiple states. If they call you about an old past bill DO NOT MAKE ANY ARRANGEMENT with them. This debt has probably been wrote off the the company it was occurred with and if you make arrangements with them to pay it will reopen that debt that has already been written off.

Check them out on the web, that is were I found all this info about them

I got a call from these people with semi false info, what is the statue of limitations on collecting a debt? the guy was nasty and some of the info he gave me about us was right and some was wrong?
Cruerocks

I got a call from 1-757-716-7193 and he told me that my husband who did at one time borrow money from the place he was talking about 10 years ago wrote a bad check to. He said it happened in a month we wernt even living in the stae and that he wrote the check and then closed the account the same day. (That never happened) Then he started to say some pretty awful things and got a little personal and when I called him on it he started to threaten me. Is this the same number you got a call from and is cra the name they gave you? Is the state they are in Virginia? Any info would be helpful I will persue a lawsuit if need be against these people so the info would be helpful. Thanks and good luck with your situation.
Cruerocks

is the phone number of the company you are talking about 1-757-716-7193?  what name did they give you of there company? they told me we owed a debt from a company we do owe a debt to but the information was false. Like the time we took the loan out and the fact that we closed the bank account the same day we took out the loan so that the  people could not collect the debt but that never happened?  The man also said some nasty things to me? Are these people for real? Please help with any info you may have.
Cruerocks

Today at 8:02 am a woman called asking me to verify the last four digits of my SS# for a pending case. When i asked her who she was and where she was calling from... it was like she totally forgot who she was and what she did for a living. The woman then proceeded to transfer my call to a man... This man REFUSED to give me his name.. Threatened to have me arrested for harassment of his employees for calling HIS office...(they called me at 8:02 am remember). The man the proceeded to tell me that i was in a lot of trouble for writing a bad check to a check cashing place called Money Mart in 2004. I told him there had to of been some kind of mistake because writing bad checks is NOT on my to do list... He then decided to tell me that i was committing fraud and would be brought to justice if i didn't pay them the remaining balance.... which he could not give me an exact number either! This man yelled at me on the phone.. threatened me called me awful names and then tried to get me to pay a mystery balance... give me a break man... I was born at night but it wasn't last night!

I got news for you James and Conrad... You ever call my cell phone again.. I will have YOU arrested for harassment ALL The way in Virginia! Like honestly.... How many times do you think you will be able to F*** Over people with the same joke scam?!? All i had to do was GOOGLE your number that YOU called from! and up came  ALL OF THIS BU***HIT of stories and comments of people who have already been on your "to call" list. Call me again.. and you rill pay for it!

On a side note..To those who have fallen victim to this cockamamie scam.. Screen calls! Tell no one any personal information! And don't let some d*** head who cant get a REAL job ruin your day..

Consumer Recovery Associates... Y'all are gonna burn in hell :D News flash.. Karma is a b***h

Today at 8:02 am a woman called asking me to verify the last four digits of my SS# for a pending case. When i asked her who she was and where she was calling from... it was like she totally forgot who she was and what she did for a living. The woman then proceeded to transfer my call to a man... This man REFUSED to give me his name.. Threatened to have me arrested for harassment of his employees for calling HIS office...(they called me at 8:02 am remember). The man the proceeded to tell me that i was in a lot of trouble for writing a bad check to a check cashing place called Money Mart in 2004. I told him there had to of been some kind of mistake because writing bad checks is NOT on my to do list... He then decided to tell me that i was committing fraud and would be brought to justice if i didn't pay them the remaining balance.... which he could not give me an exact number either! This man yelled at me on the phone.. threatened me called me awful names and then tried to get me to pay a mystery balance... give me a break man... I was born at night but it wasn't last night!

I got news for you James and Conrad... You ever call my cell phone again.. I will have YOU arrested for harassment ALL The way in Virginia! Like honestly.... How many times do you think you will be able to F*** Over people with the same joke scam?!? All i had to do was GOOGLE your number that YOU called from! and up came  ALL OF THIS B***S*** of stories and comments of people who have already been on your "to call" list. Call me again.. and you rill pay for it!

On a side note..To those who have fallen victim to this cockamamie scam.. Screen calls! Tell no one any personal information! And don't let some d****head who cant get a REAL job ruin your day..

Consumer Recovery Associates... Y'all are gonna burn in hell :D News flash.. Karma is a bi***

I would like them to stop calling my asking for people I say do not have this number and they begin questioning me.

This is a scam collector trying to collect debts that are past the statute of limitations, do not give them any information, inform them that they are not permitted to call your cell phone and that all contact must be made via US Mail, once or if you get a letter, send them a cease and desist letter advising them of the statute of limitations and penalties if they do.

this is company is a JOKE!  They are constantly HARASSING me regarding a loan that I never made! this was after I provided the so called company (CRA) with the necessary documents to prove my identity!  It needs to hire intellegent,  and professional people to handle their business!!

If I did owe them, they would NEVER BE BROKE, cause I am not paying them for their unprofessionalism!!!

James G Fox - this guy maybe?

http://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/flyer.do?personId=3621

Consumer Recovery Associates, LLC aka
Consumer Recovery Association aka
CR & Associates aka
CRA
2697 International Pkwy, Pkwy 4, Ste. 270
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
(757) 368-3624
(757) 368-3622
(757) 214-9186
(877) 704-9454
(866) 901-7909
(866) 452-9518
(505) 216-0771
Contact Information
Primary Contact: Mr. Kalin Scott (Compliance Officer)
Mr. James G. Fox (CEO)

Consumer Recovery Associates, LLC
135 Interstate Blvd. Suite 8
Greenville, SC 29615
(864) 561-3177

Consumer Recovery Associates, LLC aka
Consumer Recovery Association aka
CR & Associates aka
CRA
2697 International Pkwy, Pkwy 4, Ste. 270
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
(757) 368-3624
(757) 368-3622
(757) 214-9186
(877) 704-9454
(866) 901-7909
(866) 452-9518
(505) 216-0771
Contact Information
Primary Contact: Mr. Kalin Scott (Compliance Officer)
Mr. James G. Fox (CEO)

Consumer Recovery Associates, LLC
135 Interstate Blvd. Suite 8
Greenville, SC 29615
(864) 561-3177

some debt collector...wants to confirm your social and name. Tries to threaten by displaying your personal info to scare you. Have no idea if these people are real or ID thieves hard at work. Scary thought that they CAN get your SS number and then track you down and use the combined info to do whatever they want.

some guy asking for my social, and wanted to verify something.

Call appears to be from Virginia, I live in Florida and don't know anyone from Virginia.