814-324-2003
PA, US
Sal
Sal
2013-02-22 00:39:25
Unknown
I got an email from these people and they claim they are going to take money from my account. Did not say who they payday loan was from. I will call my bank to let them know this is fraud.
mary
mary
2012-11-15 15:23:52
Debt Collector
American Recovery   americanrecoverygov.gmail   Frauds  Claiming Overdue bill notice for a payday loan...I have never gotten a payday loan  and they are threatning to take money out of my bank and to have authorities come to my work.   I called the bank and the  authorities and they said to block and report to attorney generals office..Which I will
ncbnevels
ncbnevels
2012-06-01 22:59:59
Unknown
So sad I just spoke with Steven and he tried to make it seem as if they were legit and gave me an address. Little did his dumb a** know I was googling them and found this thank you for all of your reports of this fraud
MICHELLE
MICHELLE
2012-05-02 15:20:04
Unknown
I went through this yesterday as well, threats and intimidation. I do have a lawyer and I know my rights and when he couldn't rattle me he got vicious I files several reports. this is a scam and don't let them rattle you . tell them if they call back that you know they are a scam and you have made reports to the fbi and police. they try and scare you but trust me they are scammers.
Tony
Tony
2012-04-16 20:24:40
Unknown
Michael Sinclair would need to be simple minded to believe that sticking GOV at the end of a Gmail address would fool anyone into believing that it was from a US Government Department.       Is there not a Federal rap for that sort of personation or passing off?
Mytiger
Mytiger
2012-04-16 19:41:55
Unknown
I got an email from Michael Sinclair from "Notification for an Overdue Bill" to: Americanrecoverygov@gmail.com -- did not have my name on the email -- told me that they were going to go into my account and pull some money out for an overdue bill - I took this to my bank and they are aware of this if anything should happen. Also I sent this to IT Help desk and blocked the address
LaToya
LaToya
2012-03-30 16:40:55
Unknown
Michael, I went to the fbi web site(i believe fbi.gov or something like that). I gave them the times, dates, and phone numbers they called from. I also told them that they were harrassing me and that they were trying to exhort money from me. I filed a police report and placed fraud alerts on my credit report. It worked, the calls stopped after I reported them to the fbi.
Anjelica
Anjelica
2012-03-20 21:57:28
Unknown
These people called me all day saying I had a payday loan, and I dont have one and now they claim they are suing me.
MICHAEL
MICHAEL
2012-03-15 23:13:03
Debt Collector
I"m also a victim of these people they used the same tactics on me i read that latoya called  the fbi what information i need to give to them?
Alfalfa
Alfalfa
2012-02-22 15:22:35
Unknown
One leg of this scam has been shut down:

Even scam artists are outsourcing. On Tuesday in its first crackdown on fraudulent telemarketing in South Asia, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it was shutting down two California-based companies that used a call center in India to defraud Americans out of more than $5 million over the past two years.

Workers in India made threatening calls to Americans getting them to pay money on debts that they didn't owe, the FTC charges. At an FTC press conference in Chicago on Tuesday, fraud victim JanLaree DeJulius explained that she had received a call from someone claiming to be an enforcement officer from the (phony) "Federal Department of Crime and Prevention," who threatened to have her arrested and have her wages garnished if she didn't pay a bill of more than $730. The scam artists had gotten her name and information from a payday loan her ex-husband had taken out in her name.

"It was very embarrassing," Dejulius said. "He knew everything about me so I agreed to set up an installment." She is not alone. According to the FTC, more than 8 million calls were made since 2010 and at least 17,000 transactions processed across the United States related to the global scam.

On Tuesday under request from the FTC, a U.S. District Court in Chicago stopped the international operation, charging Varang K. Thaker and two companies he owned, American Credit Crunchers, LLC, and an affiliate Ebeeze, LLC, with violating the FTC Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

"This is a brazen operation based on pure fraud, and the FTC is committed to shutting it down," said David Vladeck, director of the FTC's consumer protection bureau. "Consumers should not be pressured into paying debt they don't remember owing. Legitimate debt collectors must provide consumers with both written information about the debt, and instructions for protecting themselves if they don't think they owe the debt."

According to the FTC's charges, Thaker used Social Security numbers and bank account numbers obtained from payday lenders to identify the victims for his scam. He outsourced the work to an Indian call center, where workers made threatening calls to American consumers to pay fake debt or collect on bills for which they were not authorized.

Thaker was not available when contacted by telephone on Tuesday. A woman who claimed to be Thaker's older sister and asked not to be named for privacy reasons said he is working with the FTC to help the Indian government pursue the fraudster call center operators. She also said he was innocent in the scam. "He was being used by somebody. He didn't even know where they got the information," she told The Huffington Post by phone. She said that her brother got 10 percent of the earnings from the scam operation.

The FTC charges against Thaker are the latest in a series of police actions by the government agency to put an end to rogue debt collection operations that have become more frequent in the aftermath of the Great Recession. In January, the FTC struck a $2.5-million settlement with debt-buying company Asset Acceptance, LLC, charging that the company had falsely represented itself to customers, including making up phantom debts that customers no longer owed. Last October, the FTC filed a complaint against seven other fraudulent debt collectors, alleging that they had engaged in the same techniques -- demanding money from customers who owed nothing at all.

The growing number of Americans who are unable to pay their bills has meant there are more companies looking to profit from their economic difficulties.

Debt collectors have been taking more aggressive tactics as fewer people are able to make ends meet or are in a cycle of debt. More than 30 million Americans are in debt collection, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Since 2010, more than 4,000 complaints have been filed with the FTC and state attorneys general about fraudulent debt collection calls, the FTC said.

Charles Junitkka, a personal bankruptcy attorney who represents clients in the New York City area, said, "In the last few years, the desperation of the collectors and their efforts have intensified because of the economy."

This story has been updated to reflect comment from a woman who says she is the sister of Varang Thaker. Thaker himself was unavailable for comment.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/21/ftc- ... _n_1289751.html
Dan
Dan
2012-02-22 15:19:53
Unknown
I just got a call.  They called my work and I called them back.  Everyone I talked to has an Indian (i.e. from India) accent.   Sounds like a great scam.
wilson
wilson
2012-02-17 05:55:20
Unknown
I just want to say thanks guys i juss got the call 3 hrs ago  they left a message but couldnt understand wen i bing the num this came up glad i did now i cant wait untill they call again iam have a whole lot to say                                        



       thanks again to the real ppl whos still at there n care enough to share
lisa
lisa
2012-02-16 19:50:23
Unknown
these people are harrassing me!! i dont owe anyone money. told me i was going to jail. even calling me at my moms and scareing her. shes 70 years old.
Rosa Cruz
Rosa Cruz
2012-01-20 18:10:30
Debt Collector
Same thing here also from another phone number Alex Ferguson 814-352-0206 x:1011
LaToya
LaToya
2012-01-10 18:52:41
Unknown
When he called me, I was royally pissed too. I went OFF! I know exactly how you feel. But that does no good. Like I told Brianna, report him to the FBI. Left a report on their tip page and tell them that he is trying to extort money from you and harrassing you. Make sure to tell them the times, dates, and phone numbers that he has called from. If he is calling your job, tell your boss and coworkers to say that you dont work there anymore, he has the wrong number and hang up. It worked for me. I reported him to the police, FTC, and state general but the calls didnt stop until I reported him to the FBI.
LaToya
LaToya
2012-01-10 18:37:26
Unknown
Also Brianna, when you fill out the form, make sure to tell them the times, dates, and phone number they have called you from. This helps them as well.
LaToya
LaToya
2012-01-10 18:35:26
Unknown
I would report these jokers to the FBI. That it what I did and the calls stopped immediately. I reported them to the police, the state general, and the FTC. But until I reported them to the FBI, the calls stopped. Go on the FBI's website and fill a report on their tip page. Make sure to tell them that they are trying to extort money from you and harrassing you. If they call you at work, tell your boss and coworkers to say that you don't work there anymore and to hang up and not take them serious. It worked for me
Sad but True
Sad but True
2012-01-09 17:20:50
Unknown
No! The FBI: www.ic3.gov
Sad but True
Sad but True
2012-01-09 17:09:10
Unknown
Tina--
Please read my post I wrote a few minutes ago. You need to report them to the FBI: www.ic3.gov. and to your local law enforcement, if you feel your life is in danger. The BBB cannot do anything about them. Here is an excerpt from the FBI which tells you what you need to do:

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

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-951-489-0227
tina
tina
2012-01-09 17:02:14
Unknown
thanks so I need to go  to BBB and file a complaint form????
Sad but True
Sad but True
2012-01-09 17:00:52
Unknown
This is an offshore payday loan debt collection extortion scam that has been going on for at least five years. The FBI is aware of it but is unable to go after those involved due to lack of money and manpower. I looked back and found some old information which may prove to be helpful:

They obtained your information through Teletrack:

Kudos to "Sam" for giving the most intelligent and informative posts on this scam. READ, Bookmark and use as needed:

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-631-456-4041/2

I have been receiving phone calls from this group since late April / early May of 2010.  There is a good chance that they also attempted to contact me roughly two years ago before I entered into Chapter 7 Bankruptcy protection, as I faintly remember hearing the same script more or less.

As others have stated, the callers are difficult to understand.  Generally speaking their command of the English language is quite poor and their accents are hard to follow. At times they will get certain words or phrases mixed up.  It would be funny if it wasn't for the fact that they had:

a) Your SSN
b) Your home address
c) Your work address
d) Your banking info
e) Names, numbers and potentially the addresses of "references"
f) A complete and total lack of ethics and a basic understanding of the FDCPA.  

I have personally filed reports with the following agencies, often with limited (if any) success:

Local Police
my state's Attorney General's office
FTC
FBI
Secret Service

Generally the local police won't be able to help much.  The callers are using a combination of prepaid cell phones and VoIP, making them difficult to trace.  Also at their disposal are various spoofing tactics being implemented to catch people off guard - meaning the number that appears on your Caller ID isn't the number that is calling you for starters.  Without gaining a subpoena for the billing information for the numbers in question, the local police won't be able to get very far.  

My state's Attorney General's office couldn't offer much assistance either.  I received a form letter in the mail that my complaint was received and I would be contacted if they needed additional info.  It was more or less the same information I obtained from the FTC.  They each advised me not to give the individuals over the phone any account information or to authorize payment.  That's just common sense, though.

I never got anything from the FBI, either.  There is a good chance that since I haven't suffered a monetary loss that my concerns are low on the totem pole.  I hate to say this, but that is truly the case. Unless you were in the hole for a $1,000 (or more) you aren't going to get much more than "sorry to hear about your situation, change your phone number and move on".  I seemed to get some activity from the Secret Service.  I spoke with agent Doug Zloto. (Google him, referencing threads like these plus his name and you'll find his number also)  He seemed to care a bit more than the average person, but after giving him access to my Google Voice account, there has been no further activity from him that I'm aware of.

In the meantime I changed the wireless number the fraudsters had access to, they have no direct way to get a hold of me.  (Calls at work have ceased for some reason)  That in turn resulted in my "references" getting phone calls from the crooks.  Here is a word of caution for women that have been getting these calls - don't say anything and just hang up.  The callers are quite abusive towards women callers.  Why?  Possibly the culture.  If they are Indian / Pakistani, women are second class citizens there.  You will be treated like garbage.  This happened to a family member when she was trying her best to be extremely nice over the phone.  

The callers currently attempt to reach me through the female family member and an unused Google Voice number that they managed to find of mine.  I keep the Google Voice number open because, well, I can't delete it yet.  So, about every day, 4-5 times a day for the last week, I get voice messages from them.  It's usually just two full messages though - the other calls are broken up with static or they are attempts to read the script until the callers then screw up.  Really, they are that adamant on getting the script 100% that they will hang up mid-sentence and call back 30 seconds later.  

At this point it's a stalemate with these people.  

1) While they have the lion's share of information on us, they can't really do anything with this information.  

Why?  Think about it.

If they were to ever take funds out of your account without authorization, it's fraud and worse (for them) it is traceable.  That's why they won't do anything with your information, contrary to threats they make.  The money from your account has to go somewhere, and either your bank or a law enforcement agency can determine where the money was routed.  As a bank customer you are protected - you'd get the stolen money back in your account after 7-10 business days and the bank would be temporarily out the funds deducted from your account while they conducted their investigation.  The bank, along with law enforcement, would track down the fraudsters and apprehend them.  The fraudsters do not want to incur the wrath of a bank, just extort money out of you.  Remember that.    

Your authorization would absolve the bank from any and all liability, leaving you holding the bag.  Never give them authorization for anything - for all you know the call is recorded.  

2) We have no information on them.

Seriously, this has been going on at least since 2008, possibly longer than that based on some accounts. (6 years??? Holy crap!)  You would think someone would have slipped up by now.  Sadly, they haven't.  We can continue to grow our own intel on them and compile lists of aliases and phone numbers used, along with paraphrases of scripts used in order to educate other victims.  I'm actually putting together a site now in the meantime where I'll host audio files and lists of previous numbers used.  800notes.com is great, but no two calls are exactly the same.  It would be nice to have a site dedicated to the scam and how it works.

So that's where I am with these calls.  I have suffered no monetary loss, though I have been harassed both at home and at work.  They threaten me with arrest and other "fun" things in order to get me convinced I have to pay them.  My friends and family have been targeted and local and federal law enforcement agencies haven't been able to put a stop to things.  So, it is what it is.  I am out a wireless phone number I had for roughly six years, which is terrible since I was using that line when looking for a new job.  

Whenever I'm bored I spoof my number using Google Voice and return the calls.  I've called them the poster children for birth control, etc.  Basically a lot of nasty things that I'm sure the moderators here wouldn't appreciate me repeating - bottom line nothing nice.  I always like to close saying their parents must be real proud knowing their sons weren't man enough to get real jobs.  That usually gets a decent response.  

Way I see it - they can't do anything to me. (Despite a threat yesterday that my life would be f'ed up)  They can threaten all they want but my credit is frozen and my bank information has changed.  I've changed the only number they could really access me directly on and I've instructed my employer and family to not answer the calls.  I just call and harass them now when I find a few extra seconds.  What's the worst they can do to me?  Charge me with harassment?  

Nope, then they would have to identify themselves.

Oh, and don't bother contacting Cashnet USA about the calls.  Their "fraud" department could honestly care less.  Their "investigation" is merely a means of buerocratic CYA.  I would even be surprised at this point if actual law enforcement is involved in any shape, way or form at this time.  

There is a good chance that the information these crooks have on us was obtained from Cashnet USA - either from a database leak or from a collector that was once authorized by Cashnet to call on delinquent customers.  The other chance is they have access to Teletrack, and pulled all of our information off of there.

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

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-951-489-0227
tina
tina
2012-01-09 16:58:28
Unknown
has anyone found out who I could contact about this guy Mike Thomas please let me know cause I really want to see him go to jail or I could sue them....getting calls to my job and I had to explain to them what is going on they told me to look more into this so does anyone have any answers for me..please if so tell me thank you
Secret Service Friend
Secret Service Friend
2012-01-05 13:54:41
Unknown
I keep getting calls from some man with deep accent, I barely understood this phone number. . .It is kinda of bogus to call someone to threaten them and cannot speak clearly for anyone to understand the threat. . .

PS:  Also, did I mention that I work for an agency that has a fraudalent crime task force which includes a liason from the US Secret Service Agnecy. . .?
christine mauro
christine mauro
2012-01-05 12:52:13
Unknown
This man his name is Mike Thomas and he keeps calling me at my job and my cell number saying I owe a payday loan which I never had I did have ones in the past so I am thinking he got it from there somehow I know people could get that info... well he called my cell yesterday and said he was going to take me to court for 985.00 that I owe and I told him I want to see it in black and white his response was I'll send it to your email and I said no and I'm not paying this either and said he was from a law firm..robert shaffer.. and voice mail message it sound it like he was reading it from a paper and he gave me a case # CL0F1988 too he is pissing me off im sorry but come on and he sounds like he is Indian.... then he told me he was going to take me to court this call is from Erie PA.... please help me if you can. I want to sue this guy for harrasment I am just tired of the BS..thank you...Christine phone # 239-248-9295
Brianna
Brianna
2012-01-04 19:09:09
Unknown
So far I've gotten two calls from these people, I have student loans that I have put into forbearance and a Sprint bill from years ago so when I heard this it freaked me out. I applied for a pay day loan a few months back and since then I have been getting calls from random companies. My name is hyphenated and they keep calling me using just my married name which I have nothing in and my SSN is my maiden name. What can I do to get them to stop calling me I am worried they are going to call my work, I work at a casino and everything gets transferd around the building I really can't have them continuously calling me.
Angie
Angie
2012-01-04 18:04:30
Unknown
The have called me several times before and I ask them every time to stop calling me. The didn't over the Holiday's but they called this morning and I got very upset with them and told them I have asked them to not contact me anymore and have done so on many occasions. I never really never let him talk I just yelled at him I think that made him even more mad because he called me back 4 times in a row every time I yelled and told him to never call me again. The last time I asked for his name and number and he gave them to me and then I told him my lawyer would be contacting them and I hung up. He didn't call back.
ThinkAboutIt
ThinkAboutIt
2011-12-25 18:04:28
Unknown
Call-blocking for landlines-contact your service provider
  "         "           "  smartphones- look on your screen for an app market icon, click on it and search for
                            call-blocking apps
If you live in the US and your cellphone runs apps but a call-blocking one is not available, download one from www.mr.number.com
All other cellphones contact your service provider.

Also, if you live in the US and have a PC, you can sign up for Google Voice, which is a free service that reroutes your annoying callers to another number while sending them the message that your number is no longer in service. It also causes the scammer's robodialer to delete your number from their database, so they no longer call you.

Also, since they have already emailed you, they may be trying to hack into your computer to steal your identity, so I would suggest reviewing your bank statement for fraudulent transactions and putting a fraud alert on your credit report. If you were charged, contact your bank to have them reversed and your account number changed. Also, report the scammers to www.IC3.gov , because they are investigating these companies. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it's better that you were informed of their dealings now than to have a nasty surprise later on.

These people have also been known to harass people at work, and contacting their supervisors trying to get them fired. In this case, show your supervisor this website and the one for IC3 so your job won't be threatened.

Otherwise, happy holidays to you and yours.
Whit
Whit
2011-12-25 16:52:02
Unknown
Emailed me and said that there will be legal charges against me...How do I stop the calls
tina
tina
2011-12-23 03:30:08
Unknown
yes they did the same thing to me kept calling my phone and then they called my job as well like 2 or 3 times this past week... they said I might go to jail if I don't take care of this and also said I owed like 786.00 and if I pay out 501.00 right now that I will save 285.00..I was really mad about this hole thing what can we do about this matter??? we need to press charges against these people like ASAP!!!!! any advice???
LaToya
LaToya
2011-12-23 01:14:21
Unknown
I would not worry about it. That is just a scare tactic to get you scared and pay them. Don't give them a dime or verify any information with them and if this so called Robin White (im guessing same person who called me) calls you again, say something like "Operator trace this call" and watch how fast he hangs up.
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