Just received a call form Nationwide 844-205-6998. Informing me of a debt that needs to be settled today or I would go picked of for failure to pay a date back in 2010. I explain, I do not owe anyone and please stop calling me. Called back on several occasions wouldn't give me a name. I hung up!

For at least the last year, an illegal group of debt collectors have been terrorizing consumers, their family, friends, and employers threatening to arrest the individual of an unpaid loan or other debt (their generally don't even owe).  Be aware debt is a civil matter, not a criminal matter, and you can't be arrested.  The threaten a warrant if the victim does not pay a sum of money by the credit card over the phone.

Although when pressed the callers give the victim an address in Columbia South Carolina (usually a vacant lot).  They are actually out of the Charlotte North Carolina area.  The scammers are using the following business names

Kaufmann and Associates
Sanderson Blaine & Associates
McKenzie Reid Associates
Kennedy, Kline, & Associates

Here is a set of links to a variety of threads on this forum that document this group and its behavior.  They include the experiences of victims as well as a former employee or two that quit within a week of finding out exactly what was going on.  They also include responses from consumer advocates and people who are really criminal justice professionals advising victims of what to do

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-748-8367
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-719-1725
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-676-3492
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-805-5549
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-751-1084
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-803-2349
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-775-2417
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-775-2418
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-755-3417
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-746-3946
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-676-3485

Hey young unk
I never hear of this service, how do I fund it?
Thanks

I wish I knew about this 800Notes before I paid these crooks. I was supposed to pay more , but I wont. I closed the card they been collecting on.

Next time they harass me I am filling charges. A former Jag buddy of mine.Any law firm that has charges from any party or company is supposed to contact you by mail , name of firm, account number whom to contact. Never talk to them on phone, I had to learn the hard way. It seems a senior citizen is their favorite prey.

I am turning these names of this company and their confederate services over to the attention of VFW, American Legion and
head all veteran outreach organizations. No telling how many poor disabled vets as myself has been victim these creeps.

I hope enough people veteran community as well as the civilian file charges against the Kennedy/Clyne and put them out of business.

I called the Richland county Police Department, and Sheriff s in Columbia South Carolina this morning. Same story Civil not criminal.

They did same thing phone my daughter in law at work , got her nervous and upset, I sent copies of 800Notes so they can read them. I gave copies to local police and sheriff s department.

This is civil , not criminal! they said the clowns  have more complaints against that they not been posted.

hey, we must be related , I too met the same lady nasty attitude, and disposition, reminded my a former gunny that I knew.

I made three payments thus far before I found they not real.
All monies are collected  by International service 1 801 449 4016

I met these low lives the hard way

CALLED MY PLACE OF WORK AND TOLD THEM THAT I WAS GOING TO BE SERVED PAPERS TODAY. I WORK AT THE JAIL AND IT WAS NOT TRUE

BFF = Bottom Feeding Frauds
Slawyers = Sleezy Lawyers

That's what I'd call these miserable wasteoids.

I too have been following the exploits of Kennedy Clyne Investigations.  In addition to 855-775-2417, there are other numbers related to this so-called firm posted on 800notes.com.  Those of us reporting contact from this firm are probably just the tip of the iceberg in my opinion. If they have been unable to scam $$$ from each of us, there are probably many others who have fallen victim to their scare tactics and have paid them money.  So, it is my guess that we will hear from them again... disguised as another company calling from another spoofed number or location.  If they can make a few hundred bucks each day doing this, there is no motivation for them to stop.  Why work like the rest of us?  Sad commentary indeed.  

It appears you have taken appropriate actions. The name of this so-called firm is "Kennedy Clyne Investigations". They have been calling me too (I have answered none of their telephone calls or responded to their messages). Of further interest, for the past month or so they had a website, kennedyclyne.com/?, however, in attempting to open this website today, I find that it has been taken down.  The website listed the address of a middle school building in South Carolina (verified by using Google Street View) (noted by another user of 800notes).  Also, it contained a large photo of a pair of hand cuffs (attempt at an intimidation tactic?). Perhaps some local law enforcement agency or agencies in South Carolina is/are "hot on their trail"?  We can only hope.

I received a call from these people today, only they were looking for my brother.  They had his full name but stated they called me because they were trying to get a hold of him in regards to an unpaid income tax loan that he took out and never paid and stated he was being investigated for 2 counts of fraud and he would be sent to jail if he didn't contact them and make arrangements to pay the loan back.  They stated that my brother had put me down as a contact and had my mothers name as well that he had put down as a contact.  I immediately called my brother and told him what was going on and he called them.  Thank God he felt it was all a scam after he got done talking to them and didn't give them any information.  Then I later googled the number and found this website about it.  So I decided to tell my story.  My only question is how in the heck do these people get all of this information?  So scary that this is happening and they sound so legit that I am sure a lot of people are just paying the money to keep themselves out of jail!  

Kennedy and Cline Law Firm IS NOT and I repeat IS NOT a Law Firm. After receiving numerous contacts from them about my daughter, and their threatening arrest, stating she is going to prison, I contacted So Carolina Attorney Registration. They ARE NOT Attorneys,and this is NOT a Law Firm. I was transferred to the So Carolina State Police, where I made a report. I also have to file a report with Richland County, So Carolina County Sheriff. Their tactics have gone too far. A Report and complaint has also been filed with the Government, Federal Trade Commission. I would advise everyone who is being harrassed to follow suit. I called them back today and let them know the steps I took. I also let them know I found out they ARE NOT Attorneys, but a collection firm using acts which are against Federal Law to collect a debt...which by the way has been paid two years ago.

My son got a call from someone at this number. It began with a recorded-noise background, and then a woman came on the line. She said she was from the "County Investigative Department" at our local courthouse, and asked if he were me. He said no, and asked what this was about. She told him I was being investigated. He then asked what I was being investigated for, and she asked him what his relationship was to me. He said "She's my mother." The woman said she couldn't give out any information, only that it was very urgent because I was being investigated, and I should call them ASAP. He was very scared by this call. He was at work when he got it, and when I stopped by there later, his employees told me he was in tears. Apparently, what they told him REALLY had him scared and convinced I could end up behind bars. When my son called me, I knew almost immediately it was some sort of scam. The caller said they were from our county, but 855 is NOT our area code. Plus, our county courthouse has contact information on file, since my estranged sister and her friend BOTH tried (UNsuccessfully) to get Restraining Orders on me recently.

 They just contacted my sister and my MOTHER trying to get money....  They are scammers it is not true.  Apparently they purchased the information from some unscrupulous people to obtain information.  What can be done to stop them??????  

They Just Contacted My Brothers Asking For my Whereabouts!  How Can I Sue These Fraudulent People?

Just got the scam call from them looking for my son.   Once I told him he wasn't here they immediately hung up.   Going to do some research and report them.  Not sure how companies like this continue to stay in business.

To verify that this is indeed a "scam", go to Google Street View, take a look at 440 King Street Columbia, South Carolina.  You will find that this building is Middle School Building.  Apparently, the firm of Kennedy Clyne Investigations has rented space in a public school building from which to conduct their business?  I don't think so!

got an automated vm from them. They at no point identified themselves or who they were calling on behalf of. Kept referring to me as a "defendant" and to call 855-775-2417 if anyone knew of my whereabouts.

Just got a frantic call from my son. He got a call from this number. It began as an automated call, with a recording saying this was the investigations unit of the county court. Then a lady picked up, asked for me, and asked if that was who they were speaking to. He said no, and they asked what my relationship is to him. He said "She's my mother," and asked what this was about. The lady said she couldn't give out any information except that I'm being investigated and should call them immediately at this number.

As soon as he told me about the call, I began thinking it was a scam. My friend in San Francisco got a similar call, using a different story. Then it occurred to me that, having been in court recently (bogus charges from a sibling with mental issues), the court already has my contact info, and would probably just send an officer to my house. Or else they'd call me. They wouldn't call my son. Then he gave the number. Our county courthouse would have a local area code, and we are NOT in the 855 area. So as soon as I finished talking to my son, I looked up the number on the internet. That's how I found this site.

They have called several times telling me I owe 480 dollars for a loan through a company called ssm group llc payday loans If I didn't pay before the call was disconnected they would send a warrant to the sheriffs office and I'd have to go to court and pay nearly 3000 dollars. They gave me a address of 440 king st. Columbia South Carolina. She knew the last four digits of my ss# and my old email address and an old address but the bank that she gave me I have never been a customer of. I find it odd because the bank and they have no right to send a warrant out to the sheriff a judge has to sign for it. And I told her before I gave any info to her I wanted to investigate this as well and she tried to be nice and said "let me put you on he an talk to my lawyers and see if we can get this lowered for you today" then she got back on and said " good news we can take a payment of 100 dollars with a MasterCard visa or American Express. Psssht YA RITE! I ain't stupid! I believe it is a scam report it!!!

"Many sleepless nights thinking about what they say. I can ignore the calls on my cell but they call my job and leave messages and tell co workers my business. Has anyone been successful in getting an address I am going to contact a lawyer."

It's best to dismiss them and move on with your life. Don't loose any sleep over these people. I can't speak for others, but here is my experience trying to fight them. As you will read on here and elsewhere on the internet, people will say to report them to the FTC and your state's attorney general's office. They also say that if you find the state they are working from, to also report them to that state's attorney general's office. You will also see people saying to report them to your local law enforcement, contact your financial institutions, and to send them cease and desist letters. I have made several reports to all of these agencies and none of them have ever responded directly to my situation with these fake bill collectors.

If anything, the FTC and AG office's simply collect the data to monitor these situations. My local law enforcement, my banks, and even the pay day loan companies that are being used in these scams dismiss the complaints. They say it's just a scam, allow me to file a report, but there is no follow-through on their part. I have lawyers in the family and have talked to them. They also say there is little that can be done to track these people down. They use PO boxes, false addresses and names, spoofed numbers, and they are highly mobile. Sure, you can file complaints to your hearts content, and maybe, just maybe some agency will eventually respond to take one of these groups down. But guess what, many others will continue to try to pull these scams.  I have even sent cease and desist letters, but then they claim to be some other company and some other person.

The best solution I have come up with for my situation is to contact my HR department, informed them of the scam, and asked that they share nothing about me. I have informed my coworkers, friends, and family of these scams and also asked them not to share anything about me if they get a call. I hang up on them, block their calls, and will not engage them in any manner. The more the general public is informed about these scams, the less people will fall for them. THAT is what will get them to stop. It's websites like this and everyone on here sharing information about these scams with the people they know that will help put and end to this.  

For the record, I have no history of unpaid debts. My credit report is clean. No one has ever showed up to arrest me or served me with a law suit. In other words, these scammers have never follow through with any of the scare tactics they've tried with me. One final note, the ones contacting me have perfect English with accents from the Northeastern U.S. So it's not only the Indian accents that are trying to scam us.

This is a scam! I received a call yesterday from a Riley Cook who was just absolutely rude! He proceeded to say I had an unpaid loan from 2011 & I was positive that this was a mistake.. I did have a loan but I paid it back. I continued to tell him and he told me that they r never wrong when it comes to a debt! I was able to pull my statements and call the loan company and they told me to disregard because he has record I paid it off... but before that I was so spooked and gave them my debit card info.. after reading ur comments I auickly deactivated my card!! This is a scam! Do not give them any money!!!

This number has just started calling my daughter looking for me as well. I have dealt with companies like this before. It is very upsetting how they can get away with it and the way they talk to you. Many sleepless nights thinking about what they say. I can ignore the calls on my cell but they call my job and leave messages and tell co workers my business. Has anyone been successful in getting an address I am going to contact a lawyer.  Good luck everyone, I know what you are all going through

Ha, that cracks me up that the building is a middle school. I'm going to start calling them and dishing them s***.

Kennedy & Kline Law Firm, 440 N King St, Columbia, SC 29205--if they don't know their name is being used in an identity theft scam, at least we do!!!!!!!! Don't give any confirming information. And don't bother asking questions--they have an answer for everything.

Said I owe $1200 and couldnt even give address!

Sandie
They can not LEGALLY threaten you in anyway or scare you into paying them. My wife is a debt collector in the legal dept for 12 years and all the idiots such as these guys will get in A TON of s*** if they are doing it to you but you HAVE to report it. Her company is monitored by the FDCPA and they are under a microscope but its these little s*** hole places that scare people into paying for stuff that isn't even their debt. Oh and I guess if you say "Do not call this number anymore" Legally they cannot. I hope maybe this helps you relax a bit