same thing happened to me. they said that i was responsible for paying his bill or i would go to jail for fraud and theft of services. can i go to jail for what my brother did? i am so scared right now and all my family is coming in for thanksgiving today. they said by 5pm yesterday i would have to call them back and pay

I got one phone call from this number while i was at work. Today my brother wrote me a email and said they called him. I thought that was weird since my brother lives in another state and a completely different phone number. Since we live in different states i dont have his number just his email and facebook which we stay in communications that way. I'm not even sure how they knew the two of us were related to each other. It was strange.

Hello everyone as i read your letters I see alot of what happen to me but I called the police and FBI and found out it is all a scam and not to give out anything to them. If you live in the USA why in hell would anyone take a loan out from Niagara think about that. Never give out anything unless you have seen them face to face and you really know them.

I got my fist call from this company about a week ago.  they called me on my cell phone, and a don't usually as a practice answer calls of numbers that i don not know, so I let it go to voice mail.  when I got the message several days later, it was from a Mr. Manion from Niagra Acquisitions stating that if I did not call them by Nov. 30th 2010 that I would have a wage garnishments attached to my payroll. So I decided to call them with no clue as to what this was about, the number said that my account is locked, or lost and said that the number is disconnected and to check the number and try again.  The number that was given to me was 716-650-5587. I hope that this helps some one else.  special thanks to all prior comments, that helped to calm me down alot.

I got my fist call from this company about a week ago.  they called me on my cell phone, and a don't usually as a practice answer calls of numbers that i don not know, so i let it go to voice mail.  when i fot the message several days later, it was from a Mr. Manion from Niagra Acquisitions stating that if i did not call them by Nov. 30th 2010 that i would have a wage garnishments attached to my payroll.So I decided to call them with no clue as to what the number said that my account is locked, or lost and said that the number is disconnected and to check the number and try again.  the number that was given to me was 716-650-5587.  i hope that this helps some one else.  special thanks to all prior comments, that helped to calm me down alot.

That is true. They are bottom feeders. I took the call the first time and asked for proof of the debt. The responce I got was 'I don't have too, you know who it was for." Then I asked if their lawer had the ability to practice law in the State of CA? The reply was "Yes" so I asked for a state bar number and was given a number for a 90 year old man that retired 30 years ago.They asked me for my address and other contact information. I told them that they should have it then I hung up. After that I knew that they didn't know what they were doing and wrote it off as a joke / scam. I received several months of calls with threats from filling a capital gains type tax forms to wage garnishment. Most of which they can't do unless they take you to court. The icing on the cake was when they sent me a letter informing me that this was how much I owed them, which didn't have any information about who the original debter was, and at the bottom it says " this is an atemt to cease and desist." Now I am not allowed to talk to them. If they are going to try to speak legal terms then they should learn what they mean.
The bottom line is this, and it is true with any collection agency... they buy the old debt at 10 to 20 cents on the dollar so any offer they send or offer you is not worth more then that. if you plan on working with them then offer them 25% of the original debt and see what they say. That is what I do and usually they hang up on me.

I just got my 1st msg from them with a phone number of 877-458-8330.  with a file number ending in 150.

I from what I have read from other commits that this might not be the last one.

I just got my 1st msg from them with a phone number of 877-458-8330.  with a file number ending in 140.

I from what I have read from other commits that this might not be the last one.

I have received about 5-7 calls from Niagra Acquisitions daily for the past week, they have left 2-3 messages per day on my recording. They say there is a summons and I have 24 hours to return the call or legal action will be taken. Although they refer to state and federal regulations, they are not abidding by those same regulations. I called them back at 7 pm after listening to 2 messages and spoke with a collector. I stated I am a third party with no knowledge and ask her to remove my number from there system.She in turn called me "Miss Smarty Pants" and told me she would speak to me when I was ready to listen. The next day the calls continued.

NIagara is a third party debt collector.  They buy up old debt and try to sieze the funds. They are not honest and violate all the rules.  Don't deal with them.

I just received a call from Dale G. this morning from Niagara Aquisitioons ... though he did not state such ... saying that unless I call before 2pm today, I will be served with a "warrant and summons".  My Dad received similar threats yesterday.  I have been online and no civil or criminal matters have been filed with the courts in my name.  It is entirely against the law to threaten or coerce a person into paying a debt.  And I will not do so without written verification that it is in fact mine ... I have received nothing from these folks to warrant any action on my part.  I have filed a complaint with the FTC and the NY AG's office.

We received a call from Joseph Ramono tonight about my sister-in-law.  Joseph Ramono was incredibly rude, claiming he needed to speak to my wife and is extending formal notice about a warrant and summons.  He said my wife was listed as an emergency contact (for an old credit card debt of $200 by her sister?) He also called my mother-in-law and was completely harassing when my sister-in-law called him to see what it was about.  He violated just about every code in the FDCPA and I've filed a complaint with the FTC.

Just got a phone call from these scammers, I'm in Florida. "This call is a required notice in accordance with state and local regulations". They state that they need to talk to me about a returned check. Anyone else get a file number ending in 527? Guess what crooks? I don't write bad checks. You people are now going to be reported to my local Police Dept as well as the Florida State Attorney. Stop scamming people and get a real job. We are all struggling enough as it is, we don't need scum like you preying on us. To the nervous Ned with the low voice that made that recording, your grandmother would be so ashamed of you. Hope Santa brings you a nice, new striped pantsuit to wear in the New Year!

Just received a call from these folks, representing themselves as an officer of the Maricopa County Court. It went to voice mail. They've been reported to the FTC at this point, and I'll be sending a complaint to the NYAG as well.

Yea, and they are violating Cuomo's court order by continuing to operate illegally in NY State:

ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO ANNOUNCES REFORM DEAL WITH THREE NY DEBT COLLECTION COMPANIES OVER DECEPTIVE TECHNIQUES
Companies to pay $245,000 to state for violating state and federal debt collection laws, must provide easily accessible consumer complaint forms through company Web sites
~
Latest action in Cuomo's ongoing probe into unlawful debt collection and settlement practices

ALBANY, N.Y. (June 2, 2009) - Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that his office has reached an agreement with three New York debt collection companies that failed to adequately supervise employees who engaged in deceptive and fraudulent methods to collect debts.

The three companies, Creditors Interchange Receivable Management, LLC, Capital Management Services, LP and Tri-Financial, LLC, have agreed to substantially reform their business practices in order to be in full compliance with the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and New York?s Debt Collection Procedures Act. The companies, which are based in Western New York but do business across the country, are also paying $245,000 to the state in penalties and costs.

?We will continue to investigate the myriad deceptive practices that debt collection companies, debt settlement companies and others employ as a means to exploit consumers who are already down on their luck,? said Attorney General Cuomo. ?These three companies have agreed to immediately stop these practices and reform their policies to ensure their collectors comply with both state and federal law. I call on other companies engaged in the business of debt to do the same.?

According to complaints received by the Attorney General?s Office, collectors at the three companies employed fraudulent tactics in an attempt to collect debts, including:

Contacting alleged debtors without a lawful justification for doing so and even after being asked in writing to cease all communication
Contacting consumers at their places of employment even though the collectors were aware that such contact was prohibited by the consumers? employers
Discussing consumers? debts with third parties (i.e. employers, neighbors, etc.), and doing so even after the third party told the company to cease such communications
Falsely claiming that the company was acting on behalf of an attorney and that the company or a creditor was about to commence legal action against the consumer
Failing to respond to consumers requests for debt verification
Under separate settlements with Attorney General Cuomo?s Office, the three companies have agreed to enhance their compliance protocols and make it easier for consumers to file complaints against individual collectors. All three companies must create a direct link on their respective Web sites to consumer complaint forms. The companies must also maintain an employee disciplinary history database, as well as a comprehensive database of all complaints made by consumers or third parties who were wrongly contacted by collectors.

For the violations, each company must pay penalties and costs to the state.

Tactics prohibited by both the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the New York State debt collection and consumer protection laws include: posing as an attorney, threatening lawsuits or other legal action which cannot be taken, saying a consumer committed a crime or will be arrested and talking with third parties except to get location information. The law further requires collection agencies to send a written notice within five days of initial communication with the consumer explaining how he or she can dispute the debt. If properly disputed, the collection agency must stop all collection attempts and send verification.

The settlements announced today are part of a larger investigation by Attorney General Cuomo into unlawful debt collection practices. Last week, Attorney General Cuomo subpoenaed nearly twenty companies and law firms operating as debt collectors throughout the state. His office also shut down two collectors for threatening and intimidating consumers into paying debts that they did not owe. In early May, Attorney General Cuomo announced a lawsuit against two debt settlement companies for fraudulent business practices and false advertising by selling misleading debt settlement plans that very rarely deliver the promised benefits to consumers dealing with debt.

Cuomo also launched a website - www.NYDebtHelp.com - that explains consumer rights, allows victims of debt settlement companies quick access to the Attorney General?s office to file complaints, and outlines the stages of the Attorney General?s investigation. These three cases were handled by Assistant Attorney General Dennis Rosen and Senior Consumer Frauds Representative Karen Davis under the supervision of Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs David Sampson and Assistant Attorney General in Charge of the Buffalo Regional Office Russell Ippolito.

http://www.oag.state.ny.us/media_center/2009/june/june2a_09.html

Prism Resolutions. North Tonawanda, NY   Bud, The NY AG went after Jon Hummel & John Yim as Tri Financial in June. They now have a new name and location. Prism Resolutions  John D. Yim (CNE Associates)
3397 Niagara Falls Blvd.   North Tonawanda, NY 14120  Ph: 800-613-0803 800-613-0802  Fax: 716-692-2151

Another address I found for Yim is  281 Brentwood Drive  North Tonawanda, NY 14120  He put it in Mary E Yim (wife) name. They are still doing the phony affidavits & bill of sale. Warn your readers that this is a rip-off. Same people involved in this scam are involved in Niagara Acquisitions. check out bud hibbs to see

NO!!

You are NOT responsible for your brother's debts! Besides that, it is ILLEGAL for a collection agency to attempt to extort money by threatening arrest. Debts are a civil and NOT a criminal matter!

Stay OFF the phone and file complaints with the NY attorney general's office and with the FTC:

www.NYdebthelp.com

http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/contact.shtm

am i going to jail like these guys say? i had till 5 p yesterday before thanksgiving to pay this bill for my brother

I have gotten 4 calls from Niagara Aquisitions saying that they need to verify my address so that they can file a suit against me for writing a bad check.  They are calling to verify that they have the right address to have me served.  I Googled the firm and it is a one page website stating that they are updating their pages and it will be available soon.  My guess is that it is some sort of collection agency that obviously is not following federal collection laws.

Can you help me by telling me how I can put the 7 year fraud alert on my credit report? Now my sister got one of those phone calls and here is the really weird the stranger thing is that she lives in another state but everything is under her boyfriends name. The lease, phone, cable you name it so how in the world did they track her down and notify her for me to call them when they cant find me and but i have a cell phone in my name and the lease to the place im living at is in my name. I think this is truley a scam. Thanks for offering info on how to put a 7 year fraud alert on my credit report if you come back to this website or if anyone else visits this site and can tell me that would be great.

I am having the same kind of phone calls as well. I am going to my investigator my police department. I am tired of these phone calls. I think its a scam to get money.  They cant touch my ssn or bank accounts because I have fraud alerts on them for the next seven years.

I received a call from this number last night at my place of employment. when I got off work, I received a call from my dad stating that they contacted him as well. They told him that I was going to have a warrant issued for me if I didn't pay back some sort of payday loan. When I contacted them today they told me that I had to pay $800 by September 30th or I would be in court. I don't really know whats going on or what I should do. They said they were from Niagara Acqusitions and I googled it and nothing comes up. Who are these people??