I think im being scammed by this company but im having U.S. bank check into it for the company said i was being sued if i didnt agree to pay and also asked me if i had gotten a summons i have paid them a 100 dollars so far but not paying them no more until i hear from U.S. Bank.

As im reading these post i think i have been scammed by these people too but im having my bank check into it to see if i owe this money these people say i owe.

Ditto this attorney in Louisiana.  Checked out Filltech & Airgas, found Airgas facilities in South Louisiana and review of bogus promissory note showed Louisiana provisions I thought sufficient to lend juris. & venue despite Penn. corp. headquarters.  Fine, agreed to collect at which point I receive e-mail:  Airgas has agreed to pay!  Received "Cashier's Check" for app. $400K, deposited into trust account with "gorilla hold." Very shortly thereafter, received e-mail from the "Mr. Peine" who claiming his had a very ill child, asked that wire nearly the entire amount NOT to Filltech, but one of "a Filltech's creditor" to what appears to be a Japanese bank.  At which point even this country lawyer had an Eureka moment.
Well the c. check was returned to my bank marked "refer to maker."  Upon asking the "maker" bank to trace, they found:  the form of the c check was not what they used, the c check number was sequentially about 7 years old, and the signatory was also wrong.
Am gathering all info to turn over to "maker" bank's fraud unit, copying the FBI internet fraud unit.

Ditto.  We also got the scam email.  

From: micheal peine <michealpeine@yahoo.de>
Subject: Prospective new matter

Phone:
920-438-6500

Best time to call:
anytime

Comments:
My name is Michael Peine and I am inquiring about the availability of your firm's legal help of a default loan agreement.
Thanks,

Michael Peine.

I am a Michigan attorney and also received an email from Michael Peine this morning.

I, too, as approached by a "Mr. Peine" about money owed to FIlltech by Airgas.  He hoped I would be willing to sue Airgas in Michigan.  Airgas is a Pennsylvania company.  Without thinking about this too much, it seems likely that any lawsuit would have to be initiated there.  Filltech and Airgas are real companies and there really is a Michael Peine (who is probably a nice guy).  I am collecting my information to turn it over to the FBI (who has an internet crime division).  

A great way to tell whether you are dealing with a con artist is to look at the email.  It really ought to lead you to the company.  It should not lead to a dead end.

good luck to all.

I am an attorney in Ohio.  Got the same contact from "Michael Peine" in December 2012 about a $600K debt in Ohio with a PA company called Airgas..  A quick check confirmed that both companies are real and I was emailed fairly elaborate documentation, but written in odd and un-business-like language.  "Michael" appeared to be angling for information about my bank account.  I contacted Airgas legal dept. which confirmed this was a scam they are hearing about continuously.

The above email purporting to be from "Michael Peine" is itself a SCAM! I was contacted with this same solicitation by email and this email purported to be from a German company (Filltech, GMBH) seeking legal assistance in Texas.  (I'm an attorney).  

The details were fishy and I looked up the actual company and contacted the real Michael Peine. He was kind enough to confirm that his message is NOT from him and he is aware that someone has been using his identity to perpetuate a scam against attorneys.  They will send the lawyer a forged cashiers check that the attorney will - they hope - deposit it and forward the funds to the alleged creditor. Once the check does not clear the bank, the funds have already been withdrawn and the attorney is left responsible to the bank for a huge deficiency.  The forged documents sent to me showed a debt of over $600,000 in interest owed by Airgas, Inc.  If I had fallen for it, I would have probably received a phony check in that amount before even starting any collection letters.

Nice trick but hopefully nobody falls for it.  Do your due diligence people! Sophisticated scam artists are definitely out there and they prey on your greed and carelessness.

My name is Michael Peine and I am inquiring about the availability of your firm's legal help of a default loan agreement.

Thanks,
Michael Peine

First and formost, this company is a SCAM. DO NOT pay them anything.

I have been a professional bill collector for the last 10 years, and say what you will but not all agencies act this way. Some of them do actually help people and follow the law. That is why I was so upset when I got a call from this company, but this is not about my call it's about yours. A few points,

First the debt that they are calling you about is out of statue and they can not "sue you for this debt"

They can skip trace to locate you... i/e your friends and family, depending on what the state laws are that pretain to each individual state. However thay can only do so for location information and CAN NOT discuss what it is they are calling for. This is HIGHLY illegal. Collection agencies are regulated by the FDCPA and by each individual state's collection laws for 3rd party collections, and there are more laws out there to protect you than there are to protect them.


Second, they can not remove something from your credit report withing 15 days, even if they had the ability to remove this from your credit report ( and they don't) they would be at the mercy of the credit breau's themselfs to update it and they would not be able to give you and exact time frame.


STAY AWAY!!!!!! DO NOT LET THIS COMPANY SCARE YOU!  They are liars and are breaking every collection law there is.

Hello I have received the same phone calls from CSI Recoveries and they said that I have been sued by an old debt of 354. but now with interest it is near 1,000 alll the way back from 2004 i called the original debt company that i didn't pay and they vouched for CSIR that settles their debt. But none of the phone numbers match up  and they are very eager to only receive payment over phone with a credit/debit card. I was going to pay with a prepaid card the amount owed but unsure if i paying the right or wrong people. Can anyone explain to me if their debt was settled with a payment of original debt cost without interest.?? and was it wiped off their credit which they promised me it would be  within 15 days but 45 days on the credit score.  is the prepaid card  a good idea???   PLEASE  any advice will help???   i spoke with a Mr martin at CSI recoveries in Huntington beach California ....   they didnt even have my right address but somehow got ahold of all of my relatives and told them my history and eventually came up with my cell phone ##      they SAY if i dont pay with in the  4 DAYS than i will be sued for the $1000..
PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.credit.com/blog/2010/09/beware-of- ... ollection-scam/
Snapshot 2010-09-08 13-06-51 For a year now, we?ve been getting complaints in the Credit.com forums about fake payday loan debt collectors. So I wasn?t surprised when I read the announcement this week by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan warning Illinois residents to ?be on the alert for scam artists posing as collectors of payday loan debt. The scammers call consumers and threaten them with legal action unless the victims authorize payments from their bank accounts.? Her office has received numerous complaints.

These are not your normal debt collection calls. In many cases, these collectors are very aggressive. Here are some of the threats reported on our forums:

Source: Credit.com (http://s.tt/15qnq)

I have been called by these people - and I took it several steps further. They also claimed a balance owed by Cashnet.... they gave me a bank account number that the monies were sent to. I contacted the bank in question, and the Asst. VP has been working with me to 'get' whomever took my info and this loan, if in fact one was taken. I contacted Cashnet, was given the collection agency the account was sold to. Called that agency, was given an account number and another agency it was sold to. Have yet to hear back from them. I am attempting to follow the sell trail, to see who sold to whom, and how CSI Recovery ended up with this supposed debt. Cashnet also gave me the address of the loan applicator, which is in a different city than mine, which I have never lived in. The address belongs to a very old woman who was frightened when I called her to tell her that her address was being used. I was also given (by Cashnet) the supposed work place of the imposter, and they have no record of employment by someone with my name. Curiouser and curiouser! They also said that I could pay the court fees and the debt would be wiped out, to which I replied that I would see them in court.
A police report has been filed. I have a different number than those listed here, which is why I never saw this thread until today. The number I call is on their website, http://csirecoveries.com/contact.html
I googled the address listed, and found this thread. The number they called me from is 888-786-9186.

Apparently, in the sleazy world of debt collection, a debt is a debt even when it IS paid.  
Even when it was settled.
Even when it's discharged in bankruptcy.  
Even when someone else owes it.
Even when it doesn't exist.
Even when you are calling the wrong person, (which you do intentionally).
You will ALWAYS tell people they "owe the debt".

If you are playing "process server", you intended to lie from the start.
The lies don't stop with the "serving papers" act.
You are just a bunch of liars.

This is NOT TRUE..She has never owned any of these businesses......you had better do your research before you slander/libel or defame someones name

I did a complete investigation on CM Association it is a Nevada Corporation owned by a Rick Boyce and he also ownes some type of phone company called US Phone Rentals they probably use this scam company to make there calls.  I'm sure I will find out more about up  this person and his scams and will keep this page up dated.

Diana from West Virginia.
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2011/08 ... fing_global.php

One of these scam "debt collectors" called pretending to be the local sheriff's department with their usual "serving a summons on a relative" act, but also spoofed caller id to say the same.

Reportedly their attorney showed up in court once, and never came back.  The judge was not amused, and found for the plaintiff, awarding $10M.

Looks like they are trying to hide behind various staw shell LLCs.  The alleged "debt collector" was "owned" by some Wyoming LLC, which Diana then sued.  Both appear to have "folded", but it appears they were related to a cluster of others with common control still in operation.

You have been contacted by Tina Coca and Denise Deakins of California.

Here is some more info for you guys...

http://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/QrqUYTUISgCLBgjMeJtSCQ/135

Let's all get these new offices shutdown like the old ones. :)

This Shane Campbell called just the other day, said he was with CSI Recovery call back number is 855-268-6072...he was just awful,,he said he was going to sue us unless we settled..i asked for a address and he gave me 5942 Edinger Ave Suite 113 Huntington Beach CA 92649....I hung up on him. He also said he had my credit report.

Most people (Like you) claims to know so much about statute of limitations. You think that the statute of limitations ran out makes it impossible to collect from? Here is a bit of knowledge. A debt is always a debt until it is paid. Statute only says that they can not legally enforce a judgement. But they can always attempt to collect on it. Even 10-20 years from now.

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2011/10/rincon.shtm

....so who does have a $10 mil judgment?

They called me last week reporting that they are cm association group, cmag, 888 356 8970.  They are also called Capital Management.  They say they have a fax number of 951 268 1581 and they are trying to collect on a balance with Cashnet USA.  A man called Shayne Campbell called and a Brian Donovan called.

FTC just sued a large group of collection agencies located in the city of Corona, alleging numerous violations of debt collection laws.

If you are having any problems with illegal debt collection practices, and in particular if they are coming from a collection agency in or near Corona CA, contact FTC.

I'm so sorry that you had to deal with that Christi. I truly am. One thing I will say, is if you all have a good phone provider like AT&T for example, block their numbers and then use the online service to keep a log. The police are having me do that and it logs every time CMAG's numbers appear, how often, etc. But if they're blocked it doesn't ring through, it just shows it as a "missed" call.

Please be very careful, they have numerous numbers and will try anything they can to get your money. I have sadly read somewhere else where another woman was scammed, and the worst part is this company has been proven to CONTINUE to take money from your account even after you've paid.

Please everyone, if you are hearing from CMAG/CM Associate Group/ ANY debt collector out of Corona, CA, please immediately do the following steps:

1. Contact the County Clerk's office for the county the address is in they are attempting to "serve" you at. If there is no open law suit, then make sure to keep a record of when you called the office, and what they said.

2. Contact the Attorney General's office for your state, as well as the state of your relative(s) being harassed. I guarantee you, they will more than likely groan and go "Not another one" when you bring up the company and state the issues. They will tell you to ignore them, do not continue any communication, etc.

3. This is a gamble but it worked for me: During a conversation with CMAG, ask them when the "Statute of limitations" ends for this debt. BE SURE TO ALREADY KNOW. Pull up your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com (it's free) and see when your LAST payment was made. Go by that month and year and add on however many years it is for your state. If they give you ANY date other than the one YOU know is correct, tell them flat out they are misinformed and need to research. If they state it is that time, and you are past that date, point out to them that they are breaking the law and state your lawyer will contact their "supposed" one and hang up.


Christi, just to point out, you were contacted by this company because you owe a debt somewhere. Though the one they were stating to you was a lie, I'd check your credit report, it sounds as though you have a debt somewhere you should look into. That's how they find people, they search reports for those who are near the end of the statute of limitations and use the "time is running out we're going to sue" facade. Perhaps you have an identity theft issue you need to look into?


Be safe everyone, and remember, these people are NOT LEGIT. NOT LEGAL. and most of all they are not worth your concern. *60 (call block) them, block all the numbers. Hell work with your phone company tell them ANY number from that area code needs to blocked to your house, do whatever it takes but don't think you are in trouble.

They ALWAYS call a relative first if they can.  They are trying to intimidate, embarass, and panic you, so you pay a "debt" you don't even know without any proof at all. (There is no proof, anyway.)

Some "settlement letter" is all you will ever get out of them. If they fabricated a "payday loan" statement, it would be easier to prove the "debt" is fake and prosecute them.  With just a "settlement letter", they can claim it must have been a "mistake", that their records said you owed it, but that they don't have those records anymore.

"Criminal lawyer" is BS.  This is just another excuse for why they won't send anything, while continuing to make threats and imply they do have "documentation" without having to show their cards.

The Corona Scam is under investigation.  Contact FTC.

I too was a victim of harassment from this company. CM Association based out of Corona, CA. First they contacted my mom with a phone call. They asked her if anyone was at her house. She said yes, why. He then said are you over 18, she replied with yes, why. He said we have a Summons here for Christi and we need to drop it off. She said well Christi doesn't live here. She's in LA, I'm in VA. Then they said it's urgent that they speak with me regarding this case number. My mom asked what it was in reference to, but they wouldn't say. (They DON'T Call you first to see if you're home so they can drop off a Summons), I mean Seriously???

So I call the number and provide them with a Case Number. It forwards me to an answering machine. Later I receive a call back from Christian Mathews. She says that I took out a loan in Nov 2005 and I now owe $1700 to them. I told her repeatedly that I didn't do a payday loan. She got very loud and sarcastic with me.  I told her that there was no way that was possible. She went on to tell me my address from 6 yrs ago, which was correct, but heck I lived there for 13 yrs. Anyone could get that info.

She tells me I have 3 options, 1. Go to Court and then pay the bill plus court fees totally $3200, 2. Pay $330 in 4 monthly installments, or 3. Pay $265 to pay off the bill. I began racking my brain but knew this wasn't true. I knew I hadn't taken a loan out with that company (Quick Payday Inc.)  Once I was near a Fax Machine, I called Christian back and asked that she send me over some paperwork that shows that I owe this amount along with my original application for the loan. So what does she do.... She types up a letter saying briefly that I owe that amount and it needs to be paid no later than today or the deal is off.

I call back telling her that I had asked for the original documentation. She says well we don't have that, the criminal lawyer has those records cause he needs them for court. I said well if this is supposedly already being taken to court and has been filed, why are they contacting me. She said that they wanted their money. I told her without any type of actual documentation from Quick Payday I wouldn't be making a payment. She proceeded to cuss me out, telling me how crappy her life is, and how there are such lowlifes out in this world that are scum because they don't take care of their bills much less anything else. (She was Screaming at me). I told her to calm herself down, and get a life. She kept threatening with taking me to court. I finally said GO AHEAD!!!! She said nothing and hung up.

This lady really scared the hell out of me with this huge bill that I knew I hadn't made. And had I of made it, I'm sure the actual company would of sent me letters, bills, certified letters, etc trying to get me to pay it in 2005. I almost paid this stupid company but finally came to my senses when I had asked for documentation. When they couldn't provide it, I knew it was a Scam!!!! Don't be fooled by these people and definitely don't pass out your credit card information or Bank Info!!!

I'd contact your bank immediately and attempt to get that money back, I'd also flag their company name with the bank. It's something I did when they were claiming they knew all about my bank accounts, etc. I felt stalked so I informed my bank of their company name, location, and stated that if ANY money was drafted from my account to contact me immediately.

Please keep an eye on your account. There are several instances popping up online of people finding this company continuing to remove funds every month even after the case is "settled". I'd also ask them to provide you the proof of settlement in writing that shows that they are reporting to the 3 credit bureaus (that's the promise they gave me and never provided) so that you can get them on the lie.

Sadly yes it sounds like you fell for the scam, but you can attempt to get the money returned by proving they do not own the debt. Contact the initial company that you owed money to, find out who they sold your debt to, go down the line calling these companies until you find the one that owns it. Ask them for proof of ownership mailed. Then contact your Attorney General's office with that proof so you can show that you were scammed out of money by a company that does not own your debt so you can possibly get that money back.


Good luck and I'm sorry you didn't find all this information sooner.

This is part of the Corona Scam.  They are running it under more than 50 names, from locations in Corona CA, but with mail drops scattered around Corona and surrounding cities.

Check your credit reports, particularly Experian, and you will probably find they recently pulled one, which would allow them to make up a fake "debt" that sounds a lot like this old payday loan you vaguely remember.  Your are exactly the type of sucker they are looking for.

As for "settling", ANY amount they get out of you is pure profit to them.  They don't buy debt, they just fake it.  They are a scam and an extortion racket.

Most states have a Statute of Limitations, allowing defendents to get untimely filed lawsuits tossed out.  Wisconsin goes beyond that.  It is one of two states with a Statute of Repose.  After the 6 year SOL, the debt simply isn't owed anymore.  Period.  

Normal debt collectors know this, and generally avoid OOS debt from Wisconsin, as any collection activity could result in lawsuits.

But you don't know that, and they aren't about to tip you off, anymore than they will tell all the other people they are scamming that they are just making up debts anyway.  You haven't "settled" anything, with the actual creditor, nor with them.  In fact, all you have done is paid them when you didn't owe them anything, in response to their illegal threats of prosecution ("possible charges being filed with my local police/DA office").

It's an extortion racket, fraudulently collecting faked "debts".

Immediately file fraud disputes against their charges with your bank.  If you dispute within 60 days of the statement date of the statement showing the disputed charges, your bank can reverse them.  Longer than that, you are probably out of luck, but you might as well file fraud and theft complaints.

File complaints with your local police, your state Attorney General, and with FTC.  There are reports that FTC is beginning to investigate this large scam.

I received a phone call awhile back as did my parents regarding some summons that they were trying to serve me.  As it turned out they had my previous address from 7 years ago.  I called left a message and never heard from them for almost a month.  Then they called back, I spoke to a Larry Waters this time around and told him that I had not been at this address for 7 years and that I left a message with my new information, along with the File number I was to reference.  The debt they said was from a payday loan which I had taken out years back and then lost my job & it never got paid back and by now I forgot all about it.  I have been recently working on paying off past debts so I figured this was valid, seemed a little sketchy that in 7 years time they could not locate me at a new address.  They were looking for $2,000-$3,000 to pay off this debt, well I knew it wasn't that much that I had taken out, not even close, but figured with interest and all.  They also said about possible charges being filed with my local police/DA office.  I was very concerned so I worked out a settlement of $528.00, of which I have already paid $264 and then the last payment they cut down to $200 and I have paid $100 of that.  Now reading all this I am afraid I have been scammed from a debt that is over 7 years old and in WI the statute is 6 years.  Please help, what do I do?  Should a file a dispute with my bank and get my money back?  This is all tied in with CM Association (CMAG) out of Corona, CA.  The phone number actually goes to the office of Jeffrey Landon, whoever that is.