ILLEGAL ROBO-CALL Report them to: https://complaints.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspx

I received a call from this number. I've been getting so many strange calls lately... Oh...and beware of any calls from area code 876. That's Jamaica and it's definitely a scam. I am definitely going to report this phone call.  By the way, thanks for the web sites!
  I am definitely a fan of "Mr. Call Blocker" and I have known " Mr. Click" my entire life! LOL

New Variation on Telephone Collection Scam Related to Delinquent Payday Loans


The IC3 continues to receive complaints from victims of payday loan telephone collection scams. As previously reported in the IC3 Alert posted December 1, 2010, the typical payday loan scam involves a caller who claims the victim is delinquent on a payday loan and must make payment to avoid legal consequences. Callers pose as representatives of the FBI, Federal Legislative Department, various law firms, or other legitimate-sounding agencies, and claim to be collecting debts for companies such as United Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Net, or other Internet check-cashing services. The fraudsters relentlessly call the victim's home, cell phone, and place of employment in attempts to obtain payment. The callers refuse to provide information regarding the alleged payday loan, provide any documentation, and become abusive when questioned.

The IC3 has recently observed a variation of this scam in which the caller tells the victim there are outstanding warrants for their arrest for non-payment and hacking into a named business with the intent of obtaining customer information. During the perpetration of this crime, the caller demands payment via debit/credit card; in other cases, the caller further instructs victims to obtain a prepaid card to cover the payment.

The high-pressure collection tactics used by the fraudsters have also evolved. In one recent complaint, a person posing as a process server actually made a personal appearance at the victim's place of employment. In another instance a fake process server came to victim's home. In both cases, after claiming to be serving the victim with a court summons, the alleged process server indicated the victim could avoid going to court if the victim provided a debit card number for repayment of the loan.

If you are contacted by someone who is trying to collect a debt that you do not owe, you should:
?Contact your local law enforcement agencies if you feel you are in immediate danger;
?Contact your bank(s) and credit card companies;
?Contact the three major credit bureaus and request an alert be put on your file;
?If you have received a legitimate loan and want to verify that you do not have any outstanding obligation, contact the loan company directly;
?File a complaint at www.IC3.gov

This scam has been reported on the news.

http://fox6now.com/2012/03/25/contact-6-issues-payday-loan-scam-alert/

Scam Alert: Fake Payday Loan Collectors

People struggle to keep up with day-to-day expenses in today's economy. Many turn to payday loans as a temporary fix for financial stress. Scammers are now cashing in on this situation to scare people into paying bills they don't owe.

High Price for Payday Loans
Payday loans are small, short-term, high-interest loans that typically come due on your next payday. The way they work is you write a check to the lender for the amount of the loan plus the lending fee. The lender gives you cash for the loan amount and holds your check for deposit for two weeks, or until your next payday.

Although convenient, payday loans come at a very high price. The lending fee (generally 15 to 30 percent of the loan amount) applies each time the loan is extended. The real cost of these loans (the annual percentage rate of interest) ranges from an astounding 300 to 1000 percent!

The Federal Trade Commission urges consumers to avoid payday loans and look for cheaper finance alternatives.

Schemers Threaten Legal Action
Nevertheless, people unable to get credit elsewhere turn to payday loans to help them through desperate times. Scammers are taking advantage of these borrowers' vulnerability to con them out of even more money.

In 2009, the Better Business Bureau warned about a telephone scheme targeting people nationwide. Phony bill collectors call accusing people of not repaying payday loans. Victims are told they'll be arrested if they don't immediately wire a $1,000 payment or provide bank account or credit card numbers.

It's Still a Problem
The scammers haven't given up, though. For example, in May 2011, Arizona's attorney general warned people about a similar scam. Consumers are receiving collection calls from fake law firms or fake government agencies telling them they owe money to a payday loan company and threatening them with legal action.

They're Convincing, Too
In both cases, consumers are duped because the scammers use official sounding company names and they know a lot of personal information about the victims, like their social security numbers, driver's license numbers and old bank account numbers. They sometimes refer to the victim's employer and even mention the names of personal friends and professional colleagues.

Can You be Arrested?
No law allows you to be arrested for failing to pay a payday loan or other type of loan. In fact, there's a law making it unlawful for bill collectors to threaten you with arrest.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act doesn't allow bill collectors to:

?Threaten to have you arrested if you don't pay
?Repeatedly telephone to harass or annoy you
?Threaten you with violence or harm
?Falsely claim to be attorneys
?Falsely claim that you committed a crime

Don't Give In to Scare Tactics
Don't be fooled into paying out money or giving personal information to these scammers. If you receive a suspicious phone call about a debt:

?Ask the caller to send the loan information to you in writing
?Refuse to verify any bank account, credit card or other personal information over the phone
?Report any telephone harassment or threats to the Federal Trade Commission. This is the agency that enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
?File an online Better Business Bureau complaint to help let others know about the scam
?Contact your state Attorney General's office to find out about state debt collection and consumer protection laws that might apply

Questions for Your Attorney
?What can I do to stop receiving upsetting telephone calls about debts I don't owe?
?The telephone caller knew my social security number and bank account numbers. What should I do now to protect my identity and money?
?What should I do if I really am late paying off my payday loan?

I thought I was the only one who worked collections in my life....lol....its good to know your laws and protocol. I 1st worked in a collection agency and got tired of implying that I would "take further collection activity". So I moved up and worked at many Law firms abroad. Still, although you are retained by whatever creditor, you must still follow FDCPA regulations. No firm will stress this enough. At all times you must remain compliant or risk a law suit in the debtors favor. And because your called are monitored for quality assurance even the dumbest numbnutt wont risk slipping up. These r quacks tryna run a scam and it is so relevant by their lack of terminology. These guys r brain dead. But lets entertain it for a moment. This company sends no prior correspondants. No summons is issued..which gives you 20-30 days to go to your local court, in which you have the opportunity to challenge the validity of the debt and "motion to show cause". There is so much I could go on...But I wont. Just know this is a TOTAL SCAM and you will not go to jail. However take precautions because they were somehow able to compromise your identity so be vigilant and have a goo nights sleep.

My story continued:

I spoke to Amanda as well. Erica is my favorite. They are trying to collect a debt from Advance America. So if that is the same creditor inquestion, got to their site, they have issued a scam alert. Call and file a complaint. Also fill out a police report to cover you. You are going to also want to change all your account #'s and possibly close them out just to be safe, so they do not have access to your funds. Contact all 3 credit bureaus and have them issue a flag. It will be valid for about 3 months and you will have to do it again afterward, but in the mean time, these pirates will not be able to get an account using your name, address and SS#. I think another necessary precaution, although extreme, would be to got to Social Security and have them issue you another SS#. Also invest in a "Privacy Guard". Assume the worst and imagine these individuals to take this personal. Meaning, dont underestimate that they will not try to revisit you at a later date, whether a week, a month or years later. If you take all these necessary, however inconvenient they may be, you will win and they will loose. So spread the word.

Also, as a FYI, dont think they are unaware of this site. After calling them a few times and giving them a piece of my mind, they answered the phone, "Hey Yogi!" In case you dont get it, thats my screen name. Erica, you said you were good, but not that good. You were compromised as well. Muuuaahhhhh!!!!!! You filthy rats!!!!!!!

Here is my story, posted in another area for Phone# 855-854-1405:

Received a call from them. The are supposedly Coleman Weiss & Associates located in Rochester. Spoke to 3 different individuals. 2 women and 1 man. The 1st time I thought so called debt was legit but she got angry when I stated that she did not comply with FDCPA regulations Fair Debt Collection Practices Act § 807. False or Misleading Representations [15 USC 1692e]. She became frustrated and accused me of being argumentative and wanted to terminate call. I called the 2nd time after reading this article from this link http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/paydayloanscam_120710 . I spoke to a man and I told him I wanted to pay a debt. he tried to get me everyway to pay electronically instead of via mail and wanted a credit card, prepaid card, or money gram. I refused and began to read from the FBI site. He argued with me but eventually hung up after threatening me that he would take care of my wife (calling her by her name) and me. Called the 3rd time and asked another lady how many people she had in her office. She asked how many people in my house and then began to curse me out. How unprofessional.

They try to use scare tactics to get people to pay money but remember everything must happen according to processes set by government. No arrest can take place wthout a judge, and issuing court, the charge for the issuance of warrant and date. Plus you would have to receive local correspondants with a seal on it and sometimes thats not enough.

Here are some #'s that may be helpful:

Better Business Bureau : 212-533-6200
Consumer Affairs: Call 311 to get your local office or 212-New-York
Federal Trade Commision: 877-382-4357

If they said your debt is from Advance America, got to their site yourself and view the scam alert on right side of page http://www.advanceamerica.net/
or call 1-800-916-6519 which is their Customer Comment Line.

Also, I would not accept any emails from them as they may have a trojan/worm attached to it and it could potentially compromise your entire system.

Scam Alert

Have you been called by someone claiming you have defaulted on a loan and will face criminal prosecution unless you immediately wire them the money? It is probably a scam.

Have you been called by someone claiming you have been pre-approved for a loan and all you have to do is send $150-300 for a processing fee? It is a scam. We do not conduct transactions over the phone.

Here's what to do:
If you receive a suspicious telephone call:
? Ask the caller to provide their name, company name, address, phone number, and official documentation verifying the debt.
? Don't provide or confirm any bank account, credit card, social security number or other personal information over the phone.
? Please report suspicious calls to our Customer Comment Line at 1-800-916-6519 and to your local law enforcement.

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

Source: http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/paydayloanscam_120710

This people should not be in business at all they call me today telling that my boyfriend was going
to be arrested by 5:00 today 04/17/2012 someone called Erica Ride, that he needed to paid 565.00 dollars for bad check writting,whe never received anything in the mail from the actual company or from the collection agency.She disclosed all of my boyfriends personal information to me withouth knowing who I was.
After contacting the actual company Advance America in Miami they told me that they don't know who they are and he only owns 265.00 and he can make payments and take as long as he needs to pay the debt,they were charging me 300.00 more they a scam trying to get your money.

LOOOOOOKKKK OUUUTTT this is the address they gave me when I asked them
po box 1117
Rodchester
New York.

Just issued a report on them at the FTC and have already lodged a complaint at the BBB in upstate NY.  I'm through dealing with them, they try to call again..  I am pressing charges, PERIOD.

Recvd voice mail on work phone from 877-673-8285 x416 - "Vantagepoint Service" - says they will be serving papers on me at my home or office.  This guy was going for the scare tactic approach --- used his best bad cop voice - very loud and very angry...lol!  I did collections for a while so kinda know a little bit about how this works.  I feel sorry for people who don't know that they have rights too and fall prey to these scumbags.

i got a call today from Coleman Weiss and Associates saying that they were forwarding my info to the District Attorney in my area. All because when I was with my children's father he had taken out a payday loan on a joint account. They called my mom and told her that I had two felony counts against me. And she continued to disclose information about it to my mom. When the lady, Jamie Adams, called my house, I asked her how they could disclose information about me with all the privacy laws.l She told me nothing was disclosed and that all converstations were recorded. So I asked if I could hear the conversation, I was told that it would take time for them to find it. I then asked what District Attorney it was forwarded to and she said the on in my town. Well sorry to tell you but there isnt a District Attorney's office located in my town. Its two towns over and if it was a real attorneys office they would know that. They gave me the number 855-854-1405 but they called from 877-673-8285.

I have had it with these smug cretins!  I unloaded on them over the phone.  Unprofessional scum of the earth pieces of mold!  I say we start a class action!

This is a version of the you-have-committed-a-crime extortion scam and you are being...
1. summoned/investigated/charged/whatever with fraud/embezzlement/passing_bad_checks/whatever or
2. served with a court_summons/arrest_warrant/bench_warrant/whatever or
3. located in preparation to_be_served/for_a_lawsuit/to_be_arrested/whatever or
4. sued for cable TV usage that you've been stealing for years or
5. whatever stupid crap reasons they will think up next.

And you have to...
1. call back with your case number or
2. confirm your address/birthdate/SSN/whatever so you can be served or your papers processed or
3. pay $895 now to avoid paying $5,000 in court or
4. whatever stupid crap reasons they will think up next.

Beware extortion scams come in many flavors and they constantly evolve to stay one step ahead of the law.
The FBI warns about payday loan extortion scams here http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/paydayloanscam_120710
The BBB has issued several alerts on this scam, just google "bbb.org alert phony debt collector"
Never do what they tell you to do but report them to the Internet Crime Complaint Center http://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx , the Federal Communications Commission http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm , the Federal Trade Commission https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ and your state AG, as appropriate.

ALWAYS record every conversation with debt collectors. Inform them that you are recording., if they don't like it they can hang up and stop calling. Force them to abide by the FDCPA. Demand a letter of validation for any alleged debt. Refuse to pay any debt that is past the statute of limitation. If no debt is legally owned send certified letter to cease and desist contacting you. Research the FDCPA. File complaints against them with your state attorney and their state attorney, file complaints with the FTC. Sue for any violation of the FDCPA. Lawyers will take these cases on commission.

Wife got phone call with arrest threat.  They had enough info, so we paid.  Took two months of us calling them to get a receipt.  While on the phone with them on last call, they told me not to be rude.  Then I let them have it.  Have receipt in my possession finally.  Will be looking at reporting to BBB or someone.  Very unprofessional

Issued a warrant

just got the same call from Joe Allen. i called him back and said stop calling me about my daughter. said he was issiung a warrant for her arrest today. then i entered the phone number on google and saw that he is calling other people with the same scam.....what a creep....low life individual....hopefully he never calls again. upset my wife as well...

These idiots are calling my mother-in-laws home, looking for my husband. We have NO IDEA what they want..but told my mother- in- law they were going to arrest my husband today if he didn't call them back..  I just noticed I have a missed call on my home phone.. and its the same # my mother-in- law gave me.. My sister in law is an attorney... they are messing with the wrong family !!!!

I intend to put the fair debt collection laws instead of the FAC.

Sis called tda sd that a man named James Suave cld, left cb# 877-673-8285. I cld that no. spke to Ms. K. Johnson she sd she could help me and James Suave was clg for my mom. I asked the name of this collection agency and she sd this was not a collection agency but a law firm. She sd that this was in reference to a payday loan  for 12/07.  She has been chrgd with fraudlant ck writing and intent to defraud a financial institution.  Ok people,  I have worked for a collection agency and I do know some of the FAC collection do's and don't.  You can not disclose this much information to anyone but the party you need to collect the debt from.  You can not misidentify yourself or the company you are working for.  I hope they are sued for every debt they have tried to collect, everything they have, including the nails on the wall.

Coleman Weiss and A**. called from 1-877-673-8285

Got a call yesterday that my daughter would be arrested today if we did not pay a payday loan taken out 5 years ago. Joe Allen & Steven Jacobs were lawyers with Coleman Weiss and A**, of Rochester NY. I asked them who the attorney general was for NY as I would be making a call. They had no idea. Threatened me more. I hung up.

They called lookn for my son said if he didnt call by tonite they were going to issue a warrent. Said they were some lawyer group

Has anyone been arrested?

I too got the same call but they said they were from white and assc. or something like that

877-673-8285 was the number

Aunt and uncle got a call from attorney Steven Jessup threatening that if I don't call by 12 noon tomorrow I am going to be arrested.