For at least the last year, an illegal group of debt collectors have been terrorizing consumers, their family, friends, and employees 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. They threaten a warrant if the victim does not pay a sum of money by the credit card over the phone.

Some of the people they are calling do not owe a debt.  Others they are calling have already settled their debt with the organization who owns the accounts. Even if you do owe a debt, do not be deceived by the actions of this group.  Many of the accounts they are attempting to collect they do not own.  In other words, if you pay these people, that is not going to clear your debt with its rightful owner.  

Although when pressed the callers give the victim an address in Columbia South Carolina (usually a vacant lot) or Atlanta GA (often a parking lot near the bus station or a Peachtree Road Address). They are actually out of the Charlotte North Carolina area. The scammers are using the following business names (and there are many others, and they seem to create new ones daily).  They will normally answer the call back number as ?Investigations?

Reynolds, Hill, and Associates
Berkley and Associates
Kaufmann and Associates
Sanderson Blaine & Associates
Blaine and Associates
McKenzie Reid Associates
Kennedy, Kline, & Associates
Nationwide Asset and Recovery
Piedmont Investigations and Procurement
Raffino, Garrison, & McCoy
Greenman, Schwartz & Associates
McCoy Law Group
Salem Associates
Reynolds and Associates
Ryan, Carter and Fields
Berman, Maxwell and associates
DOF Investigations

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
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-966-3768
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-699-9749/2
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-966-6246
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-678-5437
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-967-0061
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-746-3948
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-791-2353
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-699-6246
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-735-8624
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-751-1083
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-736-3678/2
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-966-8529
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-967-2633
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-460-1576
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-609-3074
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-576-6210
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-601-5849
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-230-1283
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-658-0438
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-510-9327
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-509-0338
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-803-0755
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-511-0627
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-509-3033
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-509-0339
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-511-0631
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-883-2350/2
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-244-3381
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-512-0269
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-295-9550
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-966-6277
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-511-4248
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-725-5312
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-756-9997
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-512-1278
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-512-0531
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-512-0273
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-719-5041
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-791-9102
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-512-400-2637
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-585-730-6153
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-512-1712
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-800-657-1430

I'm sure you won't be back to read this, however, for other folks who've received the same calls - debt is civil, NOT criminal, therefore you cannot be arrested for defaulting on a loan!  These are scare tactics - and violations of federal law - in order to scare you into paying a bogus debt, debt that has already been paid, or even a debt that is owed, but to someone else.  If you're being called at work, do let your HR Dept and/or manager know you're being harassed by criminal extortionists, and please do report the calls to the FTC, FBI and your state's Attorney General.  

Bottom line - per the FDCPA, never pay any caller who refuses to mail - do not accept email or fax - proof that you owe a debt and proof that they can collect said debt.  Refusal to mail this documentation is a violation of federal law.  No written proof you owe the debt = per federal law, do not pay!

http://800notes.com/forum/ta-86217073a9c8dad/ ... 077595690349410
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http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors
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http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm
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Also read up on the laws and your rights:

http://800notes.com/arts/Jb8EW-eDhQA/harassin ... ou-need-to-know
http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ...
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf

For Extortion Scam Operations,  file reports with the FBI, your state attorney general and Department Of Justice,FTC & FCC..

http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
http://www.fbi.gov/
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1
https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form1088.action
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/

You may wish to invest in a call blocker also, either device or phone.. you can Google call blockers and find many for $60 or less.

I received a message today at my place of work stating that the county of San Diego has listed my name as a person of interest in a fraud case.  I could hear a lot of talking in the background, like a call center, she stated her name was Savannah Ghram and she could be reached at 1-888-252-0318 Extension 1009. WTH she sounded like a bossy Italian woman from New York.  

they want to arrest my a** for payday loan which is i dont remember what i did or i dont .. they call my boss and leave the message say , investigation #888 crv 013-7z984 search director 888-252-0318 #1008 is that scam ?

I to received a call from this same number when I called I got voicemail saying if you don't want this call to be for recorded hang up now and then said please leave a message a slight pause for management and that was it, so I didn't get to talk to a body I don't these people are really stupid to try doing that and saying all that messed up crap.

They called job my brothers n threaten to arrest me lol scare tactics yes we will see tomorrow if they arrest mu man smh they ought to be ashamed the payday loan was paid so false arrest the

I had the same call. When I called back and told them not to call me anymore the lady told me "kill yourself" and hung up on me!!! How ridiculous! These people are a total fraud. I wouldn't give them any personal info and defiantly not any money!!

They just called and said they represented our local county fraud department.  Lot of the same stuff stated as above she gave
Me this number to have my husband call back.  When I asked her the local number because she claims to be local she hung up.  Let the local county department.  Fraud especially since they claim to be from the county.  

I received a call and the facility where I work HR was involved and informed I was going to be arrested in 20 minutes. She kept stating dispatch we know her location and I  a Hispanic female. The most humiliating day of my life at work. I was advised to leave my job in order for employees not to witness this.

This is a Scare Tactic Scam to get your information. Caller 'Investigator Blah Blah Blah' left message that she would be issuing a warrant for a supposed payday loan (that I never took out) if I didn't call her back. Contacted  my local courthouse and was told that this is a Scam and NOT to call them back. Arrest Warrants ARE NOT ISSUED for payday loans! Don't Answer and Don't Call Them Back ~ BLOCK THE NUMBER. It's a Scam to get your Bank Information!!!

Yeah - When they called me, they mispronounced my name and the name of the county I live in.  They are from out of state, and I THINK they are collecting because of a small unpaid payday loan from 2-3 years ago....the number id auto blocked by AT&T.

I keep receiving phone calls from them. They have even contacted several family members saying that they are going to issue a warrant out for my arrest. When I called they are very unprofessional and will not tell me who they work for or they represent. When you start asking questions they immediately hang the phone up on you.  They are a total scam! I am not spending any more of my time speaking to these ignorant people.

  I KEEP GETTING PHONE CALLS FROM THIS NUMBER STATING THAT THEY ARE ISSUING A WARRANT OUT FOR MY ARRESTBECAUSE I DID NOT AGREE TO A SETTLEMENT WITH THEM.