I got a call today (7-1-10) from an "Officer Kevin Smith" with the "Bureau of Criminal ID" and that it was an emergency to return the call and ask for extension 9001, the legal division.  He sounded asian or indian which does not match the name.  This made me give pause.  He called for my 18 year old daughter which is wierd.  He gave me the number 901-878-3229 which I called back to poise as my daughter to see what this was about, with her permission.  The phone either rings continuously or is busy so I gave up.  He made it sound so official and serious I looked up on the internet who this number belongs to.  All I can find out is that it is from Tenn. and is a land line.  I would appreciate any information on this number and caller.  Florida

Received a similar call from Officer David (or Davis) Phillips - Bureau of Criminal Identification. He indicated that it was an emergency and that he was trying to reach and employee with my same first name. The caller could hardly say "employee" or "extention 6003" which made me look up this number on the web. The closest organiztion I could find was the Bureau of Criminal Investigations out of the Memphis Tennessee area. I called and used their directory and could not locate an Officer Phillips. I will be reporting this request to the Tennessee authorities in hopes that they can either direct me to the right person or stop this activity from occuring.

I also had the same experience related above when I called. The phone mail box 70112 was full and was not taking any more messages.

I have recieved numerous calls from this "officer kevin smith" 347-467-0431 ext: 901. Stating that i have numerous charges on me and that i must submit my credit care information through an email. This "officer" has my social and everything on me.

CREDITOR HAS BEEN CALLING FROM VCI, UNDER THE NAME MIKE WATSON. WE HAVE RECORDED EVIDENCE THAT HE HAS CALLED 4 DOZEN TIMES. AFTER DOING RESEARCH THE CALL IS BEING ROUTED THROUGH TENNESEE, HE SOUNDS SW ASIAN MOST LIKELY PAKISTAN. ABC NEWS HAS DONE REPORT ON THIS, IT'S A SCAM. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE

I received this phone and demanding for payment.  I told him to send me some fact so I can take to my attorney, and he asked why do you want any document.  I told hime that I have report about your scam to try to get my money and harassment me at work and I hung up the phone.  I  sure wish someone out there have authorization to stop all this thretening phone call from this number so we can leave in peace.

Just had a call from Officer Ann Bishop so the scam is still running.

I recently applied for a "PAY DAY" LOAN for 750.00 dollars.  I NEVER received the money, however I am constantly being harrassed by this person who identifies himself to me as being "OFFICER BISHOP" and he is a criminal investigator.  He has called my son, my sister, and I am not sure how many other people threatening us that I am going to be arrested and brought up on charges.  I NEVER received any money but he continually threatens my family and I WANT IT STOPPED. He has access to my social security number and I dont know what else.  I have bank statements Proving that I never received the funds.  Please help us. My wife is very ill with heart conditions.ruptured ulcers. anurisms, and many stomach problems along with high blood pressure and she cannot stand this type of stress.  With this persons constant badgering she just might have another heart attack.  If this happens then I will be forced to charge him with attempted manslaughter or something else so he is no longer to hurt GOOD people ever again. The contact number he gave us is  901-878-3229 ext (7001) but when you call that number you can never get that extension.  If you cant help us then I guess I have no alternative then to contact my attorney generals office and see what can be done.  Thank you for listening to me. My email address is dstaub2@verizon.net if you need to contact us.  Thank You James R. Staub

DO NOT CALL OR ANSWER THIS NUMBER 901-878-3229 the same thing happened to me and I am reporting the number. I called the guy back and yelled at him and how the HELL did he even get my number and name. This is bs!!!

I received the same call except he said he was an officer named Leon Bishop with the bureau of criminal identification- had last 4 of my ssn and address.  stated that if i didnt return his call at 910-878-3229 ext 7001 that i can expect a shocking surprise at my place of employment and my home.  he had a heavy accent had to listen to the message multiple times.

Consumer Alert: Attorney General warns Kansans of debt collection scam

January 29, 2010 -- Attorney General Steve Six is cautioning Kansas consumers about telephone calls from apparent fake debt collectors who are impersonating law enforcement officers in an effort to extort money from consumers.   Consumers are warned to not submit payments to these fraudulent debt collectors.

When calling, the scammers most often state they are attempting to collect a debt related to an internet payday loan obtained by the consumer, but which the consumer never repaid.  Consumers state they have never obtained such a loan or paid off the loan years ago.  The scam artists have most recently identified themselves as ACS, National Affidavit Processing Department and United Financial Crime Division, but may use additional phony names.  It appears the phone numbers used by the scammers are ?spoofed? numbers, so that the number appearing on a consumer?s caller ID is not the actual number of where the call originated. It appears the calls in question may be originating from outside the United States.

When questioned, the individual calling refuses to disclose the full name or address of the collection agency they claim to represent.  These scammers have been able to provide consumers with identifying information, such as the consumer?s social security number, home address, e-mail address, names of family members and the consumer?s computer IP address.  Since the callers are able to provide valid personal information, consumers may become confused and believe they are being contacted in regard to a legitimate debt.

If the initial debt collection scam is unsuccessful, consumers have been re-contacted months later with the scammers posing as law enforcement officers or officers of the court.  Typically, the consumer is threatened with arrest for fraud or some other fictitious crime unless the consumer agrees to immediately wire money via Western Union.  The fictitious officers strive to frighten and confuse consumers into compliance by using legal sounding terms such as ?We?re filing an affidavit against you? or by stating a lawsuit has been or is in the process of being filed against the consumer.

A hallmark of each scam has been calling consumers repeatedly at their place of employment.  This scam hit home when an employee of the Kansas Attorney General?s Office was repeatedly called both on her cell phone and at work.  Despite the employee?s repeated verbal disputes, the caller refused to provide any identifying information to allow her to send a written dispute. The scammer also continued to call her numerous times a day regarding a payday loan she denied obtaining. Two months later, she was again contacted by telephone by an individual identifying himself as an ?officer?.

?I denied owing the debt and refused to pay without being provided validation of the debt. I was then told, ?If that?s the case, I will have local law enforcement come to your place of business and drag you out kicking and screaming?,? stated the employee.

?It is important for consumers to know their rights under the law,? Attorney General Six said. ?If a consumer is receiving calls from a debt collection company and believe it is a scam, I encourage them to contact our office immediately.?

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), collectors are required to send consumers a written notice within five days of the initial contact.  The notification should contain  information such as the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed and a statement informing the consumer they have thirty days to contact the debtor in writing to dispute the debt or request validation of the debt. In addition, legitimate debt collectors are prohibited by the FDCPA from making false or misleading representations, such as the consumer has committed a crime, implying nonpayment will result in the consumer?s arrest, or using the threat of violence.

More information is available on the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf.

To register a complaint with the Kansas Attorney General?s Consumer Protection Division, call 1(800) 432-2310 or visit www.ksag.org.

http://www.ksag.org/page/consumer-alert-attor ... collection-scam

do they ever stop calling, I received a call as well stating that i need to repay a loan. they constantly call and call all day home and work. a man name John Brown is the one harassing me and they all sound the same there.

Received a phone message in Houson, TX & they Also called my daughter in AZ!  Female butchered my last name, stating she was agent Navia Watson & needed a return call IMMEDIATELY as a legal arrest would be made of me!   They repeated all the info several times- They gave my last four of my SSAN!!   Said I or My attorney should call TODAY!  Gave her extension as 2001 at this phone # !!
When looking up the phone number- It's located in La Grange, TN ( west of Nashville ) The missed call showed in my phone as 916-395-0000 - This number is "Not a working number!"

MOST RECENT CONSUMER ALERT ON THIS SCAM

http://consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/07/video_bill_collector_scam.html

I HAD THE SAME CALL FROM A KEVIN SMITH WITH THE NUMBER 9018783229...........I ALREADY CALLED THE IDENTY THEFT HOTLINE............HE CALLED ME A LOSER CUZ I WOULDNT PAY UP THE MONEY HE SAYS I OWED HIM 1000 AND THAT THEY CANT MAIL LME THE INFO  WHEN I REQUESTED IT

Call my job saying that I old 500.00 dollars to a enternet company and that I need to pay this or they would send papers to my job and I would lose my job.

I too received a call from a man with a heavy accent who said he was with the Bureau of Criminal Identification. It was really hard to understand what he was saying. He gave me a call back number of 901-878-3229 ext 7001 but when I call that number back it is not a good number. He gave me the last four digits of a social that was a number off of my real social. He has been calling now for months. He is from a different place though everytime he calls. He has called me at work and on my cellphone saying how important it is that I get back with him.

PROTECT YOURSELF!  IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU MUST READ ? HOW THE SCAM WORKS AND WHAT AGENCIES TO REPORT THEM TO

LONG RUNNING AND KNOWN SCAM ? ALL OVER INTERNET AND NEWS FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS NOW


Fake Debt Collectors ? Terrorizing Consumers

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5621205&page=1


MORE ON FAKE DEBT COLLECTORS
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-904-425-9141
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/call4action/17285785/detail.html
http://www.800helpfla.com/newsletter/2008/092008.html

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/01/ks_debt_collection.html   latest release of information on this scam

http://www.wvago.gov/internetloanscam.cfm
If you are targeted by these criminals, be sure to report them to all the following federal and state law enforcement agencies (most of which you can do online or over the phone):
1.    The U.S. Secret Service is responsible for protecting the country's financial infrastructure and payment systems from international and domestic threats. Call or write your local Secret Service field office to alert them to the details of this attempted extortion. The addresses and phone numbers for the local Secret Service field offices are listed at http://www.secretservice.gov/field_offices.shtml or in your phone book.
2.    Alert the FBI at https://tips.fbi.gov Be sure to tell the FBI that you are being targeted by extortionists over the phone. And if the crooks claim to be law enforcement or lawyers, officers of the court or bankers, be sure to include that information in your report.
3.    File a complaint with your local police. Most police departments will take a report over the phone.  Be sure to tell them that you're being targeted by an extortionist and give them all the details.
4.    File a complaint your state's attorney general, the contact information for whom is at www.wvago.gov
5.    File a complaint online with The Federal Trade Commission at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en
If these crooks call back, promise them nothing, pay them nothing and tell them nothing other than that you know they're a scam and that you've reported them to law enforcement. (And be sure to report them to all the agencies above each time they call you.)

By the way, here's just a small sample of numbers used by this particular group of scammers. Read the reports and you'll see the same pattern time and again -- phony organization names, thick foreign accents, and oddly worded threats that are so melodramatic and ridiculous that it's laughable:


http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-771-9249   Scammer posting here as GARY and GARRY JONES
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-860-4509   Scammer posting here as Mike Henderson
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-212-500-0839   Scammer posting here as Ricky
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-201-244-7722   Scammer posting as Carole, David Brown and Amanda
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-626-200-4646   Scammer false postings at this new number as silshan kanniue and Tina ? preparing a new number to use.
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-424-354-4270   Scammer false postings as Rose
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-785-4479   Scammer posting as Robert
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-909-327-4870   Scammer false postings as Marry
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-646-274-1143   Scammer false postings as Karen Miller, Chichi and Tom Little
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-561-300-8018   Scammer false postings as Marco Polo (real original)
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-226-7488   Scammer false postings as SAM, David S
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-706-7463   Scammer false postings as George
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-209-349-7382   Scammer false postings as Towanda Robinson, Shannon Walsh, Jack Dawson and Cynthia
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-760-514-0132   scammer false postings as Suzy01, Johanna Hall, Cindie McMellon, Michael Dublin, Mark Williams, Carol and Rio   (800notes removed some of the scammers posts because the all came from the SAME IP ADDRESS)
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-209-797-2212   scammer false posting as Jaison Connar
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-707-401-4056   Scammer false posting as John Carner, KSR
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-650-241-4604   Scammer false postings as jhon and Kevin
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-708-401-0535   Scammer false posting here as JHON
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-518-212-0219  Scammer false posting as Prince Christian, Arpit
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-718-705-8669  Scammer false postings as Alicia

Scam alert: Bogus debt collectors
By Leslie McFadden ? Bankrate.com
Monday, Aug. 3
Posted 2 p.m.
Bankrate reporter Leslie McFadden contributed this entry.
This scam isn't technically about credit cards, but it is scary enough to post a warning. The Better Business Bureau issued an alert today saying consumers across the country are getting phone calls from bogus debt collectors claiming default on a payday loan. Of course, the consumer needs to pay a large fee to avoid arrest -- as much as $1,000.
The caller poses as a lawyer, and may threaten extradition to face trial if the consumer doesn't pay up immediately.
What makes these calls alarming -- and perhaps convincing -- is that the perpetrators reference the consumer's personal information, such as the person's Social Security number, driver's license number, previous bank account numbers, home address -- even personal references.
"The amount of information they have is really troubling," says BBB spokeswoman Alison Southwick. She adds that the amount of data points to a possible security breach.
Spread the word to your friends and family: Don't give out personal or financial information to an unknown caller. Scammers can spoof Caller ID to display different numbers, so trust your instincts over technology.
The BBB offers these tips:
?    Ask the debt collector to provide official documentation which substantiates the debt.
?    Do not provide or confirm any bank account, credit card or other personal information over the phone until you have confirmed the legitimacy of the call.
?    File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission online if the caller is abusive, uses threats or otherwise violates federal telemarketing laws or the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
?    File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau online if you believe a debt collector is trying to scam you.

The heavily-accented caller left a threatening voicemail on one of my cell phones. A couple days later, I answered the cell phone when he called again. I told him that I did not know the person he was trying to reach, however, it was hard to determine what he was saying due to his very heavy accent, possibly Pakistan or India. He tries to intimidate by saying things like there will be legal problems, etc. I told him to not call back again and to remove the number from his system. I looked the company up on the Internet and, big surprise, it's a scam. If I hear from them again, I will contact local law enforcement.

Had the same call from a heavily accented person. said he was from Bureau of Criminal Identification.

I received a call at work from this number and they stated I had legal trouble check fraud, theft by deception and so on for some "loan" i took out online and didnt pay back. He had alot of personal information about me but I knew this was a scam..... I havent got an online loan and he wouldnt give me any information until I "settled" money! After a few choice words he told me I would find out the charges when he sends the police to arrest me..... I said I will be filing a report first Thank you and hung up! BTW he said he was with us crime intervention and he had a very heavy accent.