Well after many months of not having any phone calls from the scammers, they have started again. This time it is a Kelvin Peterson calling from the affidivant processing dept. (plz excuse my spelling). I was informed that they have tried to reach me 3 times a day. I was told that I would be proseucted in calif court. HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!! The number used this time was 1-904-410-1565. Plz be aware of this number.

I received a call from this number at 2:04 p.m. on Tuesday, December 13th, 2011, saying I was being sued for a cash advance loan for $300.00 and that I was being reported for fraud in my name and that I was being arrested for it. My name is Mr. Tracy Gilmore and I told the gentleman on the telephone that I didn't take any cash advance loan out in my name for $300.00 in 2010. This gentleman had a foreign language vocabulary accent from another country. He was very rude speaking to me over the telephone and very demanding to me over the telephone. I just hung up very upset. Contact me by email if you have any questions. Thanks, Tracy Gilmore in Phenix City, Alabama.

"Officer Ross Parker" keeps calling from this number & leaves a voice mail, because I won't answer the phone when I don't recognize the number. He says he can't leave any info on voice mail; I must call him immediately about an important matter. I recently was a victim of ID theft, & thought I had taken care of changing everything. Should I report to the police? Or just continue to not answer his calls (I still have at least one of the voice messages).

This phone number called me 8 times between 3:56pm and 4:03pm. The middle eastern sounding person asked for an Angela that does not nor ever has resided at my residence. I told the person this and informed them to stop calling. I called the phone number back and the person asnwered hello. I told them that if they did not stop calling me I would report them to the better business bureu and the state police. They hung up on me. At 4:21pm another middle eastern man from the same phone number called me again. I told him that I just called there and told them to stop calling or I would call the police and report them for harrasment, He said; "No. I can call you 1000 times and it's still not harrassment." I told him I was hanging up and calling the state police, he kept saying no...I hung up and called the state police and I'm waiting for them to arrive so I can file a complaint.

This is a scam, they justed called my phone and asked to give a message to my brother, I told him hell naw, and f*** you, then hung up. I dont know or care who they are, if the calll again I willl block there number.

I got q call from officer John hood and he keeps on calling me and tell me that I don't pay back a loan from pay loan and I never took out a loan and he told me if I don't call him back he will put me in jail and he will send a letter to work and I will loss my job and he is taking me to cout and he had all my information two and someone pease help me out and tell me how can I stop him from calling me

These people are very harrassing and persistant. Its a total scam and you should give NO information. They called my work 100 times in one day hoping to get me fired from my job. No legal company doesn't anything like that. They also say they can't be traced.

I recieved a call from 904-410-3886 and they said I took out a loan, which I knew was a lie. I ve only taken out three in my entire life and two are paid in full and the other is current. They told me to call and see who has stolen my information. I call him back multiple time and he hung up he harrassed my job and he said the police would be at my door in 24 hours to lock me up and started yelling and hung up. I want to find this man so bad, because he cause me so much stress. I hate he has my information. I called and reported a police report to have . People dont not believe him and do not let him record you either. He is lieing! Be safe!

I received a call from this number today at my work,stateing That i was going to jail for fraud. His name was "Ofiicer John Carter" after I relized this was a fraud .  ( the scary thing is they have even your social security number )  I hung up. He then started to call ever two seconds hitting every person in my job finally reaching my manger. He told her to fire my now , that if she did not fire me she would be in trouble too. We ended up calling our local Police dept and making a case for the police to work on .  hopefully I will not get any more calls. The person or persons did however start calling my home this evening . we will see how

this pans out. GOOD LUCK too all >

I just got a call from this moron also.  Fortunately, I review my account on a daily basis for things that are supposed, and not supposed, to come out of there.  I paid my loan and this jerk says I didn't.  Oh well, bring it big boy.  I'll counter sue you for harrassment and have not only your butt, but your employers also.

i recieved a call from this number telling me that i got a loan for 100 bucks and that they were going to pick me up.

This is the 3rd  call from the no speaking person that needs to go back to his country....SCAM!!! Yes

I am so glad I looked up this number, I almost fell for it

JOHN CALLED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO. HE IS THREATENING THAT I HAVE 3 CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST ME IN REGARDS TO AN ALLEGED UNPAID BALANCE TO CASH ADVANCE? HE REFUSED TO SEND ME ANY INFORMATION/PAPERWORK BUT SAID THAT IF I DIDNT PAY HIM THAT I WOULD BE SUED AND TAKEN TO COURT.HE THEN PROCEEDED TO YELL & SCREAM AT ME. I TOLD HIM "F*CK YOU" AND HUNG UP. I IMMEDIATELY GOOGLED HIS NUMBER AND NOW I SEE ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON HIM. UNBELIEVABLE.

I jus got this same call from John, what did u do? call the police or anything?

Oh, boy, they called my father in law today asking about my brother in law. I gave "John Hood" absolute holy hell over the phone. It was awesome. If you have any aggression you want to take out on someone, take it out on these people. Such a stress reliever.

Got this phone call today from "904-410-3886" and a message was left for me by an "Officer Ross Parker". Very Middle Eastern sounding for someone named a Ross, and very busy sounding in the background, like it's a giant call center. The best part was when they used the first initial of my first name instead of my full name. Morons.

Also have been receiving several calls....starting about 2 weeks ago.....thanks for the info

I have been receiving calls daily at work and on my cell from "Ross Parker" from the 904.410.3886,  stating I have a major legal issue and he is the only one that can help me, but i must call him immediately!  he gave the name of his company as "Legal Affidavit"...and that he was out of Detroit - with a 904 area code!!  SURE... i have informed him (stating i was someone else) that i no longer work for my employer and I will try to get a message to me...and yes, it is a SUPER SCAM, if you have ever ever had a payday loan or applied for one...you are on their list of individuals to harrass!!!  Good luck, but give them NO INFORMATION OR MONEY!!!!

ann

My husband and I both got calls fromthis number, they hardly spoke english and said it was urgent. He called them back and they had my social! They said they would arrest my husband, he hung up on them

Officer John Hood????continues to call my work call after call after call.  I have not allowed him to tell me what he wants because I have seen the messages other people have left here on this web site.  I know I don't owe him any money.  I told him to stop calling me at my work, that I knew he was a scam and that I had contacted the attorney general.  I hung up and he called back and asked why I hung up on him.  I did so again and he continued to call back until I took the phone off the hook.  How do I get this to stop?

I just got my Officer John Hood call LOL He also called my boyfriend and my mother. They were the VICTIMS of identity fraud and I was the one ACCUSED of doing it to them .
I googled the number and saw all these stories along with a Co-worker because he also called my Job !
My co -worker  Let him have it!! Told him her brother was Cheif of Police and asked for his badge number so her "brother" could look into it , he insists he never said he was an officer , and she said  if he called me or my family members again HE WOULD BE THE ONE PROSECUTED !!!! LOL he hung up on her..... THREE TIMES! So for everyone that gets this call or message LET HIM HAVE IT !!
( These calls are related to online cash loan sites, SO BEWARE )

Follow up on this call:

I am receiving daily calls on my cell and now my work is being contacted. My boss is not happy about this. This could cost me my job. I just wanted to warrn people that this scam gets worse. I refuse to pay them, but they also won't stop. The  numbers change constantly. A common number now is is 000-000-0000. Oh, he is John to me and Eddie to my work.

Good luck everyone!

FYI I looked up the company name that shows up on the caller ID and it is the company that makes magic jack, so they are using it to make these calls.  Also,  when I called and said I knew it was a scam they hung up and then a few seconds later called back and asked my why I hung up.  When I said again that I knew it was a scam and to leave me alone they said I would be fired from my job and would call my boss themselves to make sure I was fired.  Also, that I better be prepared for the consequences and to be arrested.  My boyfriend called back and first they only answer the phone "hello" and when asked what company they were they asked for his name and would not answer his question.  When they finally understood his name, they said hold on and then the phone beeped twice like they hit buttons and then nothing.  Total silence until he finally hung up.  It is a total scam and I wanted to thank everyone for the information before I fell for it myself.

I just got a call from 904-410-3886.  From an officer John Hood or Hoove.  I could not understand him, nor he me.  He said my brother used my name as a ref.  and that my brother was involved in a highly fraudulant something or other.  I immediately contacted my brother.  I also looked up the # and I found this site right away.  I knew right away something did not make sense.  I got extremely mad at the guy.  Now after reading this site and talking to my brother I am beside myself.  He told my brother that he was going to have legal action tom.  for him, so get a lawyer. He also said that he would get him fired from his job.  He also gave him a case # but would not say, where, or who the business or police county any of it was.  THis is stupid!!!!

This is a scam. The Better Business Bureau has released many alerts on this scam, google "bbb.org alert phony debt collector"  Variations of this scam exist so read all the alerts to get a flavor of what they are. Spare the turkey, kill a scammer!

For at least the last four years, possibly longer, a group has been calling former payday loan applicants advising them that they have defrauded a bank and are now being sued for non-payment of a loan.  The callers will claim to be calling on behalf of an attorney's office (name varies), the Dept. of Law and Investigation, ACS, or other similar combinations below:

United Legal Processing Division
Midline Marketing
Crime Monitoring Services
Monetary Crime Division
U.S. National Bank
Attorney General?s Office (usually in California)
American Legal Services
Affidavit Consolidation Services (ACS)

You will be threatened with arrest, a costly trial and possibly worse.  In no shape, way or form can you be arrested for non-payment on a consumer debt.  Do not believe these threats, as they are without merit and cannot be carried out in the manner they allege.  

Who are they?

In the past when pressed by law enforcement for an address, the callers have provided the following information:

David Morgan and Associates
Morgan & Associates
Morgan Associates
954-727-8481
1155 Northwest 85th Street
Wintergarden, Florida  33150
(Address is likely invalid)

The collector's MO matches a once legit collections agency called Ellis Crosby & Associates.  Here are some links on them:

http://www.budhibbs.com/collectorpages/ellis_crosby_and_associates.htm
http://www.budhibbs.com/collectorpages/EllisCrosbyJudgment.pdf

They have been previously fined over $1.3 million for various violations.  They have been known to use phone banks in India to make their calls, which more or less coincides with the difficult to understand accent many of us detect when we are contacted.  

The last time this group went by any "official" name was back in 2008:

Ellis Crosby & Associates / Douglas & Morgan Associates
4494 Southside Boulevard Suite #200
Jacksonville Florida 32216
Phone:  800-928-3536 / (904) 928-3536
(Address is likely invalid)

There are NUMEROUS consumer alerts out against this group of individuals:

Florida:
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/061107/met_176207561.shtml

Kansas:  
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/01/ks_debt_collection.html

Colorado:  
http://www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/press/ ... lls_likely_orig

Rhode Island:  
http://www.collectionscreditrisk.com/news/rho ... -3002135-1.html

West Virginia:
http://www.wvago.gov/internetloanscam.cfm

Missouri:
On July 15th, 2010 a Public Awareness Bulletin was sent out by Missouri Information Analysis Center.  

"..received reports from individuals in Ohio and Illinois reference suspicious telephone calls they received. In both instances, the callers are reporting that a voicemail is received from a man, with a Middle Eastern accent, identifying himself as an officer working with the Financial Crimes Unit.  The message indicates that the reason for the call concerns a loan made by the receiver or someone in the receiver's family. The voicemail requests that a return call be made and a telephone number is provided. When a return call is made, the caller is asked to provide personal identifying information such as their date of birth and social security number.

Reports indicate that the calls are frequent and persistent and that they even threaten arrest or legal action if information or money is not provided. It appears that the individuals making these calls may have access to some records connecting individuals and their relatives.  Missouri does not have a Financial Crimes Unit and all indications are that this is a fictitious agency. If you receive a similar phone call, please be advised that it is a scam and please contact your local law enforcement agency or the Missouri Information Analysis Center at 866-362-6422."

Bottom line:

Do not supply the callers with any additional information.  Inform them you have reported them to law enforcement and hang up.  If you haven't already, go ahead and report the calls to local law enforcement, your state's Attorney General and beyond.  Look up the local Secret Service branch's information in your area and get in contact with an agent there.  

If you ever applied for a cash advance online, your information is out there.  
Possible sources for the breach of your privacy are:

* The scammers obtained your information from Teletrack - a reporting agency used by many cash advance lenders to determine their risk lending to you.  The service is able to tell cash advance lenders if you have existing loans with other companies, for example.  Many state laws prohibit borrowers from having more than two cash advances out at the same time.

* The scammers created their own fake payday loan application site.  People looking for a cash advance went to the site and applied, thus freely providing the scammers with their information for malicious use at a later time.  

* The scammers were able to get into the database(s) of cash advance lenders - probable targets being Sonic Payday and Cashnet USA.  


How to protect yourself:

* Inform your employer.  You are likely getting calls at home and/or at work, so make sure your employer is aware the calls are part of a scam and to not take them seriously.  Advise the callers that they are no longer allowed to call you at work.  If they continue to call, document the date and time of the calls you received.  Save voice mails left if at all possible.  

* Change your number(s).  For some this may not be an option, for others a one-time number change can be done free of charge.

Be advised - any references you listed on your payday loan application will be contacted.  Let those people know that this is a scam, and they can disregard.

* Use Google Voice.  Google Voice is a great replacement voice mail system for just about any phone number you use.  Messages can be transcribed and voice mail recordings can be saved as mp3 files.  

Pro Tip - call the scammers with a Google Voice number before turning off your old phone numbers.  Make sure when you call you identify yourself so they can start up their script.  At any point after they have your information pulled up just hang up.  They will then start religiously calling your Google Voice number.  At this point, you are free to change your regular phone number(s) and enjoy not having these people ever call you again.  (And laugh at the fact these people are basically talking to a brick wall several times a day)

The scammers change their numbers frequently.  Law enforcement used to think it was because the callers ran out of minutes on their prepaid wireless accounts or they were shuttered due to fraud, but now they understand it's simply to evade detection by savvy consumers online.  With the proliferation of VoIP, it's even easier for the crooks to stay a couple of steps ahead of law enforcement.  Below is just a sampling of the 30+ numbers that have been used in recent memory.

1-201-244-7722
1-209-349-7382
1-209-797-2212
1-212-500-0839
1-213-256-0408
1-213-995-3039
1-281-763-0433
1-347-289-3902
1-347-844-6817
1-347-844-6831
1-424-354-4270
1-516-232-8905
1-516-232-8935
1-518-212-0219
1-561-300-8018
1-561-210-4185
1-626-200-4646
1-631-456-4041
1-646-274-1143
1-646-810-8635
1-650-241-4604
1-707-401-4056
1-707-633-2789
1-708-401-0535
1-716-442-2824
1-717-862-4080
1-718-705-8669
1-760-514-0132
1-760-563-5384
1-772-318-4938
1-850-201-1111
1-858-777-1977
1-859-908-2281
1-866-860-4509
1-877-226-7488
1-888-706-7463
1-888-771-9249
1-888-785-4479
1-909-327-4870

So can they really do anything to you?

It's not a simple yes or no answer.  Logic dictates that, if they really wanted to take you for a ride and drain your bank accounts, they already would have.  

So, why haven't they?  

Authorization.  

Why do you think you are being called so much?  Perhaps it is because they like the sound of your voice?  No, they have to have your authorization to take any form of payment from you, period.  The callers know their audience, and that audience is typically a bunch of people that have applied for payday loans in the past.  Most of those people they call couldn't afford an attorney if they wanted one, and are so used to receiving collections calls that so long as they sound like a real collector, they will likely be perceived as one.

Furthermore, they don't even really want to talk to your attorney - that just sounds official and scary enough.  A real attorney would take the callers to task and write them off as two-bit con artists.  The callers need you, in writing, to authorize payment against the fictitious debt they claim you owe.  Go ahead, ask them for proof you owe the debt - more commonly known as verification of debt.  See what they say.  A phone authorization carries very little weight, so if they have something signed by you on file, you are done for - and the callers know that.  That authorization is the only thing these callers are doing by the book, and for good reason.  If they just went all willy nilly and made an ACH debit from your checking account, without your written approval, you could in turn report the transaction as fraudulent to your financial institution.  In about 7-10 business days, you would get the funds returned to your account.  Then the scammers would be up against a bank and their team of lawyers and investigators.  

Bottom line:

If you haven't paid the callers a dime, don't.  If you planned on paying them to shut them up, just don't.  Remember - you are not being contacted by a legally licensed, ethically owned and operated collector.  Read up on the FDCPA - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf - and know your rights.

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-646-274-1143/3

Officer John Hoov says he is going to take first me then my husband to jail. He claims he violated the Federal credit( inaudible), which is fine since when I looked on line there seems to be no such thing.He calls repeatedly usually before 8am.He has also called one of my friends. We had made some applications on line for poor credit, I suspect one of these was a scam site as the call people used as areference. Today is Thanksgiving and he called twice. I told him any information should be sent through the mail. I wished him a happy Thanksgiving and hung up. He called again minutes later. I told him I was aware of debt collection (if thats what this is) practices and this was harassment and I would report him. I told him again if he had legitimate business to mail it. Otherwise stop calling and hung up.