My ex-husband got a call on my cell phone from a lady named Max.  Said that if she didn't hear back from him or his attorney all she could say was good luck.

I have ignored these people and they haven't called in four days nor has anyone been to my home to take me to the couthouse as they said in the mssage they left.  It's against the law to leave messages threatening you with such an action.  I've reported them to the FTC ... just ignore it and they'll get the idea that you can't be scammed.

They buy your information from a 3rd party or they steal it.  Anytime you put information into a web site it can either be bought or stolen.  Don't worry about it.  They were going to arrest my husband 3 weeks ago and we are still waiting on them to show up.

I also googled Sean Taylor, there is only 1 or 2 attorneys listed and I called one of them and spoke with Mr. Taylor himself.  I told him that these people are using his good name with a scam.  He said that they can't arrest you and that it is a scam.  I gave Mr. Taylor their phone number and he called them and said This is Sean Taylor, attorney at law and they said no this is Sean Taylor attorney.  The real Sean Taylor proceeded to tell them that once he finds out where their office is located he will have the served with cease/desist papers and that if they use his name again that he will file slander charges.

Received several calls on cell phone re: arrest, charges - told them basically where to go!
Did not stop - they kept passing the phone to different people - all with foreign accents.
A total scam - just hang up.

I had a call from this number threatening me that I was going to go to jail for non-payment of a payday loan?? Which I never had one of those before. I told them to never call my work again.

Got a call from this number today saying that there was a warrant for my arrest and that the police would be at my house Friday morning. When I called them, they would not give me the company name, but they did have the last four of my social, zip code and name of my employer. If they really are a scam, how did they get all of this information/

Report it to the FTC online.  It's easy and only takes a few minutes.  If we send in enough complaints about this number maybe, just maybe they can track these people down.  They are not even calling from within the United States.  They are calling from overseas, probably India or something and using a phone switching system that makes it look like they are calling from the USA.  When I get calls from these guys, the ID pops up "VIRGINIA"  I don't answer the call and have not returned their calls.  I've been ignoring it and I haven't received a call in two days now.   It's a scam, you should report it.

I have gotten 2 messages, one at work and one on my cell phone.  The said they were calling from the Orange county police department and I will be arrested at my work if I did not call him back.  Not sure why he is calling me but his strong accent was really hard to understand.  He said at first on the message that this was a warning call for ......  I would love to call the Orange county police department and let them know they have this number of 951-566-4095 saying they are the police.

I got a call from this number to and the guy told me his name was eric george and i had taken a loan out lat year for 300 but now i owe 800 and so i told him what company is it and he said that it didn't matter i just need to send the money or they will have a arrest warrant out and they would take to me to court and put me in jail and then he said i would have to talk to his attorney the name was shawn taylor and i needed to send a copy of my drivers license my credit card number and when the card expired and the 3 digit number on the back of the card. what i did was take it to my detective officers place so he checked into it and said it was a scam because they can't arrest you for that.

I turned them into the FTC, Oklahoma State Attorney General, FBI.  I got a call AGAIN last week from them for my husband.  I started laughing and the lady on the other end said "This ain't no laughing matter stupid lady."  That made me laugh even harder.  I told her that I knew she was a scam and that I wouldn't send them any money.....they haven't called me back yet.

I got a letter from the Oklahoam Attorney Generals office with a copy of a letter they sent to the California Attorney General letting them know of what was going on.

Now this has turned into a joke around our house.  I tell my husband that he has to "pay" me or I will have him arrested.  He simply tells me to bring it on.

Don't worry, no police will pick you up, I'm sure you already know that.  These people are crooks, I reported them to all the proper authorities,  Hopefully they will evenutally get caught and their operation shut down.

Hi Everybody, Sean Taylor keeps calling me at home and at work.  I have not returned his calls, and no one has come to pick me up yet.  I filed a complaint online with the Federal Trade Commission.  It's easy to do and only take a few minutes.  They load the complaint into a Consumer Sentinal database which is available to thousands of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies worldwide.  I do not plan to call these people back.  I have too many other problems to worry about petty theives trying to intimidate me into sending them money.  Once you send them money, they won't stop, they'll keep after you forever.  DON'T SEND THEM MONEY AND DON'T RETURN THEIR CALLS!!

I too received a message on my phone from a John Smith. So my husband called the number back and told this John Smith that he was my attorney and wanted more info on this debt. Well, John proceeded to state he had the wrong #. My husband told him he had the call/voice mail that was left with the number. My husband also told him he was contacting the Attorney's General's office and the police dept. This John Smith said "FU" and hung up. So I couldnt let it rest and called the # back. I asked to speak to John Smith and the man asked who was calling. I told him that I was returning a call that was left on my vm by John Smith. This man stated that John Smith was already gone for the day. So I asked the man who I was talking to and he said Sean Taylor. I told Mr. Taylor I needed a validation of debt and he stated he would send it to me in five or ten minutes. I asked him how he was going to do that, he said by email. I told him that I dont have email and he would have to mail it to me. He then stated that the police would be at my door Monday morning. I said ok and I would call him back Monday morning if the police dont show up. This man then said "FU" and hung up on me!

I just received a phone message from this number at work.  The gentlemen who called said his name was Shawn Taylor calling from a law firm, but he sounded like he was from India, very thick middle east accent.  Anyway, he said I needed to call him back or they would have someone pick me up at my home address, which he had, and take me to the court house.  What a joke!!!  That's against the law in the United States, there is no debtors prison.  They try to intimidate you into thinking you owe them money, don't pay it if they cannot produce any documents to support their claim,  They are calling from overseas and using a routing system that makes it look like they are calling from within the United States.  They are not, if you pay it, you are supporting thugs in another country, probably Pakistan or something.  I've already reported these thieves to the FBI, and the States Attorney General's office.  It's a big fat scam!!  Just ignore it, they cannot do anything to you.

Received a call from a "Private Number" - let it go to voicemail. He said his name was Shawn, Shawn Taylor & there were 3 legal issues pending against me. He wanted me to call him back at this number. Anyone who I have owed money to in the past either has a local number or a 1-800 that I can call. They can send me information in the mail if it is that important.

Tnika, I'm so glad that I was able to help someone.  They have been doing this type of scam for awhile now and I'm sure that they have made millions off of people with their scare tactics.

Got a call AGAIN from Diana White....funny thing is I called the number back the guy that answered said "Hello, Hello" and I didn't say anything.  I figure if it is a company then they should have answered with the company name.

I just got a call at my job from these people. Pretty much the same message stating that I need to return the call as soon as possible and if I don't return the call the only thing they can do is wish me luck. They've called me numerous times. However the woman's accent is so thick, this was the only time I was able to understand the telephone number that she left. Thanks for your comment, Heidi. I will not be returning their call and when they call me again I will ask for the original loan documents! Thanks again.

Don't pay them anything, it is a scam.  In America there is no DEBTORS JAIL!!!  Advise them to cease all communication.  I told them to call my attorney, which I happened to give them the name of Oklahoma Attorney General!!!

GOT A CALL FROM THIS NUMBER THAT IF I DONT PAY 500.00 IN A CREDIT CARD THEY WOULD ARREST ME

Got a call from this number. The caller left no message.

They leave the same message on my voice mail.  Three allegations, what a joke.  They are trying to extort money, these folks are crooks, scam artist or whatever.  I reported them to the FTC, FBI and the States Attorney General.  Don't worry about it, they can't do a thing to you.  If the allegations were real I'd already be in jail right??   Idiots, they don't even know how to run a  smart scam, HA!!

THIS PERSON SAID HE WAS JOHN GREEN AND WHEN ASKED HIM WHAT COMPANY HE WAS CALLING ABOUT HE SAID CASH ADVANCE. HE WANTED ME TO SEND HIM #350.00 WITH FAX SAYING THAT I WOULD PAY  THE DIFFERENCE ON THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY.  ALSO HE WANTED A COPY OF MY DRIVER LICENSE , FRONT AND BACK.  HE CALLED YESTERDAY AND SAID HE WAS GOING TO GARNISH MY CHECK.  BUT I AM LONGER WORKING BECAUSE OF ILLINESS.  I AM SO GLAD I FOUND THIS WED SITE BECAUSE NOW I KNOW THAT THEY ARE CROOKS

turn his a** ibn to the better bussiness beaure

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

Has called several times threatening me of legal action on a loan, did not have loan, keeps calling going to send uniform police after me, going to courthouse and file papers. cannot understand caller, Indian dialect poor english.

i keep getting the same call also. funny thing is, its not for me. previous "owner" of cell number. repeatedly i tell them this no longer her number and they still call back. i asked for a supervisor once and told them to take the number off of their system or i would report to the bbb and to the police. i told them it was illegal for them to make verbal threats and he tried to tell me it is completely legal!! very thick accent. "Office Richard Grossman" is who he claims to be

Got a call before Labor Day also and was told that a lawsuit would be filed against me in my home state on Tuesday 09/07 unless I took "action today". When I started questioning them about what country they were calling from, the "Gary Jones" informed me that he was calling from CA and even gave me an address! These guys are good and copuld very easily fool a person into paying them. My attornet has already been contacted and was told to "not worry" about and we would handle things as they occur.

Got a call before labor day  stating i owe them for a loan they put in my checking account which was not my account and now california police are coming to pick me up tmr mind you i am on parole...

A man with a heavy Indian or Israeli accent just called.  He calls himself John Adams from "Israeli Capital".   He claims to be calling me regarding a loan that I have not paid off....  I didn't answer this call.  He left me a message to return the call and gave me the above number.  What do I do if he keeps calling me?