lol to the person above me, good for you. I've been calling them back to harass them too! They must think we're stupid. I called and pretended to be remorseful and that I wanted to pay immediately.. and he was going to take my bank info to pay! lol WHAT LAWYER WOULD DO THAT? Also, there is no McKennis Law Firm. We need to report these numbers to this website so that people that think this is legit don't pay! I recorded the phone call and thanks to some junior tracing, I was able to trace the call to INDIA. Not even calling from the United States, just the number!!

I have filed this information with the BBB and my local police, and I suggest you do the same!

Here's how it works: You mostly likely hit a rough patch and LOOKED into a loan. You never actually GOT any money. Which ever website(s) you gave information SOLD your private info to these people (I'm actually convinced its just one person), which is how they have your info, address, last 4 of our social etc. They are using scare tactics to scare you into paying!

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I can't stress this enough, THIS IS A SCAM. NEVER GIVE YOUR INFORMATION TO THESE PEOPLE!!! Call them back and HARASS THEM like they HARASS US. Tell them there is a deep circle of hell reserved for them. That pisses them off.

Either way, these people are scumbags and they'll get theirs one way or another.

Good luck everyone.

Call the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and your State Police. When they call back, tell them that you are aware they are running an extortion ring, have notified the authorities and hang up.

Kudos to "Sam" for giving the most intelligent and informative posts on this scam. READ, Bookmark and use as needed:

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-631-456-4041/2

I have been receiving phone calls from this group since late April / early May of 2010.  There is a good chance that they also attempted to contact me roughly two years ago before I entered into Chapter 7 Bankruptcy protection, as I faintly remember hearing the same script more or less.

As others have stated, the callers are difficult to understand.  Generally speaking their command of the English language is quite poor and their accents are hard to follow. At times they will get certain words or phrases mixed up.  It would be funny if it wasn't for the fact that they had:

a) Your SSN
b) Your home address
c) Your work address
d) Your banking info
e) Names, numbers and potentially the addresses of "references"
f) A complete and total lack of ethics and a basic understanding of the FDCPA.  

I have personally filed reports with the following agencies, often with limited (if any) success:

Local Police
my state's Attorney General's office
FTC
FBI
Secret Service

Generally the local police won't be able to help much.  The callers are using a combination of prepaid cell phones and VoIP, making them difficult to trace.  Also at their disposal are various spoofing tactics being implemented to catch people off guard - meaning the number that appears on your Caller ID isn't the number that is calling you for starters.  Without gaining a subpoena for the billing information for the numbers in question, the local police won't be able to get very far.  

My state's Attorney General's office couldn't offer much assistance either.  I received a form letter in the mail that my complaint was received and I would be contacted if they needed additional info.  It was more or less the same information I obtained from the FTC.  They each advised me not to give the individuals over the phone any account information or to authorize payment.  That's just common sense, though.

I never got anything from the FBI, either.  There is a good chance that since I haven't suffered a monetary loss that my concerns are low on the totem pole.  I hate to say this, but that is truly the case. Unless you were in the hole for a $1,000 (or more) you aren't going to get much more than "sorry to hear about your situation, change your phone number and move on".  I seemed to get some activity from the Secret Service.  I spoke with agent Doug Zloto. (Google him, referencing threads like these plus his name and you'll find his number also)  He seemed to care a bit more than the average person, but after giving him access to my Google Voice account, there has been no further activity from him that I'm aware of.

In the meantime I changed the wireless number the fraudsters had access to, they have no direct way to get a hold of me.  (Calls at work have ceased for some reason)  That in turn resulted in my "references" getting phone calls from the crooks.  Here is a word of caution for women that have been getting these calls - don't say anything and just hang up.  The callers are quite abusive towards women callers.  Why?  Possibly the culture.  If they are Indian / Pakistani, women are second class citizens there.  You will be treated like garbage.  This happened to a family member when she was trying her best to be extremely nice over the phone.  

The callers currently attempt to reach me through the female family member and an unused Google Voice number that they managed to find of mine.  I keep the Google Voice number open because, well, I can't delete it yet.  So, about every day, 4-5 times a day for the last week, I get voice messages from them.  It's usually just two full messages though - the other calls are broken up with static or they are attempts to read the script until the callers then screw up.  Really, they are that adamant on getting the script 100% that they will hang up mid-sentence and call back 30 seconds later.  

At this point it's a stalemate with these people.  

1) While they have the lion's share of information on us, they can't really do anything with this information.  

Why?  Think about it.

If they were to ever take funds out of your account without authorization, it's fraud and worse (for them) it is traceable.  That's why they won't do anything with your information, contrary to threats they make.  The money from your account has to go somewhere, and either your bank or a law enforcement agency can determine where the money was routed.  As a bank customer you are protected - you'd get the stolen money back in your account after 7-10 business days and the bank would be temporarily out the funds deducted from your account while they conducted their investigation.  The bank, along with law enforcement, would track down the fraudsters and apprehend them.  The fraudsters do not want to incur the wrath of a bank, just extort money out of you.  Remember that.    

Your authorization would absolve the bank from any and all liability, leaving you holding the bag.  Never give them authorization for anything - for all you know the call is recorded.  

2) We have no information on them.

Seriously, this has been going on at least since 2008, possibly longer than that based on some accounts. (6 years??? Holy crap!)  You would think someone would have slipped up by now.  Sadly, they haven't.  We can continue to grow our own intel on them and compile lists of aliases and phone numbers used, along with paraphrases of scripts used in order to educate other victims.  I'm actually putting together a site now in the meantime where I'll host audio files and lists of previous numbers used.  800notes.com is great, but no two calls are exactly the same.  It would be nice to have a site dedicated to the scam and how it works.

So that's where I am with these calls.  I have suffered no monetary loss, though I have been harassed both at home and at work.  They threaten me with arrest and other "fun" things in order to get me convinced I have to pay them.  My friends and family have been targeted and local and federal law enforcement agencies haven't been able to put a stop to things.  So, it is what it is.  I am out a wireless phone number I had for roughly six years, which is terrible since I was using that line when looking for a new job.  

Whenever I'm bored I spoof my number using Google Voice and return the calls.  I've called them the poster children for birth control, etc.  Basically a lot of nasty things that I'm sure the moderators here wouldn't appreciate me repeating - bottom line nothing nice.  I always like to close saying their parents must be real proud knowing their sons weren't man enough to get real jobs.  That usually gets a decent response.  

Way I see it - they can't do anything to me. (Despite a threat yesterday that my life would be f'ed up)  They can threaten all they want but my credit is frozen and my bank information has changed.  I've changed the only number they could really access me directly on and I've instructed my employer and family to not answer the calls.  I just call and harass them now when I find a few extra seconds.  What's the worst they can do to me?  Charge me with harassment?  

Nope, then they would have to identify themselves.

Oh, and don't bother contacting Cashnet USA about the calls.  Their "fraud" department could honestly care less.  Their "investigation" is merely a means of buerocratic CYA.  I would even be surprised at this point if actual law enforcement is involved in any shape, way or form at this time.  

There is a good chance that the information these crooks have on us was obtained from Cashnet USA - either from a database leak or from a collector that was once authorized by Cashnet to call on delinquent customers.  The other chance is they have access to Teletrack, and pulled all of our information off of there.

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

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
1-831-607-9214
1-972-674-3753
1-646-918-5211
1-206-202-4942
1-206-337-7992
1-206-339-8218
1-561-318-0446
1-585-250-8090
1-347-827-0921
1-607-398-0725
1-909-233-7338
1-888-610-5486
1-585-861-9940
1-909-233-7338
1-646-416-9016
1-805-262-6170
1-661-270-6724
1-561-705-0140
1-310-807-0220
1-347-637-6473
1-951-582-4832
1-909-503-0682
1-818-579-7691
1-347-321-6497
1-206-629-9392
1-818-532-9007
1-310-853-3491
1-888-387-1419
1-850-602-9388



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.

PS--The FBI sent out a Press Release on this scam just last week:

Extortion Scam Related to Delinquent Payday Loans

Washington, D.C.
December 07, 2010  FBI National Press Office
(202) 324-3691

? filed under: Press Release

The Internet Crime Complaint Center has received many complaints from victims of payday loan telephone collection scams. Callers claim the victim is delinquent in a payday loan and must repay the loan to avoid legal consequences. The callers purport to be representatives of the FBI, Federal Legislative Department, various law firms, or other legitimate-sounding agencies. They claim to be collecting debts for companies such as United Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Net, and other Internet check-cashing services.

According to complaints received from the public, the callers have accurate data about victims, including Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, employer information, bank account numbers, and the names and telephone numbers of relatives and friends. How the fraudsters obtained the personal information varies, but in some cases victims have reported they completed online applications for other loans or credit cards before the calls started.

The fraudsters relentlessly call the victim?s home, cell phone, and place of employment. They refuse to provide any details about the alleged payday loans and become abusive when questioned. The callers have threatened victims with legal actions, arrests, and, in some cases, physical violence if they do not pay. In many cases, the callers harass victims? relatives, friends, and employers.

Some fraudsters have instructed victims to fax a statement agreeing to pay a certain amount, on a specific date, via a pre-paid Visa card. The statement further declares the victim will never dispute the debt.

If you receive these calls, do not follow the caller?s instructions. Rather, you should:

Notify your banking institutions.
Contact the three major credit bureaus and request an alert be put on your file.
Contact your local law enforcement agencies if you feel you are in immediate danger.
File a complaint at www.IC3.gov.
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

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

These freakin people are nuts. They called me saying that they were McKennis Law Firm and that i was being sued with 3 counts against me and that i owe a payday loan place that i never heard of before. then they say that they have all of my information. they called my job 3 times which is soooo embarrassing. I knew it was a scam,cuz what lawyer cant even say my name correctly,more of the less, call me repeatively private, and never served me with papers? They must dont know that we Americans know more than they think! So,when i called them back and told them that i had my lawyer on the line (which i didnt, it was my boyfriend),the little b*****d acted like he was transferring me to the "so called" lawyer, and then hung up. I started to harrass those F*#kers the same way they did me.The dont like that. I just think I'll just keep doing that until i get tired. Do people really feed into that and send them money? They did my sister the same way and claimed that they were the FBI. Said that his name was detective Mersaw or something and they were coming to get her,if she refused to pay for a payday loan of over $3500 and she only took out $200 in the 1st place 3 mos. prior to that. She called them back and asked for their website info and call back number and extension and she said that she could hear a guy in the background telling the rep what to say. But they never called her since. I dont know how they're getting away with it but cant somebody do something about this????

oh, and i contacted my Credit Union and they said that even employees had that happen and they dont have the authority to take anyone's money because that way, we will have a way to track them down and they dont want that.Thats why they ask for us to wire it or send it by money order.

I got the call to and said they were a law firm, and his name was Keith Rodriguez. They kept calling and hanging up then turned the phone off. They also took 30.00 out of our account! It's so fake!

These freakin people are nuts. They called me saying that they were McKennis Law Firm and that i was being sued with 3 counts against me and that i owe a payday loan place that i never heard of before. then they say that they have all of my information. they called my job 3 times which is soooo embarrassing. I knew it was a scam,cuz what lawyer cant even say my name correctly more of the less, call me repeatively private, and never served me with papers? They must dont know that we Americans know more than they think! So,when i called them back and told them that i had my lawyer on the line (which i didnt, it was my boyfriend),the little b*****d acted like he was transferring me to the "so called" lawyer, and then hung up. I started to harrass those F*#kers the same way they did me.The dont like that. I just think I'll just keep doing that until i get tired. Do people really feed into that and send them money? They did my sister the same way and claimed that they were the FBI. Said that his name was detective Mersaw or something and they were coming to get her,if she refused to pay for a payday loan of over $3500 and she only took out $200 in the 1st place 3 mos. prior to that. She called them back and asked for their website info and call back number and extension and she said that she could hear a guy in the background telling the rep what to say. But they never called her since. I dont know how they're getting away with it but cant somebody do something about this????

I am recieving tehe same calls telling me i need to send photo copies if my ID as long as a hand written letter appologizing to them and letting them know i didnt pln on running with their money..... What a joke im sooo frustrated with this i wnt to find them myselvesm6p4

I almost gave the my money they told me to send the money to western union or greet dot. Until my cousin told me its all a scam  I cant believe ppl i will be contacting my bank asap.

i too have got calls from this number im working on getting the right address and will post when i do keep checking i should have it soon

Ok, so they called me too...so I answered and started cracking up.  He said why are you laoughing I said because this is some funny sh*t. I told him to keep going...he even started lol'n...then I said if it was soooo serious why are u lol'n.  then he sai, ok, for real, are u gonna pay this debt...i sadi HELL NO, are u.  Still cracking up-then he said ok, so can I send the cops to your home, I said sure thing, I'll have coffee and donuts waiting.. then he hung up.

I received a call last night on my cell and again early this morning.  I also had a voicemail from this number.  The message is exactly the same as those described above and on other call reporting websites as well.  I will be contacting my bank as well based on some of the things I have read here.  Whoever is doing this should be arrested and deported back to where they came from since obviously they are not native American citizens.  I don't know of any Middle Eastern man with the name of Adam Brown.  If anyone else here has any tips on how they have handled this situation with them and and success that they have had please share so we can all stop this illegal harrassment probably from illegal immigrants.

Hi 'Fired Up',

Your comment was extremely informative and I'm sure everyone is thankful for that.  I have one question:  I have legal representation at my disposal when I need it. Would it help to ACTUALLY have a lawyer call and get involved?

I got the same message and I called back 2x and he said his name is Alex Brown and that he was with a law firm (he refused to give me the name of the firm). Said that I had received funds in my account from an online payday loan service in 2011 (no specific date was given) and that I was looking at a $8958 court cost and attorney fees and I was gonna be brought up on fraud, embezzlement charges, and that I would be terminated by my job for these things. had me all tore up for 2 days. Then it dawned on me to GOOGLE the number and I came across all kinds of things on the number (707-361-4483). I called my bank and told them what was going on and they had my account flagged for a possible fraud alert/scam on it. I know what goes direct deposit to my account and I know what automatically comes out of it every month. They had the right one to play with that day. If I receive another call I will be calling the local police and the tv stations to let them know about it. I work for the state and I need my job!!!

I just got a call from this number and knew something was up so I googled it. Thanks for the info. Keith answered just like it says he would LOL.

Another great site. Turning the tables:

http://thescambaiter.com

Ha!  Good to know that /b/ is giving the scammers hell.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQwd4JxUCUs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr_6699VzAM&feature=related

Thanks Firedup! These people are crooks....I am sure they got my info off of something unsecure online....Never again! CALL CALL CALL......My message left to them today was...One two FBI coming for you....three four you better lock your door! This is how crazy they have me right now!!

Great Post Vigilante! I am happy to help wherever I can.

Hello "FreakedOut",

I read your post, along with the others and feel so bad that you all are going through this. I saw this thread as one of 800notes top posts from the main page. Since I have had something like this happen to me in the past, I can understand what you and the rest must be feeling.

The GOOD NEWS here... You have nothing to worry about, as they are scare tactics only. I absolutely agree with the other writer who said they have a quota to meet, and if they dont, they get canned. I noticed a few people mention that the caller said "God Bless". This is a common signature of one of the places that prey upon people... you will see this in item 2, below. They also call from a Magic Jack line a majority of the time. The way I see it, there are two possibilities here:

1) Perhaps they bought an unpaid debt from a company (typically payday loan) for pennies on the dollar, and are trying to recoup something in any way they can. They dont have the right to. This is where I love the FDCPA. Cease and Desist letters work real well with some situations, but since this type caller is never legitimate, it is a gamble since they are violating the law anyway. If you were to find their physical address, it generally ends up being a UPS PO or similar.

**This is important**: If they threaten to sue you, GREAT... tell them to have you 'served' you papers. This would be ideal since you would then have the real address. It will never happen though since they are not legit. You can turn the tables and sue them then... and win!

2) Another likely possibility: I rank this as similar to 'malware' on computers. It is possible that the people obtained your contact information and "spear fishing" (in a sense)... trying to scare you into giving them money. It is pretty scary when you think about it. Similar to those fake emails we have all seen, telling us that we have won a foreign lottery, or that someone needs help with an inheritance.

So how do we protect ourselves from people who find our contact information? There are several things that can be done, but one of the most important things I would recommend is this (and this is VERY important): Take a look at your social media privacy settings (Facebook, Twitter, and ESPECIALLY LinkedIn)!!! It is so easy for someone to take a look at site like LinkedIn (that are not secure) and easily obtain personal information. For instance... I visit LinkedIn and see "Bob Smith" that is located in city x, and works for [company], and has these friends. Pretty easy really for them to start with that basic information and start digging for gold. I even go as far as having my public information automatically removed whenever it surfaces online. There is one main company that does this for a decent fee... I have been with them for a few years and love them. I wont name names on this board however, because I dont want anyone to think I work for them and am simply advertising the services.

Cyber Crime like this is a VERY serious threat. People steal because they can. Because they prey on others who are honest and hard working. The FBI will tell you that when it comes to cyber crime (especially those who create computer 'malware') these people do this for a living... it is their job. They get in to work, clock in, sit down and start their assault. It really stinks for all of us, but the most important thing we can do is be aware, and not give them money, or anymore personal information than they already have.

So what do I do? Well... lets just say that I am one of the people whose job it is to identify cyber criminals (mostly in computer realm) and help make things secure. I also enjoy bugging the hell out of these kind of crooks... that is my "after 5" voice I guess. I am on your side and will be happy to help in any way I can!

I hope this puts your mind at ease somewhat. Most importantly... dont worry... go to bed tonight with a clear mind. Everything will be OK!!

Recruit your friends to help as well. Tell as many people as you can about this scam. I want to make it next to impossible for these people to ever operate again.

Just call them back from google voice, keep them on the line. Call repeatedly to tie up their lines so they cannot make any money scamming. From what I hear, these guys have to bring in so much a day or they get canned. Play music over their voice mail boxes, fill up the boxes so they can't get any messages from the victims they called. If we can't find them, we can tie them up on BS calls so they lose money. This tactic works well. The more people we have doing this, the better. Please help us. Its time to fight back against these phone terrorists.

I will sign the petition and help get these creeps...they made me feel so violated!! They did say they sent paperwork to the courts..I am going to call them tomorrow. I am so pissed off reading all of the blogs, I want to call and harrass them!!

Keep the numbers coming people. We are curbing this problem and making these guys move faster until they run out of steam. Also send all complaints to http://boards.4chan.org/b/

I was contacted at first from a 786 number saying he was Kevin Jones and that if I didnt pay him $600+, I would be summons to go to court tomorrow for a "pay day loan" I never got. When I found out he was a scam, I called him back and pretty much told him I would have his ba$#s in a jar. Then hours later I got a call from this number(707 361 4483), but now its a Daryl Martin, same voice and accent, just different name and accusation. I was told we all need to report him tto our local police and call the 3 credit report agencies and notify them so they can freeze our social numbers and set up a pin/password, so only we can unfreeze our numbers to use them. I will be making a petition to have this guy found and charged. Anyone who wants to sign or to help me get this all out to the public, email me at jayleebowden@gmail.com.

They have called me so many times. Its a scam and they should be shut down

They call themselves Mckeeny Law Firm...Keith or Mike will answer...

this guy called my 50 times at work threatning to have me arrested at work if I dont pay the 597 owed and if I fight it it willbe 8900 if I loose. He is filing 3 charges against me. He scared me but I cant be sure he doesnt have my full information. I cancelled my direct deposit and bank account.

this freaking jerks call me saying all the same things as mentioned earlier. Yada I give him a peace of my mind because I am not having a great day. The idiot hangs up, I am sure I will here back from them.