First, thank you for sharing this information.  This is a bit mirky in the sense that the "Kaufmann and Associates" gang traces back to Charlotte NC and Leedbury and these others are in WNY.

Since they seem to be collecting on the same accounts are they working together, or both have independent access to the same "paper" (which is likely filthy dirty)

The names of the two guys running this scam are:

Justin Tata

Jamie C.o.o.n.s (apparently the comment filter thinks this is a racial epithet)

They are out of Tonawanda, New York

Last known address:
31 Joseph Drive
Apartment C
Tonawanda, New York 14150

In addition to the above aliases they have also used:

Legal Process Services
Simon Eichler & Associates
American Arbitration Services
First Department Recovery Services (google this one and check out the BBB listing for it)

I recommend everyone forwarding complaints to your state attorney general and the FBI

Excellent Post!  Add to that list Ledbury Management Group our of Buffalo, NY! Anyone being threatened with being brought to court or bodily harm should inform the caller you are reporting them to the FBI and then Do It!

http://800notes.com/arts/Jb8EW-eDhQA/harassin ... ou-need-to-know
See Residents post here also:
http://800notes.com/forum/ta-34af6a034ba34b6/unending-collection-calls
Templates of Letters:
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-319-242-7350

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ...
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0149-debt-collection


To file complaints on FDCPA/TCPA Violations, file complaints with your State Attorney General and theirs, the FTC & FCC.

https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/

For at least the last year, an illegal group of debt collectors have been terrorizing consumers, their family, friends, and employers threatening to arrest the individual of an unpaid loan or other debt (their generally don't even owe).  Be aware debt is a civil matter, not a criminal matter, and you can't be arrested.  The threaten a warrant if the victim does not pay a sum of money by the credit card over the phone.

Although when pressed the callers give the victim an address in Columbia South Carolina (usually a vacant lot).  They are actually out of the Charlotte North Carolina area.  The scammers are using the following business names

Kaufmann and Associates
Sanderson Blaine & Associates
McKenzie Reid Associates
Kennedy, Kline, & Associates

Here is a set of links to a variety of threads on this forum that document this group and its behavior.  They include the experiences of victims as well as a former employee or two that quit within a week of finding out exactly what was going on.  They also include responses from consumer advocates and people who are really criminal justice professionals advising victims of what to do

http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-748-8367
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-719-1725
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-676-3492
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-805-5549
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-751-1084
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-803-2349
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-775-2417
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-775-2418
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-755-3417
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-746-3946
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-676-3485

Tony Davis from unnamed company called at 6:30 am asking for someone that is not me, saying something rather threatening about King County, that I should contact a lawyer and some other crap.   Clearly this is fraud.  Number called from is 855-676-3492.   Don't call them back.

do not give them a dime what they are doing is illegal they buy old files for pennies on the dollar and hike up the price to profit, they are using scare tactics to get you to pay them, there is no court there is no lawyers there is only a person who isn't even licensed to collect a debt calling you. Please do not fall for this. They can be sued for what they are doing not you

I got a call from these people from dis number last week 855-736-3678 talking about I got a payday loan that I was been sued from the bank than I thought they was real because a long time ago I had a account with this bank so the lady tell me I owe $884.78 so I ask her can I take care of this before court come in she do you have this amount I said no she said the only way was to go to the bank and pay it in full I said well I don't have it she said can you get $300.00 from your husband or family member I said ill see what I can do so I went to the bank what she said was gone sue me they had nothing about I owe them money so I let them listen to the voice mail she had left me and they look up the number and we found out they a scam than they told me to tell them I came to the bank and paid the bank if they call back so today she call from a different number dis number 855-676-3492 talking about I suppose call her back and paid the $300.00 and that she put her word in for me so I told her that I pay the bank she start going crazy no no you don't suppose paid the bank you suppose call me back I ask her did she need me to fax her my information and I need her to fax me some information about this account she got off the subject and start about well I need $884.78 today or the police will be by my home or job to pick me up and if I go to court it will be $3500.00 with court cost

Got a call from this company yesterday from a investigator calling himself Mr. Black, stated that I owed an old payday lender 500.00 from a loan that I took out in 2011. I knew something was wrong because I told him I did have a loan from that lender and that it was paid. He proceeded to state that the "lender" doesnt ave record of that and so on blah blah blah. Stated that he was giving me 24 hrs to give him a callback to verify when I would be paying back. So I researched my emails for the lender contract that  I had a loan with  at that time and contacted them and they verified that I had in paid my loan off with them and that he is a scammer. Then it hit me that when I asked him to verify my address that he had for the loan he recited a address from over 9 yr ago. So I contacted him back and asked for documentation of the allegations and statements from the company of what I owed and he started trying to give me more bs about having me arrested and all scare tactics he could possibly  think of and I literally startrd laughing and hung up... I had googled the number and found this web page before calling him back and it really helped...DO NOT GIVE IN TO THE BS!!!!

I started receiving calls from these people from phone number 855-736-3678 immediately after telling Ledbury Management Group, P.O. Box 675, Buffalo, N.Y. 14207 to send information and to quit calling me.  Ledbury had failed on 4 prior occasions to mail the information on what they were trying to collect.  Ledbury's number is 855-765-9662.  I would suspect that Ledbury Management Group is just another of Kaufman and Associates shell companies being used to support this fraud. Everyone who is contacted by these thieves should file the proper complaints with the legal agencies posted in this forum.  Do a search for their numbers on google, and links will show you the legal authorities to report to

I started receiving calls from these people from phone number 855-736-3678 immediately after telling Ledbury Management Group, P.O. Box 675, Buffalo, N.Y. 14207 to send information and to quit calling me.  Ledbury had failed on 4 prior occasions to mail the information on what they were trying to collect.  Ledbury's number is 855-765-9662.  I would suspect that Ledbury Management Group is just another of Kaufman and Associates shell companies being used to support this fraud. Everyone who is contacted by these thieves should file the proper complaints with the legal agencies posted in this forum.

I got a call at my work from "Private Investigator Anthony Johnson" he told me I owed a total of $1050 but the company would settle for $450.00. He said this was from 2010 for a payday loan. Which I believed I paid. He said I was being sued for bank fraud and I would be served. I told him I would have to talk to my husband and would call him back after work. He said he couldn't wait that long so I said to give me two hours. Then he said my bank was some bank that I had never heard of and I told him that so then he was like they must have the wrong routing number that it could be either the bank I never heard of or another bank. They also called my dad which then of course made him think I was in some kind of trouble. I did call them back to make some kind of arrangement only because they called my dad. I had to leave a message and no one called me back. But decided to check them out before I gave them any money because it had me worried but also leery since they didn't even know what bank it was.

They are called under a new number today 855-736-3678. I hung up and blocked this number too...
Received a call from Investigator stating I owe for a loan back 2004; I had no clue what they were talking about. They said I can settle in court or out of court. Said I owe $3500. I am debit free and owe no one with A1 credit. I only have a mortgage. Whats scary is they had my last 4 of SSA and dob but needed to verity my address. Is this a scam? So I called the debtor they claimed I owed $3500. HSBC (credit card) states my account has been closed since 2009 and has not been sold to anyone. Who is Kaufmann & Associates @ 855-736-5463?? Investigator Davidson ext 201.

Received 2 calls ( 2/18/14) One on of all places my work nubmer as well as my cell phone. WHich is crazy because this is a brand new phone nubmer to me! Pretty odd. Its an automated vm that states my name and a case docket number no company name and will serve me papers at my employer. Its so crazy considering a real company can not disclose that info over the phone let alone state that,  gave me a number of 855-736-5463

I Googled this number and came up with site and I am soo glad I did. Next time they call I will say " Law Office how may I help you" that ought to stop them from calling again!!!!!!!

Got a call from this number today. The caller was a male - Mr. Fuller and said he was from Kaufman & Associates. The message left stated they would call the sheriffs dept, etc. if I did not contact them.  I knew it had to be a scam, so I confirmed it here.  I will report them now and block their number!  

2 miss call @ 710am today. What d heck!

Thank God for google and common sense.  My elderly mother recvd. a call from these people on 2/11/2014 and stated that they represented Ryan Chase and supplied her with a docket number (I never use my mothers number for anything).  I then in turn called them back.  YES they answer the phone Investigatins; and threatened to take me for arbitration to appear in court before a Judge.  They supplied me with my email address; DOB and an old employer's name.  I in turn questioned what account that the $300 deposit was placed in.  The 1st answer was Wells Fargo and I stated that I never had an account with that bank.  Then they mentioned an old debit card account that I had and may have had a payday loan deposited in 2006 because I needed the temp. help.  However,  In fear I decided to make payment arrangements in the amount of $800 because it was a long time since I had this loan and could not remember.  Nevertheless, I supplied them with my bank account information and awaited the email that would have outlined the terms.  I never received it.  Furthermore, I contacted the bank that they claimed that I had received the deposit and the account was closed 06/2008.  This representative clearly stated that the loan was deposited 01/2012.  WTF!!!!!!!!!
I WILL CONTACT MY CREDIT UNION AND INFORM THEM OF THEIR ATTEMPT TO DEFRAUD ME AND SEE HOW FAR THAT GOES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do not answer.  This is a scam.  

I received a call from this number just a moment ago. I opted to press 1 since I know they can't touch me with a 10 ft pole with the serial number scratched off. I proceeded to ask where she was calling from - Hoffman & Associates (or it could have been Kaufman) and then asked where she's calling from - Columbia, SC to which I politely replied great, I'll contact the Attorney General there.

Next time she calls, tell her Happy Birthday, you've been reported!

Please do file reports with the FBI, your state attorney general and Department Of Justice,CFB,FTC & FCC..

http://www.nw3c.org/
http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
http://www.fbi.gov/
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1
https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form1088.action
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/

Also read up on the laws and your rights:

http://800notes.com/arts/Jb8EW-eDhQA/harassin ... ou-need-to-know
See Residents post here also:
http://800notes.com/forum/ta-34af6a034ba34b6/unending-collection-calls
Templates of Letters:
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-319-242-7350

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ...
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0149-debt-collection

And see:
http://800notes.com/forum/ta-944ec1426a8bcbb/ ... service-attacks
************
http://www.clarkhoward.com/news/clark-howard/ ... r-phones/ndF4c/
*****************
http://www.net-security.org/article.php?id=1828
***************
http://800notes.com/forum/ta-86217073a9c8dad/ ... 077595690349410
************
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors
************
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm
******************
http://www.fdcpa.me/fake-process-server-injunction/
******************
http://800notes.com/forum/ta-9413b3202bc8b6c/ ... net%27s-tactics
*****************
http://dfi.wa.gov/consumers/alerts/cashnet-payday.htm
*****
http://www.cashnetusa.com/consumer-notices
*****
http://800notes.com/forum/ta-4f7d326029dcf9d/ ... lectors-finally
**************
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.

Stephanie... have no fear for fear is all they can produce against you.  If you show no fear and trust those here who have been in your shoes, you will see that these fear mongers are nothing and, like so many that have gone before them, have no power that you don't give them.

You are a liar!  Debt is a civil matter (i.e., a "tort), not a criminal matter.  Sheriffs work for the citizens, and they aren't delivery boys and girls for some maggot in a boiler room.  I suspect you may be meeting a few deputies and agents at your job, for wire fraud.

Nice try....you work for these b*****ds and are trying to scare people. You can't sue for payday loans; only in small claims court. A sheriff will not come to your home or employment.  You're scum

This number called me.  I was put on hold for like 10 minutes.  Then when this black lady came on the line saying she was "Investigator Davis"  saying I am being investigated for bank fraud and I was going to be sued for some god awful amount. Well, she didnt like the fact I was asking her questions. Stated she had all this information and if I didnt pay money today they were going to move forward in the case to come after me.  It seemed kind of fishy to me when for one the date and county that I supposedly lived was wrong. I was living in a totally different area.  I have never taken out a pay day loan ever. I proceeded to tell her this and then she started getting irrate with me.  She began to get rude and threaten me again with suing and having the police come after me.  I told her well send me the information and I will give you my correct phone number to contact me with these "allegations"  and then told her I was going to have my lawyer contact them and investigate for themselves what we should do about this.  She did her rant again.  She then told me that we could settle it today for 500 dollars.  I again told her I owe nobody anything and I am not paying the money without my lawyer looking into this.  I said again i can give you phone number and email me with the payment and allegation information.  At this time I was yelling at her too and she was like "are you finished", I said yes and she hung up on me.  Who does this if it is a legit business.  I did research and found nothing stating this Kaufman and Associates was real.  Put the number into google and found this site.  Im glad I am not the only one.  But these people need to be stopped.  Who do they think they are?? How do they get away with something like this.  

Yes, "james" is a liar. He's a fraud & a cheat as well. He is, most likely, a foreign one at that. He is just one of the thousands just like him that work these scams around the clock from boiler-rooms & call centers around the world. Like them all, he's nothing but an impotent bag of hot air.
"James" is actually one of the dumber ones. He comes on to a site that specializes in exposing frauds & illegal telemarketers with the thought that he can somehow "validate" his fraud-shop. We see "Shills" like him everyday. In every case they are quickly exposed for the ignorant, dishonest criminals that they are.
It's ridiculously easy to expose scum-bags like "james". You simply ask them to prove their claim. They never can. They'll claim they were arrested. But will never say by who or where. They know that would be easily proven untrue. They'll claim to have been "served". But can never give any details such as jurisdiction, summons numbers, docket numbers or the name of signing judges. They'll claim they're legitimate. But will never give you a valid, physical address or any verifiable information. They'll claim they must be paid, but only by pre-paid or credit card. Or they'll want your bank acct. numbers.
There are people like "james" all over the world. Including many right here in the U.S. As a matter of fact, these scams have there origin in places like Buffalo, NY. The one thing that all these kinds of people have in common is the fact that they're all the lowest of the low. They are lowly parasites that lack any worth to mankind. So they lie, cheat & steal to scam money. In a saner world they'd all be euthanized, thereby lessening the chance that they could further pollute the gene-pool. But this isn't a sane world. So we all must....
Be Safe. Be Alert.
Gunnar

You, sir, are most assuredly a liar. This scam runs every few months. They've called me, my mother, my husband's mother, about potential fraud. No one in my family has ever been in trouble with the law, nor could this be a reputable company using a phone system that's clearly a ringcentral kind of phone system. Stop the madness.

i got a call 3 days ago about this from a Mr lockhart, and i didnt believe them today i the police came out to my job!!!!! WTH!!

This number called me saying I owed money from an old payday loan I supposedly took out in 2010. For a little while I thought it was legit because a few years ago I was going through hard times and did take a payday loan. I unfortunately gave them my current address. But then when they gave me incorrect information such as the wrong day and year of the loan I never took a loan out in 2010 I took a loan out in 2011, plus they had my email address from when I was a teenager all red flags. I did further research because I remembered paying back that loan looked up some info and found out it was indeed paid back in 2012. They just said they were investigations called again I told them I was not going to pay because I already paid this loan back, and the lady said she will me sending out someone to serve me at my place of residence or employment. These people are sick and I almost gave them money. Do not fall for this scam.

Well I got this phone call today from this number at about 1625. Saying that if I don't pay money by 1700 hrs that they will sue me.. If anyone is getting calls like this plz report.

They called and said they had my husband's information and I had to verify it. Yelled and screamed and called me a B$$$$$. Keep calling me and yelling. I keep hanging up. He keeps yelling that they are going to arrest my husband at work. His name is Ruby Bank then comes back as Chris Car after I get transferred. Someone need to arrest them for harassment.