202-241-8247

I received a call from this number on 9/28/11. He is NOT a DEA Agent and DO NOT wire money through Western Union! It is a scam! He acts like he is a police officer and you will hear scanners, etc. in the background. Sounds very realistic, but it is not!

He left a message for me yesterday claiming there was a warrent for my arrest for buying illegal internet drugs and customs had my order. He threated me with jail time, loss of job if I didn't come up with thousands of $$. He gave me 2 hours to get the $$ before he would send out his agent. I used that 2 hours to go report this to the Police! Nice try scammers. I hope it doesn't work on anyone. Please pass this infomation to all you know. Thanks

see my post. Same thing happened to me

This low life jerk tried to scam money from me. If he would spend time like this on a real job maybe he could actually be a real DEA officer insteads of a lazy dreamerV3D3

I got a call from this idiot as welll and he can't even sound convincing.  I asked him if this is a scam and he hung up!

Just got a voice mail from this piece of [***]. Connection was terrible, so I decided to google the number and found this site. Called my AG's office. Waiting for a criminal investigator to call me back.

I received a VM on Friday and the so-called agent indicated they had seized a large stash and of illegal drugs and said one of the packages had my name on them. He asked how I was linked to this group that was selling Illegal drugs. He said his name was Mark Thomas and the number he called from was 202-241-8247. How can they have a package of mine when I didn't order anything?

  I have had some company calling me for 5 or so years trying to presssure me into buying drugs over the phone. I have blocked all sorts of numbers. This last time I told them if they didn't stop calling I would report them to the FBI. The dude told me he had a friend in the DEA. I didn't think much of this at the time, but evidently they run this DEA scam when you refuse to buy their drugs. I blocked their number yet again.

Just received a voice message from this number, such scammers.  DO NOT fall for it, I received another one 2 months ago saying the same thing.  These people have nothing better to do with their time.

I received a voicemail from a Mark Thomas from this 202 241 8247 number on 12.28.2011.  He left a VM about how he was conducting an investigation for the DEA.  He called again on 12.29 and now his name had changed to Frank Arcelo with the DEA calling regarding a controlled substance that was confiscated on its way into the US with my name on it.  In his voicemails, he gets more and more angry that no one is answering his call. I researched the phone number online, saw it was a scam and notified my local police department.  I also called the phone number back and asked 'Frank' if he could provide me with the name of the local DEA agent he was working with so I could meet with that agent instead.  He claimed his call was a courtesy call because I have a clean record and he was trying to help me keep it that way.  My local PD wants me to file a formal report as soon as possible.

SORRY - Had to repost because I filled out the "Caller" incorrectly! YMAK COMM is apparently a company that hows up when the cusotmer uses a Magic Jack to call you!
I received a voicemail from a Mark Thomas from this 202 241 8247 number on 12.28.2011.  He left a VM about how he was conducting an investigation for the DEA.  He called again on 12.29 and now his name had changed to Frank Arcelo with the DEA calling regarding a controlled substance that was confiscated on its way into the US with my name on it.  In his voicemails, he gets more and more angry that no one is answering his call. I researched the phone number online, saw it was a scam and notified my local police department.  I also called the phone number back and asked 'Frank' if he could provide me with the name of the local DEA agent he was working with so I could meet with that agent instead.  He claimed his call was a courtesy call because I have a clean record and he was trying to help me keep it that way.  My local PD wants me to file a formal report as soon as possible.

I received a call from this number last night but had also previously received a call from a similar number so I knew it was a scam. I acted like I was so afraid and since I knew area code 202 is Washington DC, I told him that I was in DC for business and could meet him right away at his office & could bring my attorney with me. He stated that I couldn't do that because what if I brought a gun with me; to which I stated that since I too work for a Federal Government Agency I knew that all Federal Offices have security and cameras 24/7 and that if he were truly a government official he would also know that. He got really mad, yelling at me that I was in trouble, not my attorney and that he refused to speak with my attorney. He hung up on me. It was quite comical to frustrate him to that point.

FDA NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Jan. 7, 2011

Media Inquiries: Christopher Kelly, 301-796-4676 christopher.kelly@fda.hhs.gov

Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning the public about criminals posing as FDA special agents and other law enforcement personnel as part of a continued  international extortion scam.

The criminals call the victims -- who in most cases previously purchased drugs over the Internet or via "telepharmacies" -- and identify themselves as FDA special agents or other law enforcement officials. The criminals inform the victims that purchasing drugs over the Internet or the telephone is illegal, and that law enforcement action will be pursued unless a fine or fee ranging from $100 to $250,000 is paid. Victims often also have fraudulent transactions placed against their credit cards.

The criminals always request the money be sent by wire transfer to a designated location, usually in the Dominican Republic. If victims refuse to send money, they are often threatened with a search of their property, arrest, deportation, physical harm and/or incarceration.

"Impersonating an FDA official is a violation of federal law," said Dara Corrigan, the FDA’s associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. “FDA special agents and other law enforcement officials are not authorized to impose or collect criminal fines. Only a court can take such action.”

In most instances, victims of extortion-related calls have also received telephone solicitations for additional pharmaceutical purchases from other possibly related, illegal entities located overseas. The extortionists use customer lists complete with extensive personal information provided through previous purchase transactions. These include names, addresses, telephone numbers, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, purchase histories and credit card account numbers.

Typically, these criminals use telephone numbers that change constantly and make it appear as though their calls originate in the United States.

No known victim has been approached in person by a law enforcement impersonator associated with this scheme.  

The FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, with the support of various U.S. Attorneys, are pursuing multiple national and international criminal investigations.

Arrests have been made and additional prosecutions are pending; however, the scheme is likely to continue. The FDA has issued similar warnings in the past:

§  FDA Warns Public of Extortion Scam by FDA Impersonators1 (11/12/2008)

§  FDA Warns Public of Continued Extortion Scam by FDA Impersonators2 (12/29/2009)

Victims of this scheme who have suffered monetary loss through the payment of funds in response to an extortion call from a person purporting to be an FDA or other law enforcement official regarding illegal pharmaceutical transactions may obtain a victim questionnaire by contacting the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations3 and clicking “Report Suspected Criminal Activity.”

Anyone receiving a purported official document on agency letterhead may verify its authenticity by contacting that organization directly via a publicly available phone number. Additionally, all federal agencies use email addresses with a “gov” email extension.

The FDA also reminds consumers that pharmaceutical products offered online and by telephone by sources of unknown origin can pose a substantial health risk. Products recovered during this investigation that were purchased from online or telephone sources have been found to contain trace amounts of heroin, other undisclosed and potentially harmful active pharmaceutical ingredients, or no active ingredient at all. Purchases should only be made from licensed pharmacies located in the United States. In addition to the increased risk of purchasing unsafe and ineffective drugs from Web sites operating outside the law, personal data may be compromised.

For more on unlawful drug sales on the Internet, see Protecting Yourself4.

Questions and Answers
How did these people obtain my information?

They likely obtained the victim’s information based on a previous online or telepharmacy transaction, or from a submitted medical questionnaire. These instances could have occurred years ago, with personal information now on customer lists trafficked by these criminal groups.  These customer lists can contain tens of thousands of names and a substantial amount of self-reported data provided by consumers during previous transactions.  Typically, victims are being contacted by multiple unrelated groups, often for different purposes. (extortion, selling illegal pharmaceuticals, etc.)

How do I make the calls stop?

The extorters, just like the majority of telephone solicitors for illegal prescription medication, are based overseas and use voice over internet protocol (VOIP) telephone numbers, most commonly “Magic Jack”.  These services provide the extorters with the flexibility to constantly change their phone numbers and select ones with U.S. area codes.  If the victims  change whatever number(s) were used to contact them, and do not engage in any additional risky pharmaceutical transactions, the threatening phone calls and associated telephone solicitations for pharmaceuticals should cease.

What proactive steps can victims take?

Individuals who purchase medication online or via tele-pharmacies are frequently victims of credit card fraud, since this is how the medication is often purchased.  Victims may want to consider alerting their applicable financial institutions to ensure that identity theft has not occurred.

Why is FDA only asking victims who have lost money to contact the agency?The most effective way to track these criminals is to investigate the permanent record established when money transfers take place.

Have individuals been arrested?

Yes.  However, this scheme will likely not be eradicated and instead will continue to evolve.  For example, the extorters now occasionally reference other countries, such as Costa Rica, instead of the DR, as means to avoid all of the publicity regarding this scheme.

Am I going to be able to get my money back?

In almost all instances victims will not be able to recoup losses.  Multiple criminal groups employ this scheme, principally from overseas, and large monetary seizures are not anticipated.

Am I in danger?

In terms of physical danger, no victim has ever been approached in person, and the vast majority of these callers, regardless of their intent, are based overseas.  Their use of “police-type scanners”, law enforcement language and fictitious documents are attempts at a false sense of legitimacy. Extorters also occasionally reference cars parked on a victim’s street -- information that can be obtained online at various Web sites, as a way to frighten individuals into believing the extorters are near their residence.  If an individual feels threatened for his or her personal safety, immediately contact the appropriate local enforcement agency.

Is it possible that these callers are part of some “secret” investigative group, and FDA is just not aware of it?

No.  Law enforcement officials from both the U.S. and the Dominican Republic are pursuing these criminals.   More information regarding this scheme is available on FDA and DEA Web sites, or through online searches.  Extradition proceedings  between countries require close cooperation and often a formal treaty, and this often takes an extended period of time to complete.

http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/CriminalInvestigations/ucm239309.htm

I have been harrassed by a man calling from this number claiming to be a DEA agent.  He could not provide any type of credentials, and would not tell me the purpose of his call.

I got 2 messages from this number today, same thing as the posts above- stating he is an agent with the DEA and says he cannot go into specifics on a message but then goes on to say that they intercepted a package with illegal medication that was addressed to me, and they need me to verify some information in order to keep my record clean. Obviously a scam since I never ordered anything like this! This happened to  me several months ago and when I threatened to call the real authorities, the calls mysteriously stopped... If you see this number come up on your caller ID, please be aware that this is a scam and do NOT give them any personal or banking information. YOU ARE NOT IN TROUBLE AND YOU DID NOT DO ANYTHING WRONG!

I got several calls from this number today.  This man said he was a DEA agent and he was trying to help me keep my record clean.  He said he checked my background and could tell I was not the type of person they were going after.  I was instructed to keep all of the information he gave me confidential and was not supposed to even tell my husband.  He told me if I paid a fine today within the hour, he could get my record erased, I wouldnt be arrested, and everything would be fine.  He wanted me to drive to an ATM and then call him before he could tell me how much the fine was going to be.  Things were beginning to smell fishy all the way through the conversation, but especially now!  We googled this number and found this site.  We called him back and confronted him and let him know we would be in touch with the real DEA's office tomorrow.  He hung up.  Hopefully there will be no more calls.  BE CAREFUL!

Why dont we all pick a time,and everyone call this [***] back at the same time!They have roll over # so they will all ring.Tell them to look outside,the black helicopters are comming.

got the same voice mail message from Mark Thomas.  I have not called back yet.  I like capt mac's idea about everyone calling back at once, but I guess we have to enlist people.  I'm just waiting to call him back so I can figure out some response that will really irritate him or waste a lot of his time!

This idiot called me too from 202-241-8247. The guy portraying to be Mark Thomas is not even half way credible...

OMG he just called me and I was freaked out! Thank god I saw your post. I thought i was going to have a nervous breakdown!

I received a call from 2022418247 and the man said he was a DEA agent and I was in all sorts of trouble and he needed $1000 to $4000 to "fix" it and "help" me. When i asked him to fax me a letter he said he couldnt do that and he was sending 4 DEA agents out to arrest me. This man had me on the phone for an hour. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Please stop this idiot. Thanks.