469-342-9128

Has anyone received a call from this number?  A VERY heavy Indian accented man who goes by the name "Shane Watson" wants me or my attorney to call the minute I get the message (like that is going to happen).

I just recieved 1 of many calls from this number as well as other numbers. The caller has a heavy Indian accent and says that he needs my info and my attorney's info or he will have someone come to arrest me. I stayed calm this time and asked him for all of his info. This is what I got.
Harry Cooper
Nicole & Joan Legal Associates
900 Jackson St
Dallas,TX 75202.
He did not like that I was writing the info down and hung up on me.

I got this same phone call last night. I work for an attorney so naturally I laughed. However, some concern I had is that they had my first and last name, my employers name and the last four digits of my social security number. I just looked up the above information posted by "Unknown" and spoke to a a very nice woman at the Founders Square Building that fits the address you provided. There is no place in the building (7 story building) that fits this description. I'm thinking it's a huge scam. He told me that they were going to call my employer and let him know if my "criminal activity" and there was a warrant for my arrest and they were coming to get me.

This is a criminal extortion scam operating out of India. They are making the calls utilizing VOIP and the names of legitimate firms to make it appear the calls are originating from within the US. There is NO "company" or "debt" and you will NOT be arrested. They are harvesting and/or buying consumers' personal identifying information and you need to do whatever you can to protect yourself. This includes: Notifying the FTC: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/, placing fraud alerts with all three credit bureaus, notifying your bank and employer and letting these criminals know you are aware they are attempting to extort money for a non-existent debt and have alerted the authorities.

Read this investigative report ABC News did on this scam:

Hundreds of thousands of cash-strapped Americans have been targeted by abusive debt collectors operating out of overseas call centers suspected of links to organized crime in India, law enforcement officials told ABC News.

The calls are part of a massive scam, one that appears to target struggling Americans -- especially those who have gone online to apply for payday loans. Armed with personal information from those pilfered applications, the threatening callers, who claim to be debt collectors poised to initiate legal action, have managed to pry loose millions of dollars from their victims -- even when the victims never owed money in the first place.

"This is what we call a phantom debt collection scam," said Jon Leibowitz, the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. "It's a very pernicious and innovative new fraud."

Working through call centers in India, the commission estimates that the criminals have dialed at least 2.5 million calls, persuading already cash-strapped victims to send them more than $5 million. Some have reported receiving dozens of calls per hour. They are victims like Cindy Gervais, of New Orleans, who went online for a quick loan when her husband's car was hit by a driver who didn't have insurance.

Even though she paid the loan off, the so-called "phantom" debt collectors with Indian accents began calling to say she still owed money.

"He more or less told me that if I didn't pay, they were going to have someone on my doorstep to arrest me," she told ABC News. "And that they were going to contact my place of business, and tell them what kind of person I am."

At first, she said she resisted. Then the calls became more frequent, and started to ring on her cell phone, and at the grocery distribution company where she had worked for 27 years.

"I was more or less in panic mode because he told me there would be someone before noon at my place of business to arrest me and take me to jail," she said tearfully. "So I agreed to pay him."

After receiving scores of complaints, investigators with the FTC said they began tracking the calls, and following the payments. They alleged the payments led them to a California company run by an Indian-American named Kirit Patel, and that such scams would not be possible without American front men.

"I would say that all roads of this scam, or many of the roads of this scam, lead back to Mr. Patel," said the FTC's Leibowitz.

ABC News tracked Patel for weeks, from the suburbs of San Francisco to Austin, Texas.

Patel refused to talk. But his lawyer, Mark Ellis, said he believes it is far too early to pass judgment on his client. Ellis, a Sacramento-based attorney, told ABC News that Patel was hired for a nominal fee to set up an American shell company, and had no idea what the call centers in India were doing.

"I can tell you, he was as snookered by the people in India as anybody," Ellis said. "He's a 69-year-old man who is nearing his retirement who thought all he had to do was set up some corporations and everything was on the up and up. He's completely dismayed that he has become the lightning rod of this entire problem."

A close friend of Patel's also defended him in a brief interview at his home, saying Patel was not trying to defraud anyone -- he was just an unwitting, bit player in a larger scheme.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/phantom-debt-co ... ory?id=16512428

these people called and told me i would be arrested at my place of work

This person called and gave my husband a story of debt and collection. Then they called my job but I did not answer. I know these scams- my friend was a target. Tell them you are calling the police and they hang up quick.

Left message, india accent, guy said his name was jason walters and I was to call him back immediatly for serious reasons and if I didn't then he said and i quote "good luck with what is coming to you" in a very threatening tone. Never said where he was calling from.

They called me at work. Strong India accent, said he was Adam Vest Nichol & John law firm. Said I had taken out loans and did not repay them. And if I didn't pay, they would have someone pick me up right away and throw me in jail.

I just received one if these calls and let it go to voicemail as I was in a meeting at work. When I got out of my meeting one oft coworkers said someone called and left a message to call back because it was an emergency. I listened to the voicemail and it was indeed a heavy Indian accented man by the name if Shane Watkins stating that if I didn't return or if my attorney didn't return his call immediately then "good luck with what is coming to me". I have received calls like this before and have reported them to my attorney general office and the commerce offices as well. They refuse to give out info and when I dig further I was hung up on. They wanted 10000 dollars from me HA good luck with that!

Company called my job and told one of my team members I was a prime suspect in a fraud case.  Called them back and they said I owed 715.00 to a payday loan company.  Tried to get more information on the payday loan company but they didn't have it.  Said they have been trying to contact me through e-mail but they had all my information.  Was disconntected and when I called they said Glenn would call me back but never did.

This is absolutely a scam.  Do not talk to them at all, just hang up.  I have been a victim and they have no ethics.

This is a scam.  My business is the Law Office of Nicole Knox.  My address is 900 Jackson St., Ste. 650, Dallas, Texas  75202. I am a criminal defense attorney.  There is no one named Juan at my office, and we do not handle debt collection.  I have reported this matter to the proper authorities, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.  

I had a man with a strogn accent said I owed money from a cash advanced place. He threatened me and told me I was going to be arrested. He knew the last 4 digits if my social, my work number, home number, but when I asked how much it was that I owed and when I supposedl took this loan out,he said he couldnt give me any information, just that his investigation was done and I was going to be arrested.  He said he wad with a law firm, was hard to understand his english.

Post courtesy of Alfalfa -

This is a criminal extortion scam operating out of India. They are making the calls utilizing VOIP and the names of legitimate firms to make it appear the calls are originating from within the US. There is NO "company" or "debt" and you will NOT be arrested. They are harvesting and/or buying consumers' personal identifying information and you need to do whatever you can to protect yourself. This includes: Notifying the FTC: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/, placing fraud alerts with all three credit bureaus, notifying your bank and employer and letting these criminals know you are aware they are attempting to extort money for a non-existent debt and have alerted the authorities.

Read this investigative report ABC News did on this scam:

Hundreds of thousands of cash-strapped Americans have been targeted by abusive debt collectors operating out of overseas call centers suspected of links to organized crime in India, law enforcement officials told ABC News.

The calls are part of a massive scam, one that appears to target struggling Americans -- especially those who have gone online to apply for payday loans. Armed with personal information from those pilfered applications, the threatening callers, who claim to be debt collectors poised to initiate legal action, have managed to pry loose millions of dollars from their victims -- even when the victims never owed money in the first place.

"This is what we call a phantom debt collection scam," said Jon Leibowitz, the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. "It's a very pernicious and innovative new fraud."

Working through call centers in India, the commission estimates that the criminals have dialed at least 2.5 million calls, persuading already cash-strapped victims to send them more than $5 million. Some have reported receiving dozens of calls per hour. They are victims like Cindy Gervais, of New Orleans, who went online for a quick loan when her husband's car was hit by a driver who didn't have insurance.

Even though she paid the loan off, the so-called "phantom" debt collectors with Indian accents began calling to say she still owed money.

"He more or less told me that if I didn't pay, they were going to have someone on my doorstep to arrest me," she told ABC News. "And that they were going to contact my place of business, and tell them what kind of person I am."

At first, she said she resisted. Then the calls became more frequent, and started to ring on her cell phone, and at the grocery distribution company where she had worked for 27 years.

"I was more or less in panic mode because he told me there would be someone before noon at my place of business to arrest me and take me to jail," she said tearfully. "So I agreed to pay him."

After receiving scores of complaints, investigators with the FTC said they began tracking the calls, and following the payments. They alleged the payments led them to a California company run by an Indian-American named Kirit Patel, and that such scams would not be possible without American front men.

"I would say that all roads of this scam, or many of the roads of this scam, lead back to Mr. Patel," said the FTC's Leibowitz.

ABC News tracked Patel for weeks, from the suburbs of San Francisco to Austin, Texas.

Patel refused to talk. But his lawyer, Mark Ellis, said he believes it is far too early to pass judgment on his client. Ellis, a Sacramento-based attorney, told ABC News that Patel was hired for a nominal fee to set up an American shell company, and had no idea what the call centers in India were doing.

"I can tell you, he was as snookered by the people in India as anybody," Ellis said. "He's a 69-year-old man who is nearing his retirement who thought all he had to do was set up some corporations and everything was on the up and up. He's completely dismayed that he has become the lightning rod of this entire problem."

A close friend of Patel's also defended him in a brief interview at his home, saying Patel was not trying to defraud anyone -- he was just an unwitting, bit player in a larger scheme.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/phantom-debt-co ... ory?id=16512428

I received the same thing they called my cell phone and I didn't answer and then called my work today. They threatened to have me arrested if I did not give them money today! Is this real or are they scamming and who do we contact to get this stopped?

This is 110% a scam.  Complete fraud.  They are trying to scare money out of people with fake threats.  Calling targets are work (often repeatedly) is just a form of extortion.  Some poor souls have paid them hoping they will stop.  If someone every was unwise enough to do that, the scammers will just turn around and call you some more claiming there is "interest" you still didn't pay on the fake debt.  See the very informative post from Elisabeth for the link to report it to the FTC.

I have been receiveing numerous threatening calls from this number both on my cell phone and my work phone. The person states that his name is Travis Marshall and that I am going to be arrested and may god help me if I do not pay a debt that I DO NOT owe!

I got a phone call from this telephone number the person was foreign and threatening. The caller stated I owed money and I was going to get in trouble. The name given was Jason Davids.

Please Read Alfalfa's,ShillKills and Elspeths posts above. This is a extortion Scam operation and should be reported!  If your also getting these calls at work, your boss's should also file reports.

For Extortion Scam Operations, file reports with the FBI, your state attorney general and Department Of Justice,FTC & FCC..

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/

You may also wish to consider buying a call blocker, either device or phone..
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=se ... s=call+blockers

Just got a call few minutes ago from the same person; he transferred  me to an officer but I guess I was speaking to the same guy.
He was telling me that I am under criminal investigation and I will be under arrest tomorrow morning at 8am
Yesterday and this morning got a call from the same people telling me I qualified for a business loan of $10k and I need to go to western union to pay $700 insurance fee to Marry from AIG located in Texas.
When I pay the $700 they will release the funds immediately and I can get my $10k.
After that they called few time never answered.
They called me from  different number and the person told me I did not need to transfer any money I only need to secure the money and buy  Green dot moneypak $250 worth I only need to give them the serial number in the back.
If you give the serial number the money is gone and they can up loaded to their prepaid  card

I want everyone to be aware.