605-496-9191

Missed a.call on my cell today. Don't recognize the number.

Left me a message on my cell saying I was a respondent in a legal action and needed to call, or have my legal counsel call, and reference a certain claim number. I did call them back, company was Cohen & Phillips, and he informed me that I was being sued for failure to repay a "payday loan". Funny they knew a lot about me although I've never had any such loan. I told him mail me a certified copy and I'll forward it to my legal counsel. Google search show they are debt collectors although he never once identified himself as such either on the voice message or the return call. Instead he used bogus legal jargon to give a false impression that he was from a law office. I will be filing complaints with a few agencies such as the FTC, BBB, AG, etc. SAVE YOUR VOICEMAILS!

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.
************************
To File complaints FDCPA/TCPA violations:
Your State Attorney General
Their State Attorney general
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/

For Extortion Scam Operations,  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/
http://www.stopfraud.gov/report.html
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1
https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form1088.action
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
http://www.fraud.org/

I got the same thing today, claiming I took out a payday loan. Very spooky that they have relevant information about me.

Spoke to them as well today and told me the samething as Annie.  That I owe $1072 told her didnt happen.  It was supposedly a loan from 2010.  I am also reporting and encourage everyone to do so.  They had all my personal info.

Would not give my husband any info other than I need to have legal counsel for an over due loan and they were with the FBI.

Here are a few warning signs that could signal a debt collection scam:

The debt collector threatens you. Legitimate debt collectors probably won't claim that they'll have you arrested or claim that they or their employees are law enforcement officers.
The debt collector refuses to give you information about your debt or is trying to collect a debt you do not recognize. You have certain rights to ask a debt collector to verify the debt. You can use this sample letter to request this information. Ask for an explanation in writing before you pay.
The debt collector refuses to give you a mailing address or phone number.
The debt collector asks you for sensitive personal financial information. You should never provide anyone with your personal financial information unless you are sure they're legitimate.

If you think that a caller may be a fake debt collector:

Ask the caller for his or her name, company, street address, telephone number, and professional license number. Many states require debt collectors to be licensed. Check the information the caller provides you with your state officials, or the state in which the debt collector holds a license. If the caller refuses or is unable to provide you with information about his company, or if you can’t verify the information he provides, do not give money to the caller or company.
Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice." This notice must include:
The amount of the debt
The name of the creditor you owe
A description of certain rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
If a caller refuses to give you all of this information, consider requesting this information in writing or seeking assistance before paying the debt to make sure the debt, and the company, are valid.

Tip: You can consider sending the collector a letter requesting the information by using one of the CFPB's sample letters. You can also submit a complaint to the CFPB or you can contact your state Attorney General’s office.

Do not give the caller personal financial or other sensitive information. Never give out or confirm personal financial or other sensitive information like your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number unless you know the company or person you are talking with is a real debt collector. Scam artists, like fake debt collectors, can use your information to commit identity theft such as:
Charging your existing credit cards
Opening new credit card or checking accounts
Writing fraudulent checks
Taking out loans in your name
Contact your creditor. If the debt is legitimate – but you think the collector may not be – contact your creditor about the calls. Share the information you have about the suspicious calls and find out who, if anyone, the creditor has authorized to collect the debt.
Report the call. Submit a complaint with the CFPB or get in touch with your state Attorney General's office with information about suspicious callers.
Stop speaking with the caller.If nothing else works and you believe the calls are fraudulent, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files.
Tip: You can use this sample letter to write a letter demanding the debt collector stop contacting you. By law, real debt collectors must stop calling you if you ask them to in writing.

Tip: If you're having trouble with debt collection, you can submit a complaint with the CFPB online or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/1699/h ... legitimate.html

Just got the same exact call can't give me a lot of the info that I would need but they say they don't know how much money I got or the bank account it went to can't contact this creditor. Says doesn't know much info except personal info n job that wasn't correct either.

Hey Annie I just got the same call

I just got the same call

Received a phone call from this phone number as well; I did not answer it, nor did I respond.  I don't know anyone in SD, and this number is not listed under the BBB, nor is this company name as far as SD goes; there is a Cohen & Phillips in FL that has a poor rating.  All you can do is block the number, don't call them back and give out personal information or confirm any information, and report them.

The call I received was a pre-recorded VM that was left, and no company name or person's name was given.

Left message on my voicemail threatening me with legal action in regards to a debt I owe. Don't know what it could possibly be since I filed bankruptcy in 2011 and haven't acquired any new debt.

Here are a few warning signs that could signal a debt collection scam:

The debt collector threatens you. Legitimate debt collectors probably won't claim that they'll have you arrested or claim that they or their employees are law enforcement officers.
The debt collector refuses to give you information about your debt or is trying to collect a debt you do not recognize. You have certain rights to ask a debt collector to verify the debt. You can use this sample letter to request this information. Ask for an explanation in writing before you pay.
The debt collector refuses to give you a mailing address or phone number.
The debt collector asks you for sensitive personal financial information. You should never provide anyone with your personal financial information unless you are sure they're legitimate.

If you think that a caller may be a fake debt collector:

Ask the caller for his or her name, company, street address, telephone number, and professional license number. Many states require debt collectors to be licensed. Check the information the caller provides you with your state officials, or the state in which the debt collector holds a license. If the caller refuses or is unable to provide you with information about his company, or if you can’t verify the information he provides, do not give money to the caller or company.
Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice." This notice must include:
The amount of the debt
The name of the creditor you owe
A description of certain rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
If a caller refuses to give you all of this information, consider requesting this information in writing or seeking assistance before paying the debt to make sure the debt, and the company, are valid.

Tip: You can consider sending the collector a letter requesting the information by using one of the CFPB's sample letters. You can also submit a complaint to the CFPB or you can contact your state Attorney General’s office.

Do not give the caller personal financial or other sensitive information. Never give out or confirm personal financial or other sensitive information like your bank account, credit card, or Social Security number unless you know the company or person you are talking with is a real debt collector. Scam artists, like fake debt collectors, can use your information to commit identity theft such as:
Charging your existing credit cards
Opening new credit card or checking accounts
Writing fraudulent checks
Taking out loans in your name
Contact your creditor. If the debt is legitimate – but you think the collector may not be – contact your creditor about the calls. Share the information you have about the suspicious calls and find out who, if anyone, the creditor has authorized to collect the debt.
Report the call. Submit a complaint with the CFPB or get in touch with your state Attorney General's office with information about suspicious callers.
Stop speaking with the caller.If nothing else works and you believe the calls are fraudulent, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files.
Tip: You can use this sample letter to write a letter demanding the debt collector stop contacting you. By law, real debt collectors must stop calling you if you ask them to in writing.

Tip: If you're having trouble with debt collection, you can submit a complaint with the CFPB online or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/1699/h ... legitimate.html

Received the same call- read off some sort of complaint#-need immediate call back- no person or company name was mentioned in the pre-recorded message- reported this phone number- there is no such business# under the BBB for SD.  These people are idiots- starting the new year off trying to scam people for money.

calling harassing me about a payday loan I know nothing about

I have received more than one call from them which is annoying; I am not going to give out too much information in case they monitor this website as well as us consumers.  I just want them to get a life and leave me alone............  There needs to be more enforcement against these kinds of people-agencies........

I just got the same call its all a lie I have never had an online payday loan their pathetic i just had surgery for my cancer and I'm a single mom I don't need anymore stress than I already have I wish there was a way to sue them

They called my cell phone and said I took out a loan in 2013 which never happened I just had surgery and I am a single struggling mother I want these people caught n prosecuted

I have been getting nonstop calls from this number and unclear voicemails. I finally answered to see what they had to say and it was scary. They said I pulled a loan out from a payday loan that I never paid and if I don't pay the high amount of a little over $1,000 since time has passed I will be taken to court. So I questioned when and whatever else I can get out of them to see what ridiculous stuff they had to say. Well...they had so much information about me it made me uncomfortable. They had my background right but wrong dates. They didn't have their stories straight. They are definitely scammers who have personal information about people. I just said take me to court and I don't owe anybody money. The only thing I can think of on how they got my info was because of yahoo email. The were hacked a while back and I had personal background history in my emails. Only thing I think is because the info they had on me were old dates of background history which is not current now and email I got rid of because yahoo was hacked. They were unprofessional over the phone and I had spoke to one guy who couldn't get his story straight. He sounded nervous so he had me on hold and got someone to talk to me. He got his [***] on the phone who couldn't sound convincing or smart either. Which helped me identify how scammers are just so dumb.

Have received two messages from this #. The name they mention doesn't sound anything like mine.  Prerecorded message and leaves a case # and encourages me to call back before legal action taken. Ha, what a scam!!! Definitely reporting.