660-223-4402

Left message threatening legal action

Called twice, left message second time.  Claimed they are Nora Long from the law firm of Allen & Burks, and a complaint has been filed.  Left her number to call back. First time Caller ID said it was from Warsaw, MO.  Second time it was listed as unknown.

We are a business, was thinking of actually referring them to our attorney.

After a voice message from this number, I called back, and , a woman told me, the call was in reference to someone in Nevada, who was taking legal action against me, I told them I didn't live in Nevada, and I think this is a scam and I'm going to give their number to the police. There was a shuffling of paper and the woman's voice said, I'm sorry your name was put on the wrong account, please disregard this, and she hung up on me. I'm keeping the voice recording of the call.

Got a call from this Warsow, MO number, didn't answer, "Nora Long from Alan & Banks" saying a formal complaint was filed and she needs to speak to me or my attorney immediately. I called back and they turbo-spewed some unintelligible stuff about a returned check from some online payday loan place and a monitored email from some address I've never heard of.
Me: "I've never heard of anything that you just spoke about."
Her: "So you're saying you want to prove your own innocence in court? Ok, I'll forward this to the state attorney's office, good luck in court," then INSTANTLY she hangs up. Clearly NOT LEGIT!

I received a phone call yesterday- no message left. Today about the same time another phone call and a vm left. I could hardly understand her name and said I needed to call immediately or have my attoney call. I called and they said I received a payday loan 2 years ago and that when they tried to withdraw payment I had insufficient funds. He had my work email address and I have gotten a payday loan but not within 2 years so I freaked out when they said their client was ready to file criminal charges. They said a letter was sent to you but they had my previous address not my current one. They said I could either pay about $2000 dollars to settle out of court or the continue with pressing criminal charges. I called my local police dept and awaiting to talk to an officer.  

Good job reporting this! If/when you do speak w an officer could you please post again to let us know what they said? I'd be very interested to hear, but if you'd rather not share I could understand that, thanks either way!

Debt such as this, even caused by an insufficient funds withdrawal attempt is mere debt and is civil and not criminal.  The fact that they claimed it was criminal is a violation of Federal law, specifically the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. In addition, you do not have to prove innocence, they would have to prove guilt. They could sue you in court to collect but again, the burden is on them to prove you owe the debt and that they, if not representing the original creditor, have the legal right to collect.  Since you claim you did not take out a payday loan in the past two years, this seems very much like an extortion attempt based upon old partial information obtained somewhere.  When you talk to the police, see if you can report it as an extortion attempt. You should also obtain a copy of your credit report and see if their are any old debts listed there.  If they call again, demand a debt validation notice sent via US Mail to your current address, do not accept any other form of validation.

Informational Post:

https://800notes.com/arts/Jb8EW-eDhQA/harassi ... ou-need-to-know
See Residents post here also:
https://800notes.com/forum/ta-34af6a034ba34b6/unending-collection-calls
Templates of Letters:
https://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://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety
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http://www.ic3.gov/media/2014/140627.aspx
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https://800notes.com/forum/ta-944ec1426a8bcbb ... service-attacks
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http://www.clarkhoward.com/news/clark-howard/ ... r-phones/ndF4c/
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http://www.net-security.org/article.php?id=1828
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https://800notes.com/forum/ta-86217073a9c8dad ... 077595690349410
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http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors
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http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm
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http://www.fdcpa.me/fake-process-server-injunction/
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https://800notes.com/forum/ta-9413b3202bc8b6c ... net%27s-tactics
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http://dfi.wa.gov/consumers/alerts/cashnet-payday.htm
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http://www.cashnetusa.com/consumer-notices
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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.
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To File complaints FDCPA/TCPA violations:
Your State Attorney General
Their State Attorney general
www.naag.org (you can find your state AG at this link).
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
http://www.rcfp.org/reporters-recording-guide/state-state-guide

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/
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1
https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form1088.action
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
http://www.fraud.org/
http://www.stopfraud.gov/report.html
Tip off FBI about this extortion attempt by filing form at: stips.fbi.gov/

Also see here:
https://800notes.com/arts/I2neMkbUAAo/where-to-report-phone-crime

After I talked to the officer and explained everything, she literally laughed. She said that if I had legal issues I would know. She said if this company calls again, to tell them to call my police dept because I've already reported the number to them. I said but they had my previous address and my work email address and she said those things are very easily obtained pretty much anywhere.  

My experience was the same as reported above regarding the message left on my cell phone from Ms Long of Allen and Burke.  I Googled Allen and Burke from Warsaw, MO and got a big fat zero.  I called back and was instructed to leave a message with my name and number.  Yeah, right.  BTW, in the message they left on my cell, they did not address me by name.  That was a big red flag.

Get a call from them everyday for past week. Says her name is Mariah Long and that someone has filed a formal complaint against me and that I need to return the call immediately. If I do not call her back then I am waiving my rights and they will pursue other legal matters. When I did call back a guy answered and said how can I direct your call and I said I don't know you called me and he said no I did not. I said someone from this number just called my phone and he said oh, hold on. Was on hold for about 10 min with no response so I hung up.

I received a voice mail from a Mariah Long claiming to be from the pre-litigation dept of Allen and Burke.  Her phone number though was (573) 207-4017.  The same voicemail that everyone else received was the one that was left.  If this was in reference to a debt, they legally have to say "this is an attempt to collect a debt, etc."  They didn't say that and therefore, I absolutely will not return this call.

I also got the same voicemail, I have been getting a call like this just about everyday for the last 6 months, always from a different number & different company. Really sick of it, I don't know how many more calls I can block.

Total scam.  Private attorneys do not file charges for criminal acts.  The DA is the only person authorized to file criminal charges.  If there were any bad check issues concerning a bank, you'd already know about it from the bank.  Usually these kinds of things are settled between the bank and the patron.  Only if it's a serious amount and a continual problem will the  bank contact the police.  The bank would be he complaining party, not some scammy debt collector.  Debt collectors have no powers of arrest and absolutely no influence on public prosecutors or police.   Being in debt is not a crime and you can't be arrested for ordinary civil debt.

This is a total scam.  Threatening criminal prosecution to collect a civil debt clearly   violates federal rules.

File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.  The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits debt collectiors from being abusive, unfair or deceptive.

See:  http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0149-debt-collection

Also contact your local attorney general.