803-386-2942

Guy calls by the name of "Officer Dave Jones".  Says they have pending legal  action against me.  Called my place of employment, and my home trying to get my social.  Watch out for these guys, my son called them back and informed them that if they continued calling they would be reported to the FBI (he filed a report).  Do not fall for this, this is the second time these guys have tried this on me.  When my son called him, the guy started using obscene language, and calling my son names.  My son said that he was going to start recording the call, and the guy changes his voice to a higher pitch, and calls him some more names before hanging up.

Consumer Alert: Attorney General warns Kansans of debt collection scam

January 29, 2010 -- Attorney General Steve Six is cautioning Kansas consumers about telephone calls from apparent fake debt collectors who are impersonating law enforcement officers in an effort to extort money from consumers.   Consumers are warned to not submit payments to these fraudulent debt collectors.

When calling, the scammers most often state they are attempting to collect a debt related to an internet payday loan obtained by the consumer, but which the consumer never repaid.  Consumers state they have never obtained such a loan or paid off the loan years ago.  The scam artists have most recently identified themselves as ACS, National Affidavit Processing Department and United Financial Crime Division, but may use additional phony names.  It appears the phone numbers used by the scammers are “spoofed” numbers, so that the number appearing on a consumer’s caller ID is not the actual number of where the call originated. It appears the calls in question may be originating from outside the United States.

When questioned, the individual calling refuses to disclose the full name or address of the collection agency they claim to represent.  These scammers have been able to provide consumers with identifying information, such as the consumer’s social security number, home address, e-mail address, names of family members and the consumer’s computer IP address.  Since the callers are able to provide valid personal information, consumers may become confused and believe they are being contacted in regard to a legitimate debt.

If the initial debt collection scam is unsuccessful, consumers have been re-contacted months later with the scammers posing as law enforcement officers or officers of the court.  Typically, the consumer is threatened with arrest for fraud or some other fictitious crime unless the consumer agrees to immediately wire money via Western Union.  The fictitious officers strive to frighten and confuse consumers into compliance by using legal sounding terms such as “We’re filing an affidavit against you” or by stating a lawsuit has been or is in the process of being filed against the consumer.

A hallmark of each scam has been calling consumers repeatedly at their place of employment.  This scam hit home when an employee of the Kansas Attorney General’s Office was repeatedly called both on her cell phone and at work.  Despite the employee’s repeated verbal disputes, the caller refused to provide any identifying information to allow her to send a written dispute. The scammer also continued to call her numerous times a day regarding a payday loan she denied obtaining. Two months later, she was again contacted by telephone by an individual identifying himself as an “officer”.

“I denied owing the debt and refused to pay without being provided validation of the debt. I was then told, ‘If that’s the case, I will have local law enforcement come to your place of business and drag you out kicking and screaming’,” stated the employee.

“It is important for consumers to know their rights under the law,” Attorney General Six said. “If a consumer is receiving calls from a debt collection company and believe it is a scam, I encourage them to contact our office immediately.”

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), collectors are required to send consumers a written notice within five days of the initial contact.  The notification should contain  information such as the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed and a statement informing the consumer they have thirty days to contact the debtor in writing to dispute the debt or request validation of the debt. In addition, legitimate debt collectors are prohibited by the FDCPA from making false or misleading representations, such as the consumer has committed a crime, implying nonpayment will result in the consumer’s arrest, or using the threat of violence.

More information is available on the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf.

To register a complaint with the Kansas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, call 1(800) 432-2310 or visit www.ksag.org.

http://www.ksag.org/page/consumer-alert-attor ... collection-scam

I recently applied for a position posted on Craigslist.  Obviously the listing was a scam.  I had to reference 3 friends whom are now getting harrased.  They say they are trying to collect a debt in my name and the caller says that it is very urgent and they need to have me call them back. This is terrible, why would people do this.

I got a call on my cell phone from this number 803-386-2942, the person said there name was Allen Scott, said my name was put down as a reference for a loan, the loan was taken out by my friend who name I will not mention, I was responsible for the loan because he did not pay it.  This has been going on all year, they move to an different area in the United States about every three months then set up a phone line and start making calls. He said I would have to go to court very soon, of course the people are fraud. DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY INFORMATION. THEY HAVE BEEN CALLING ME SINCE FEB OF THIS YEAR. Yes I have done everything as far as reporting it! I guess thats not going to work.

Officer Alan Starch stated he was with LLA and had action against me and my SSN, he knew the last 4 of my SSN

They are SCUM and even know how to mask their number to match the area code that they are calling so that when they call you at work, your work caller ID shows a local number which you pick up thinking it might actually be work related.  His accent was so thick you could barely understand him.  Called from 4 different numbers one right after the other, eventhough after the 1st call told him it was my place of business and if he called again he would be hearing from the FBI...  as already mentioned, he then proceeded to call another 3 times after.  Which is PROOF that they are SCUM bottom feeders that aren't following any laws.

DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY INFORMATION