210-858-6601

I got a call from Sean Carter, who stated he was an Attorney, and his number is 1-210-858-6601 and he threatened that the police are on their way over to work to arrest me. He instructed that he needed me to pay $655.00 within the next 15 minutes to avoid the arrest. I had advised him that I can not go to western union in the next 15 minutes because I am at work, and he insisted i let him talk to my boss otherwise, I am not willing to work with him to pay this money I owe. I asked him what company is this for, and he mentioned something about going online and signing a form, but his English is very unclear so I was not able to understand him. He had my social security number, address, and birthdate, and email address when he called me.

Bad, bad people...

I suggest taping the conversation (let them know you are) and request they send you documentation validating the debt they are attempting to collect.  Under no circumstances should you send these people any money - they have proven repeatedly it is a scam.  Keep your cool...

Familiarize yourself with the federal law pertaining to debt collection (http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpact.htm).  If after speaking with the representative you feel as though they violated the statutes by threatening arrest and/or threatening or actually contacting your employer, contact the Florida Attorney General's office and the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov).    

The Florida Attorney General's office is currently suing the group associated with this phone number (http://myfloridalegal.com/__852562220065EE67. ... bass,associates).  You can file an online complaint at http://myfloridalegal.com/contact.nsf/contact.

Good luck!

Great info! The only thing I'd add is that in some states, you can record your own phone conversation without disclosing to the other party. Not sure, though, what the law in Florida is on that topic.

Try not to worry about this. First of all, no debt collector has the authority to have anyone arrested for anything. And it is illegal for them to threaten so. So he's already broken the law. Also, I seriously doubt that he's an attorney; if he's not a lawyer, then he's broken the law again by claiming to be one.  If I were you, I'd ignore his calls. Also, be sure not to disclose any information to him. If the matter were legitimate, he would've contacted you in writing.  (By the way, I've seen many other reports on 800notes.com noting calls from someone using the name of "Sean Carter" or "Shawn Carter"...he always uses the same "Pay me now or be arrested" schtick.  It's all a lie aimed at stealing your money; so don't believe it.

Also, you may want to pursue legal action against this crook.  Check out these links for advice and legal help in dealing with outlaw debt collectors:

http://www.budhibbs.com/First.htm
http://www.fairdebtlawyers.com/
http://www.naca.net/debt-collection-abuse/
http://www.myfairdebt.com/

Good luck and Merry Christmas.

ec

I liked your information on the 210-858-6602 listing.  I was unaware the group had moved to Georgia to avoid prosecution.  Last word I had they were still being pursued in the Florida court through the AG's office.

These goofballs caused a significant business disruption with the nonsense they were sending teams of agents over to arrest people.  They called the "head of Human Resources" and was transferred.  It took the better part of two days to fully sort out they were scamming people.  After all of that - I'd really love to do everything in my power to make life miserable for these clowns.

If you want to have some fun - call them back and tell them you're sending teams of agents out to arrest them.  Then sit back and watch the fireworks!!!  I don't think I've ever heard that many curse words in one breath!!!  Seriously, though - the call center is clearly not based in the US - it is definitely overseas.  They have no fear whatsoever they are going to be arrested.  As a matter of fact - they've challenged me to find them (I'm working on accomodating that request).

X, what surprises me is that, apparently, the only government entity pursuing these criminals so far is the state of Florida. And even with that, it's a civil suit. Now that we've seen reports indicating that these people are impersonating FBI agents, maybe the criminal investigations will kick into higher gear.

As for the calls being made from overseas, I've read about that on other websites (on debtconsolidationcare.com, I think).  But, obviously, the overseas calling operation is being coordinated by someone here in the U.S., and I think we all know who it is. Bill McCollum sure seems to know who it is.

FYI--I've seen two addresses for States Predisposition:

States Pre-Disposition Services
6586 Highway 40 West
Ste B-7 Unit 340
Saint Mary's, GA 31558
1-800-918-3844

States Predisposition
1204 S 2 St
Folkston, GA 31537
(912) 496-7220

The St. Mary's, GA address is questionable. A reverse business address shows no businesses at that address, though it does show quite a few business located 6586 Highway 40 EAST (rather than west,)  And there's no phone listing of that company name at that address.

However, White Pages.com does show a company named States Predisposition (and a few other companies) being located at the Folkston, GA address. The satellite photos on Google Maps seems to indicate a small office building at that address.

I look forward to hearing of your accommodating their request to track 'em down. :)

I received a call from Hilary stating that the FBI was coming to my place of employment to pick me up if I didnt pay $780.00 within an hour. Not thinking I went and paid the money in this account. I have the account number and the phone conversations. But when i paid the money she stated that I owed some more money. Once I paid everything that she said that I owe, I tried calling back and now the phone number is disconnected. I have called the attorneys general office in Flordia and filed a police report and awaiting investigation. Please do not make the same mistake that I made. I have placed this everywhere and hope that no one makes the mistake like I did.

Sorry to hear about this. You may also want to report this to the FBI since these crooks extorted money from you over the phone and used false information about the FBI arresting you.  Here's the link: http://tips.fbi.gov

One thing to always remember -- if anyone ever calls you and demands money to prevent your arrest, it is always a scam.  No debt collector (let alone a criminal posing as a debt collector) has the authority to have anyone arrested for anything, and it's illegal for them to make such false threats.

If you hear from these criminals again, be sure to report them to same federal and state law enforcement authorities.  Hope this helps.

The correct FBI link is https://tips.fbi.gov

Took a while, but I now know everything we need to know about this group ;-)

They are based in the US (NJ and Florida), although the bulk of the operation is off shore.  I just wonder how much longer they'll be in operation...

DO NOT send these people any money - they are NOT legitimate.

Hiya, X. Check this out:

April 7, 2008: "Attorney General Obtains $1.3 Million Judgment Against Jacksonville Debt Collector"  http://myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsrel ... 5257424005858A6

Bud Hibbs maintains that there's a connection between Ted Ellis Crosby's collection scam and Evelyn and Frank Jackson's Bass Prelitigation/States Predisposition scams (see http://budhibbs.com/debtcollectorpages/ellis_crosby_and_associates.htm)  So it's interesting that reports posted on 800Notes about phone numbers associated with the States Predisposition scam are suddenly few and far between since this April 7 announcement of the $1.3 million judgment against Crosby in Florida.

Coincidence?

Here's the text of the Florida Attorney General's news release:

>>Attorney General Bill McCollum News Release
April 7, 2008

Attorney General Obtains $1.3 Million Judgment Against Jacksonville Debt Collector

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that a Jacksonville resident and his debt collection agency have been ordered to pay $1.3 million in restitution and civil penalties for violations of Florida and Federal collections laws. Ted Ellis Crosby, individually and in his capacity as owner and director of Ellis Crosby & Associates, was found to have engaged in willful violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Business Practices Act and Florida’s Consumer Collections Practices Act. The case was litigated by the Attorney General’s Economic Crimes division.

“This case should put similar operations on notice that the penalties for such deceptive business practices can be very costly,” said Attorney General McCollum. “Florida authorities will not tolerate unscrupulous individuals who victimize our citizens in potentially difficult financial situations.”

The Attorney General’s lawsuit, filed in June August 2005, alleged that Crosby and his company used deceptive practices in an attempt to scare, harass and intimidate debtors into paying amounts far in excess of their debts. Testimony from victims and witnesses revealed that Crosby and company used tactics such as posing as law enforcement officers, threatening seizure of property, and even threatening bodily harm. More than 380 victims filed complaints with the Attorney General’s office.

Duval Circuit Court Judge L. Haldane Taylor ordered Crosby and his company to pay $388,000 in consumer restitution, $700,000 in fines for violating the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Business Practices Act, and $253,000 in fees and costs, totaling more than $1.3 million. The Judge also entered a permanent injunction which prohibits Crosby and his company from engaging in any activity within the State of Florida which is related in any way to the ownership, processing, administration or collection of consumer debts.

More information about protecting yourself from improper debt collection tactics is available online at: http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/main/7cd1 ... d6!OpenDocument

A copy of the judgment against Crosby is available online at: http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/KGR ... sbyJudgment.pdf 

The Florida Attorney General also maintains that Bass Prelitigation (which is the same group of crooks behind States Predisposition) is just one of many fronts used by Ted Ellis Crosby's debt collection scam. Here's an excerpt from a Florida Times-Union article last year:

"But the state's lawsuit against Ellis Crosby & Associates does contend a link between Ted Ellis Crosby and Bass Prelitigation, the latest subject of an investigation. In a motion filed in November, the state contended Crosby was involved in debt collection by using 'aliases, fronts of strawman operations such as Bass Prelitigation.' Broward County resident Joanna Cook made a similar allegation in a lawsuit she filed in February against Bass Prelitigation. Cook contended former employees of Ellis Crosby & Associates formed Bass Prelitigation last year and worked with Ted Ellis Crosby to develop a business plan for the company. Her lawsuit contends Bass Prelitigation was organized to sidestep the attorney general's lawsuit against Ellis Crosby. Cook's lawsuit said an employee of Bass Prelitigation called and said she faced immediate arrest if she didn't pay $999 that same day by MoneyGram for a payday loan. She said she became frantic because she feared being separated from her two children, including a newborn. David Jacobs, office manager for Bass Prelitigation, declined to comment on the specific allegations and the attorney general's legal filings. But he said Bass Prelitigation does not threaten consumers with arrest or have any association with Ted Ellis Crosby.  'I will tell you, categorically, we have no connection with him whatsoever,' Jacobs said. He said Ellis Crosby & Associates put a 'horrible stigma' on debt collectors and 'is an example of what not to do.' He said Bass Prelitigation will be installing a telephone recording system so it will have records of what employees say in their calls.  Ellis Crosby & Associates was founded in 2003, four years after Ted Ellis Crosby was court-martialed by the Navy in Jacksonville, according to court documents."  [Source: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/061107/met_176207561.shtml ]

Something tells me that Bass Prelitigation/States Predisposition never got around to installing that telephone recording device.

It's certainly starting look like the directors of Bass Prelitigation/States Predisposition -- Evelyn & Frank Jackson -- are just Ted Ellis Crosby's stooges.  Perhaps the Jacksons have scrammed and grown quiet for now, but until the state of Florida obtains a similar judgment against them and Bass Prelitigation/States Predisposition, you can bet that these cockroaches will regroup and eventually resume their debt collection scams.

ABC News just did an investigative piece on this particular scam operation. Here's the report:  http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5621205&page=1

ABC News just did an investigative piece on this particular scam operation. Here's the report:  http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5621205&page=1