716-261-2211

Got call on home number. The called identified himself as Somerset County Sheriff with a badge number and told me rudely that I misbehaved with a police officer and asked me to call back at 716-261-2211. I know this was a scam as somerset county in NJ has area codes only 732 and 908. The police usually sends a letter and talks politely. This is Buffalo, New York area code, but the caller can use portable number and call from anywhere.

It's also likely another bunch of extortionist thugs who normally pretend to collect a debt. Maybe we're skipping the fake debt story this time and moving straight to false criminal charges. Here's some reading on the former scheme anyway .....

FTC alert: "Fake Debt Collectors"
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors

FTC and CFPB material on US federal collection law:
http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ... debt-collection

We had the same phone call. Only telling us to surrender to nearest police or call this certain detective. It has to be a scam as we are in michigan and never been to New York.

Got call from this number . Caller identified himself as officer White from Federal Crime enforcement Network. He threatened to send police to my residence if I didn't settle some IRS criminal charge. I asked him to send police and hung up.
I complained to the local police station and Federal Trade Commission.

I had a similar call this morning.
Claimed to be Lee chandler: 4927 His number was 206-296-3311
Wanted me to contact Thomas O'Brien at 716-261-2211.

Any pointers on where to register complaints.

Did anyone actually call this number back? Does anyone answer?

I also got a similar fraud call. A korean voice first verified my name and address. Somehow they had the correct name and address. Then he told me to wait for the captain how identified himself as JACK GATES from Federal Crime Enforcement Network and said he can be reached back at 716-261-2211. I'm in Lexington SC and that area code is way outside the network. I heard about this scam on the local news last night and immediatly spotted it as a scam. I even told these guys that I do not believe you and you are scammers so stop calling me. Calling back the above number goes a system message stating "All circuits are busy now. Please try later." I have lodge a harrasment compliant aginst these guys with my local sherif department.

These are smart guys as the incoming caller id number and name identifies them as the number of local sheriff with the name as Sheriff Dept on the phone.

Hi
I am in Houston, TX and I got a voice mail 7 am in the morning, saying exactly this that he is Lee Chandler and want me to contact Officer Thomas O'Brian on 716-261-2211. The funny thing is that on my caller-ID the number displayed was infact from Fort Bend County Sheriff's office. When I called the sheriff's office they said they dont know any of these 2 persons and it was probably a Scam. I wish there was a way to make them pay for this kind of harassment.

Yes, they do answer.  Someone identifying himself as a FBI agent speaking very bad English.  I said the FBI are on to you.  He said hey baby, and F off you B then hung up.  I didn't call from my phone but a pay phone.

Got the call around noon today, left a voicemail saying that his name was deputy James Connor from from the San Diego county sheriffs office regarding a federal complaint with officer Michael Black. That I needed to turn myself into the sheriffs office for arrest or if I would rather call officer Michael Black at 716-271-2211 in order to resolve this complaint otherwise he will be sending officers to my doorstep to arrest me.

First of all he sounded like one of those Indian phone survey guys reading from a script. Second is that anything to do with law enforce would have a case number as a reference and third he said to call this so called officer Michael Black from the San Diego county sheriffs office by using a number from Buffalo, NY.

I though these kinds of tactics were illegal?

some moron called me from 716 217 2771 and said, i have back taxes + i am going to get arrested for money laundering in 15 minutes...

Same issue. A Lee Chandler called and left a voice mail indicating there was a complaint about me on some matter of trying to steal an identity.He had a very heavy accent. Middle Eastern or maybe from India. Not sure. The number he reported he was calling from was 713 221 6000. I called this number back and it was a location of the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
After speaking with a representative,I was informed there was no Lee Chandler. She told me this was probably a scam. She said they get it all the time.
This Lee Chandler also told me to call a Mr. Thomas O'Brian. He was with some Federal Crime Agency. The number I was given was 206 512 1480. I called this number and no one answers. I also tracked the number to Seattle, WA. It is located in the area of the Univ. of WA.
I don't know if it will do any good, but I saved the voice message and I will be calling the Harris County Sheriff's office back to file a report for criminal activity.
If anyone gets a call from this guy, you are not in trouble. It is a scam. Since I only got the voice mail, there was no chance to make any demands for money.

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

Also read up on the laws and your rights:

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

Here's the voicemail I received;

"Hi this is Deputy James Connor of the Santa Clara Sheriff's office.   And the reason I was trying to reach you with an reference to a federal complaint which has been filed on your name from an officer by the name Micheal Black who is working with the Federal crime enforcement network so the very second you receive this message I want you to surrender your self to the nearest police department or else you can speak with an officer John Harris on the number 206-512-1480....or  a warrant will be served at your place of employment."

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, is warning consumers to be on the alert for scam artists posing as debt collectors. It may be hard to tell the difference between a legitimate debt collector and a fake one. Sometimes a fake collector may even have some of your personal information, like a bank account number. A caller may be a fake debt collector if he:

•is seeking payment on a debt for a loan you do not recognize;
•refuses to give you a mailing address or phone number;
•asks you for personal financial or sensitive information; or
•exerts high pressure to try to scare you into paying, such as threatening to have you arrested or to report you to a law enforcement agency.

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

•Ask the caller for his name, company, street address, and telephone number. Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written "validation notice." The notice must include the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor you owe, and your rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
If a caller refuses to give you all of this information, do not pay! Paying a fake debt collector will not always make them go away. They may make up another debt to try to get more money from you.

•Stop speaking with the caller. If you have the caller's address, send a letter demanding that the caller stop contacting you, and keep a copy for your files. By law, real debt collectors must stop calling you if you ask them to in writing.

•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 whom you're dealing with. Scam artists, like fake debt collectors, can use your information to commit identity theft – charging your existing credit cards, opening new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, writing fraudulent checks, or 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. Contact the FTC and your state Attorney General's office with information about suspicious callers. Many states have their own debt collection laws in addition to the federal FDCPA. Your Attorney General's office can help you determine your rights under your state's law.

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors