855-393-4318

I just got a message from them after they called 3 times in a row again...

It was for an Eric Stevens of Bloom & Smith law firm (not sure of Bloom, name was a bit garbled) with a case number. They called from a local number but left an 855 number to call back on.

SCAM - Fraudulent debt collector posing as a law firm. Left a voice mail on my work phone.  Morgan with Bloom and Smith regarding a case pending in their office and I must call right away re:  Case number 2014-xxxxxxx. Caller ID showed 713-234-5203.  Imperative that I call her at 855-393-4318.  Then a robot comes on saying "your phone number is associated with a case in our office call 855-414-6205."   Scam to steal your money by threatening to take you to court.  Do not talk to them!  Thieves!  

They have been calling me for days threating to have charges brought against me if I didn't repay a loan that I never took out.
I got a similar case number and same call backs. They actually had alot of my personal information. So I had to contact the police and my bank. Do not deal with these people!!!!

Called my job from Bloom and Smith about a payday loan I supposedly took out and never paid. Janice Bowers was the rep. I asked her questions and she remained quiet and pretended to look up information and tap keys...never answered questions. Transferred me to Closure Department and i spoke with Brian Cook who was upset that I would not confirm my social and began to insult me. Ask him his name again and he rudely spelled it out and said I would be served and i should present all my documents. Said that he will not go tit for tat with me at which time i hung up on him. Unable to locate Bloom and Smith. These are idiots who need money for xmas. Do not feel threatened or much care about their calls.

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 a phone call from these people claiming they were Blooming Services and they had my dad's case number 2014-XXX-XXX saying that my dad had filed a secure Loan and failed to pay it back in 2010 and  they were giving his name from ANOTHER company called C&G they were wanting 378% of the balance or a counter offer of $400.00. This lady Maria got really snotty with me and when I asked them what year it was made it she put me on hold to make sure she had her facts straight before she told me anything...lol  then she came back to the phone telling me that we could settle it in court or out of court, I told her I was calling my Lawyer first cause I had a similar call 6 months ago about the same thing, she said "so  I will update your file saying you want to settle it in court" I said yes! she just hung up on me.  So considering I have been taking care of my father for 6 years that has health issues I seriously doubt he done this lol I'm calling and filing harassment charges against them!

For nearly two years, an illegal group of debt collectors have been terrorizing consumers, their family, friends, and employees threatening to arrest the individual of an unpaid loan or other debt (their generally don't even owe). Be aware debt is a civil matter, not a criminal matter, and you can't be arrested. They threaten a warrant if the victim does not pay a sum of money by the credit card over the phone.

Some of the people they are calling do not owe a debt.  Others they are calling have already settled their debt with the organization who owns the accounts. Even if you do owe a debt, do not be deceived by the actions of this group.  Many of the accounts they are attempting to collect they do not own.  In other words, if you pay these people, that is not going to clear your debt with its rightful owner.  

Although when pressed the callers give the victim an address in Columbia South Carolina (usually a vacant lot),  Atlanta GA (often a parking lot near the bus station or a Peachtree Road Address) or Phoenix AZ.  They are actually out of the Charlotte North Carolina area. The scammers are using the following business names (and there are many others, and they seem to create new ones daily).  They will normally answer the call back number as “Investigations”.  They often call people with a recording claiming they are looking for a "defendant"

Bloom & Smith
Global Capital Services Group
Schuman, Walker, & Associates
Kaplan, Stein, & Associates
KS & Associates
Lyman & Turner
Burns & Stevens
HD & Associates
Richardson Simms and Associates
Johnston & Moore
Holland, Dempsey, and Associates
Hughes and Berkeley
RJ Financial LLC
Ondrick and Miles
Anderson & Banker Mediation or Pre-Trial Litigators
Reynolds, Hill, and Associates
Berkley and Associates
Kaufmann and Associates
Sanderson Blaine & Associates
Blaine and Associates
McKenzie Reid Associates
Kennedy, Kline, & Associates
Nationwide Asset and Recovery
Piedmont Investigations and Procurement
Raffino, Garrison, & McCoy
Greenman, Schwartz & Associates
McCoy Law Group
Salem Associates
Reynolds and Associates
Ryan, Carter and Fields
Berman, Maxwell and associates
DOF Investigations
Vaughn & Associates
Bailey Rowe and Associates
Berkley Hughes and Associates


Here is a set of links to a variety of threads on this forum that document this group and its behavior. They include the experiences of victims as well as a former employee or two that quit within a week of finding out exactly what was going on. They also include responses from consumer advocates and people who are really criminal justice professionals advising victims of what to do

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-748-8367
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-719-1725
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-676-3492
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-805-5549
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-751-1084
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-803-2349
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-775-2417
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-775-2418
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-755-3417
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-746-3946
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-676-3485
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-966-3768
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-699-9749/2
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-966-6246
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-678-5437
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-967-0061
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-746-3948
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-791-2353
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-699-6246
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-735-8624
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-751-1083
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-736-3678/2
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-966-8529
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-967-2633
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-460-1576
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-609-3074
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-576-6210
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-601-5849
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-230-1283
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-658-0438
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-510-9327
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-509-0338
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-803-0755
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-511-0627
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-509-3033
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-509-0339
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-511-0631
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-883-2350/2
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-244-3381
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-512-0269
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-295-9550
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-966-6277
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-511-4248
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-725-5312
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-756-9997
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-512-1278
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-512-0531
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-512-0273
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-719-5041
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-791-9102
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-512-400-2637
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-585-730-6153
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-512-1712
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-800-657-1430
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-643-7815
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-860-3119
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-860-2973
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-831-4161
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-316-3547
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-714-134-4576
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-948-4460
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-415-1851
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-678-389-6196
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-584-6184
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-210-239-1791
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-844-245-7180
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-415-1287
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-440-210-9666/2
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-455-6485
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-425-201-0376
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-393-3515
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-406-272-8763
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-393-0743
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-408-9651
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-254-0813
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-727-260-5017
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-330-849-2731
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-480-270-8627
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-393-4321
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-706-913-1607
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-815-221-4220
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-206-858-9167
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-800-929-4493
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-230-3803
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-526-3182
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-408-9654
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-855-393-4318

For all who have been targeted by this "organization", since this group is actually operating out of the Charlotte area, the proper local jurisdiction to file police reports would be the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/CMPD/Pages/default.aspx

You can make a report by telephone - If calling outside the Mecklenburg County, the Non-Emergency Crime Reporting: 704-336-7600

You can also make a police report online at
http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/CMPD/Pages/ReportACrime.aspx

Any interested parties can find out about the companies (and their ringleaders) that are behind these calls.

RJ Financial
https://800notes.com/forum/ta-9e81ddc1f9993a2/ ... 8-512-1385-1278

Capital Solutions
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-577-5022

My father in law got a call from this number claiming he has a case with them. He has never heard of them and he is a sheriff deputy. What can be done about this? He called them back and they repeatedly put him on hold before hanging up on him.

Bloom & Smith. They Are Very Careful To Tell You That They Are NOT A Law Office, NOT A Debt Collector, But They Are A "Litigation Firm". Regardless, They Are STILL Scammers. I Guess The Penalties For Misrepresenting Themselves As A Law Office Or Debt Collector Must Be More Severe Than Extorting Consumers Out Of Their Money. They Claim That Their "Home Office" Is In SC, But They Have "Satellite Locations All Over The United States". Amazingly, No Hits Whatsoever On Google, Even With All These Offices All Over America. Just Another Typical Phony Scare Scam. They Use Several Different Numbers Including 855-393-4318 & 855-948-4460.

Harrassing me on cell and place of employment with threats of taking to court for a payday loan.  caller ID shows up as 713-234-5203

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

These people have been calling for over six months now and every time there is "someone different" answering the phone.  They refuse to give any information on the "debt owed" and become extremely rude when confronted about them being a scam operation. Local police haven't done a thing to help they simply say to not answer. Guess what they STILL CALL.

Since it isn't an actual business then there is really nothing the authorities are doing about it, I personally feel it's bs that I am harassed daily and just told sorry we can't do anything, have you considered changing your number?  Grrr.....

They've been calling since November. They took a break in December and are back at it today. This time, I actually called the number back. "Janice Bowers" answered the phone and very quickly read a list of charges against me filed from a payday loan company. She asked if I wanted to settle the matter in or out of court. I asked for an address and she gave me this address:
Bloom and Smith
P.O. Box 134587
Columbia, SC 29201

When I kept asking questions, she told me she was going to transfer me to someone else (couldn't make out what she said). I was placed on hold for a few seconds, then it hung up on me. No one called me back after they hung up.

What's odd is that any time I asked a question, she would type something THEN respond.

GOT THE SAME PHONE CALL TODAY THEY CALLED MY MOM. ASKING FOR ME. THESE PEOPLE DID IT LAST YR UNDER A DIFFERNT NAME AND THE YR BEFORE WITH A DIFFERNT NAME, THIS IS THE THIRD YR IN A ROW. REALLY GETTING TIRED OF THIS CRAP. AND CONSTENTLY CHANGING MY PHONE #.

JUST RECEIVED A CALL FROM A LOCAL NUMBER. TIM MCGILL WITH BLOOM & SMITH. STATED THAT I HAVE AN OUTSTANDING PAYDAY LOAN AND WOULD I LIKE TO SETTLE OUT OF COURT OR IN. I TOLD HIM TO PROVE HE'S LEGIT. HE STATES HE WILL EMAIL DOCUMENTATION. I SAID, "YOU'RE LOCAL. I'LL COME TO YOUR OFFICE AND MEET WITH YOU." HE STUMBLED A BIT A THREW ME ON HOLD. WHEN HE COMES BACK HE HAS THIS GRAND STORY OF HOW THEIR OFFICE DOESN'T SEE CLIENTS AS MOST OF THEIR CLIENTELE ARE "BAD" CRIMINALS AND FLIGHT RISKS. (WHAT!!!) ANYWAY, WHEN HE ASKED MY CITY OF RESIDENCE, I TOLD HIM. (BTW, I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN OUTSIDE THE CITY WITH A WEIRD LITTLE NAME) SO, WHEN I GIVE HIM THE CITY NAME HE CANT PRONOUNCE IT OR SAY IT...LOL. I SAID YOUR HERE LOCAL AND YOU DON'T KNOW THIS TOWN. HE STUMBLES AGAIN AND SAYS UMMMM I'M NEW TO THE AREA. NO WHAT YOU ARE SIR IS A LAIR.

Just received a call from this company Bloom and Smith again. They usually do this every 4-6mos. I already contacted a detective at our local precinct. Says anyone can google and get all the information they have. I did google myself and there was all my and my extended family's information. I called them back to let them know I already reported them once 4 months ago and to stop. Agent replied "good luck with your court case" and I told her good luck with your court case too!

Got a call from Eric Stevens who said he was with Bloom and Smith Law firm. They were looking for Michael Jones in reference to case #2014-949552. The caller would not tell me where Bloom & Smith is located. Also Michael Jones does not live here and has not for many years.  This is a SCAM.

They have been calling my family who are seniors for days threating to have charges brought against my husban if I didn't repay a loan that I never took out.
the number was 248-289-4549 They actually had alot of my personal information. The person name was Victoria Young , then another person got on the phone. Do not deal with these people!!!!