866-967-0140

This is another number for the fraudulent check scammers, Kaufman, Bernstein & Associates.  I am unable to find anything about this company from the internet except what I've found here.  Their numbers don't reverse to anything and it's unclear where they are located.

I got 2 calls from them today with 2 different numbers. The first # is 678-894-0621.  The second is the number listed here 866-967-0140. They said they were calling about a returned item from my bank and would advise me or my council to call back and discuss voluntary resolution of this matter at 866-967-0140 file number...instead of giving a file number they said please be advised this is not a solicitation.

The 678-894-0621 number is a Verizon cell phone out of the Atlanta,Ga area.

I have never used a credit card, and I watch my bank account balance every day online. I owe no debt, and this is a scam. If it weren't, they would tell me in the message they left who they were calling for. They never do. "THIS IS A MESSAGE FOR--FROM THE OFFICE OF..."
Just leave me alone. I have no debt or bank issues for third parties to resolve.

Same as above, the caller leaves a message saying it is Kaufman, Bernstein & Associates and that they are calling about a returned item fro our bank and would advise us to call them back to resolve the matter.  They do not give a file number nor seem to know our name.  866-967-0140 is the number they leave.

Exactly the same.  They have been calling my residence at least once a day leaving the same message and phone numbers.  No file number, no name, returned item from my bank.  Caller ID lists 678-894-0621 and the message instructs to call 866-967-0140.

Same thing for me. Is this a scam? If so, what can we do to shut these jokers down?

I received a phone call from these losers/scammers a few weeks ago.. I thought it was wierd but called them back. They told me I owed a check from a payday loan place back in 2005.. I actually did have a loan in 2005 from a payday loan place that was included in my bankruptcy.. The lady told me that if I did not pay it I would have an arrest warrant sent out for my arrest!!!!!!! I started crying and gave out my information stupidly.. I got off the phone with them and immediatley called my bankruptcy attorney who in turn called these people and called me back and told me it was a scam, I also contacted the collection agency board in CO and they also told me it was a scam. I filed a report with the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI. I would advise the same for anyone who ha rcvd a call from these people. DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY INFO!

I have been harassed by these [***] for the last month and a half and finally called them up and ripped them one.  The guy on the other end had the audacity to get pissed at me for being rude! It didn't stop them from calling though.  Who do you call to report these people? The FCC? Complete Scam.

The [***] called trying to say I would get arrested over a payday loan. When my fiancee tried to call them up and give them the legal jargon of the Fair Debt Collections Act they hung up on him

Scam artists. They keep calling us, made up a name vaguely related to ours and claimed there was check fraud involved. They guy who left the message gets his legal terms wrong and when I called the number back, it forwarded to a cell phone of a different person. I can't believe there isn't a way to stop these scammers from harassing people. If this continues, I'm going to set up a computer system at one of my offices to call their 800 number 24 hours per day to run up their 800 bill. Anyone else have any ideas?

I received a call today from this number stating it was urgent that I contact them immediately about a bank returned check.
I have no idea who they are or what this is in reference to.

I received a call from this number saying they were with Kauffman, Bernstein, and Associates and they were trying to collect on a debt that had been taken care of more than 3 years ago. When I tried explaining this to the woman, she told me that unless I paid at least $200 by 9am tomorrow I would be arrested and spend the holidays in jail!! I told her that as far as I was aware, the FTC made that kind of threat illegal and hung up on her. I then filed a complaint with the FTC. If you get these types of calls, go to ftc.gov/complaint to file a complaint against them IMMEDIATELY!!!

Oh, I also found that this company was just created in October of this year and operates out of someone's apartment in Lake Worth, FL. Sounds legit...

This appears to potentially be a phishing scam--do NOT share your personal info with them.  I have received multiple calls from various "Kaufman, Bernstein & Associates" numbers over the last two months--the voicemails used to refer to a debt owed (I have none), and lately it's changed to an item supposedly returned by my bank.  In every voicemail they intentionally omit the case file number.  I have myself never called back, but a poster on another site said that when they called these yahoos tried to get personal information (social security number, employment history, etc) to "verify their identity" before discussing the supposed account details, because they "didn't have their case number."  Again, do NOT share your personal info.  Am pretty sure this is an identify theft scam of some type.  
I share everybody's frustration at not being able to block these calls.  I have an Atlanta phone number but live on the west coast, and these robot-dialed calls see the 404 area code and start dialing at 8 am eastern...meaning my phone rings almost every morning at 5 am.  I often have to leave it on for work reasons, so for a couple of weeks this was incredibly annoying.  If anybody finds a way to stop it, please let the rest of us know.

This company kept calling me even after I called them multiple times to tell them they've got the wrong person. Being rude doesn't seem to help because these people are scum (I'm sure people have been rude to them their whole lives). If they refuse to stop calling you, I suggest that you call them repeatedly using redial until they relent and remove your number from their bot caller. Call it a 'denial of service' defence using the telephone!

Thanks to Carol for the website address. I'm going there after posting this. They call repeatedly. I never catch the actual name of the "firm" that's calling but it is ominous and threatening. And it's a recording. Fast talker. Like others here, caller ID shows 678-894-0621 but they state to call 866-967-0140 and omit the "file #". I didn't call back because I wonder if actually calling them back just confirms they have a live phone number/person/recipient. I'm not calling back anytime soon. However, if it keeps up? Maybe I will. Going to ftc.gov/complaint now!

I was told that I would be arrested if I did not send them $910.00 for a payday loan that was taken out in 2008.  Loan had since been paid.  They were trying to get me to send the money the same day.  They call themselves "investigators."  They tell you to send the money by money gram.  One of them identifies himself as "Mr. Smalls."  They try to pressure you in to sending the money or they threatened you with a warrant for your arrest.  The number they use is 866-967-0140.  DO NOT SEND ANYTHING!!!!!!!  I reported them to the Federal Trade Commission.

I got a call from this number. I dont think this is a scam. I called my attorney general office and they informed me what type of company this was. It is a law office and they do collections for payday loans. I had taken out a payday loan about 4 years ago and never paid it back. I did find out that since I did write a check to the loan company it is now considered Check Fraud by Deception. I was told it varys by states. I called the payday loan company and they did confirm that this company does have our debt and they are the ones who are now handeling it. I paid my debt off once I found that out. NOT A SCAM

That is not true. The company does have a building in New York and Georgia. It is not located in Florida. I got their physical address and googled it.

I am unemployed for the last 2 years and my unemployment ran out 14 weeks ago.Job search on the internet,but this is a joke,no luck and alot of scammers.I was job searching 2 -3 weeeks on the internet when a loan proposal poped on my screen.With Christmas coming fast,I submitted,like a dumby,all my bank and routing info;loan declined in less than 1 minute.Started getting 50 to 60 e-mails a day for payday loans which I do not respond to.Then I get a  call from some non-english speaking foriegner about a internet check fraud against me and I better have an attorney.I never even got a loan,I was declined.I told him to call back whe he learns to speak english.Now a week and a half later,I am getting calls from Kaufman,Berstein and Associates about a returned check that I know nothing about.The number is 678-894-0621,I don't answer the message.Me and my wife are stressing enough right now on losing our home,vehicles and everything else we own because of no employment and the 2 month extension benefit bill that was a total useless joke.Now I have these jerks threatening me with bogus bull.I hope all you guys are right about these scammers.I might sleep better tonight.Thank you people for giving your imput about these jerks,I feel alot better now

Rene
I dont know what state your in but in Indiana it is not check fraud...it is a loan default. These jokers refuse to take payments unless they are at least $300.00 they threaten you with arrest warrants....which is illegal to collect a debt. They claim my son ows on a bad pay day loan....but instead they called my other son and told him the whole story, my son who owes called them back.....the guy says he is an investigator and will send a warrant....really? Then he calls back and my son is at work....and tells the whole story to a female he thinks is my sons wife, but little did he know...he did not verify and it was his attorney.  NOW I KNOW THAT IS ILLEGAL, collectors are not allowed to discuss with anyone other then the debtor. No info about a bad debt, collection matters, amounts owed, payments requested, or actions takes... this info can not be left on an answe machine or voice mail either.....HIGHLY ILLEGAL DUE TO THE PRIVACY AC!!!! We have these guys on voice mail stating facts of the supossed delinquent matter, we are ready for court!!!