972-234-8700

My mother got a call from a "special investigator" saying there was a restraining order against me and I need to call this number within 24 to 48 hours. My mother, who is an older, gentle, christian, law abiding citizen, was freaked out thinking I was going to jail or worse. I had checked into payday loans about 6 months ago and this is where they got the info. I never went thru with the loan and I think maybe they bought the info from the "loan company". I called them back and got a guy from India, with a heavy accent. I told him I was Coni's "sister", and that she had died 6 weeks ago from an apparent suicide. At that exact moment he told me he would put a deceased on the case and hung up on me.  I tried to call back and every time I gave my case number, they either got very hateful or hung up. It's a scam and once I showed my mom how much was on the internet about this number, she has finally calmed down and is thankful that someone didn't come and cart me off to debtor's prison.

This is an offshore payday loan debt collection extortion scam that has been going on for at least five years. The FBI is aware of it but is unable to go after those involved due to lack of money and manpower. I looked back and found some old information which may prove to be helpful:

They obtained your information through Teletrack:

Kudos to "Sam" for giving the most intelligent and informative posts on this scam. READ, Bookmark and use as needed:

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-631-456-4041/2

I have been receiving phone calls from this group since late April / early May of 2010.  There is a good chance that they also attempted to contact me roughly two years ago before I entered into Chapter 7 Bankruptcy protection, as I faintly remember hearing the same script more or less.

As others have stated, the callers are difficult to understand.  Generally speaking their command of the English language is quite poor and their accents are hard to follow. At times they will get certain words or phrases mixed up.  It would be funny if it wasn't for the fact that they had:

a) Your SSN
b) Your home address
c) Your work address
d) Your banking info
e) Names, numbers and potentially the addresses of "references"
f) A complete and total lack of ethics and a basic understanding of the FDCPA.  

I have personally filed reports with the following agencies, often with limited (if any) success:

Local Police
my state's Attorney General's office
FTC
FBI
Secret Service

Generally the local police won't be able to help much.  The callers are using a combination of prepaid cell phones and VoIP, making them difficult to trace.  Also at their disposal are various spoofing tactics being implemented to catch people off guard - meaning the number that appears on your Caller ID isn't the number that is calling you for starters.  Without gaining a subpoena for the billing information for the numbers in question, the local police won't be able to get very far.  

My state's Attorney General's office couldn't offer much assistance either.  I received a form letter in the mail that my complaint was received and I would be contacted if they needed additional info.  It was more or less the same information I obtained from the FTC.  They each advised me not to give the individuals over the phone any account information or to authorize payment.  That's just common sense, though.

I never got anything from the FBI, either.  There is a good chance that since I haven't suffered a monetary loss that my concerns are low on the totem pole.  I hate to say this, but that is truly the case. Unless you were in the hole for a $1,000 (or more) you aren't going to get much more than "sorry to hear about your situation, change your phone number and move on".  I seemed to get some activity from the Secret Service.  I spoke with agent Doug Zloto. (Google him, referencing threads like these plus his name and you'll find his number also)  He seemed to care a bit more than the average person, but after giving him access to my Google Voice account, there has been no further activity from him that I'm aware of.

In the meantime I changed the wireless number the fraudsters had access to, they have no direct way to get a hold of me.  (Calls at work have ceased for some reason)  That in turn resulted in my "references" getting phone calls from the crooks.  Here is a word of caution for women that have been getting these calls - don't say anything and just hang up.  The callers are quite abusive towards women callers.  Why?  Possibly the culture.  If they are Indian / Pakistani, women are second class citizens there.  You will be treated like garbage.  This happened to a family member when she was trying her best to be extremely nice over the phone.  

The callers currently attempt to reach me through the female family member and an unused Google Voice number that they managed to find of mine.  I keep the Google Voice number open because, well, I can't delete it yet.  So, about every day, 4-5 times a day for the last week, I get voice messages from them.  It's usually just two full messages though - the other calls are broken up with static or they are attempts to read the script until the callers then screw up.  Really, they are that adamant on getting the script 100% that they will hang up mid-sentence and call back 30 seconds later.  

At this point it's a stalemate with these people.  

1) While they have the lion's share of information on us, they can't really do anything with this information.  

Why?  Think about it.

If they were to ever take funds out of your account without authorization, it's fraud and worse (for them) it is traceable.  That's why they won't do anything with your information, contrary to threats they make.  The money from your account has to go somewhere, and either your bank or a law enforcement agency can determine where the money was routed.  As a bank customer you are protected - you'd get the stolen money back in your account after 7-10 business days and the bank would be temporarily out the funds deducted from your account while they conducted their investigation.  The bank, along with law enforcement, would track down the fraudsters and apprehend them.  The fraudsters do not want to incur the wrath of a bank, just extort money out of you.  Remember that.    

Your authorization would absolve the bank from any and all liability, leaving you holding the bag.  Never give them authorization for anything - for all you know the call is recorded.  

2) We have no information on them.

Seriously, this has been going on at least since 2008, possibly longer than that based on some accounts. (6 years??? Holy crap!)  You would think someone would have slipped up by now.  Sadly, they haven't.  We can continue to grow our own intel on them and compile lists of aliases and phone numbers used, along with paraphrases of scripts used in order to educate other victims.  I'm actually putting together a site now in the meantime where I'll host audio files and lists of previous numbers used.  800notes.com is great, but no two calls are exactly the same.  It would be nice to have a site dedicated to the scam and how it works.

So that's where I am with these calls.  I have suffered no monetary loss, though I have been harassed both at home and at work.  They threaten me with arrest and other "fun" things in order to get me convinced I have to pay them.  My friends and family have been targeted and local and federal law enforcement agencies haven't been able to put a stop to things.  So, it is what it is.  I am out a wireless phone number I had for roughly six years, which is terrible since I was using that line when looking for a new job.  

Whenever I'm bored I spoof my number using Google Voice and return the calls.  I've called them the poster children for birth control, etc.  Basically a lot of nasty things that I'm sure the moderators here wouldn't appreciate me repeating - bottom line nothing nice.  I always like to close saying their parents must be real proud knowing their sons weren't man enough to get real jobs.  That usually gets a decent response.  

Way I see it - they can't do anything to me. (Despite a threat yesterday that my life would be f'ed up)  They can threaten all they want but my credit is frozen and my bank information has changed.  I've changed the only number they could really access me directly on and I've instructed my employer and family to not answer the calls.  I just call and harass them now when I find a few extra seconds.  What's the worst they can do to me?  Charge me with harassment?  

Nope, then they would have to identify themselves.

Oh, and don't bother contacting Cashnet USA about the calls.  Their "fraud" department could honestly care less.  Their "investigation" is merely a means of buerocratic CYA.  I would even be surprised at this point if actual law enforcement is involved in any shape, way or form at this time.  

There is a good chance that the information these crooks have on us was obtained from Cashnet USA - either from a database leak or from a collector that was once authorized by Cashnet to call on delinquent customers.  The other chance is they have access to Teletrack, and pulled all of our information off of there.

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-646-274-1143/3

For at least the last four years, possibly longer, a group has been calling former payday loan applicants advising them that they have defrauded a bank and are now being sued for non-payment of a loan.  The callers will claim to be calling on behalf of an attorney's office (name varies), the Dept. of Law and Investigation, ACS, or other similar combinations below:

United Legal Processing Division
Midline Marketing
Crime Monitoring Services
Monetary Crime Division
U.S. National Bank
Attorney General’s Office (usually in California)
American Legal Services
Affidavit Consolidation Services (ACS)

You will be threatened with arrest, a costly trial and possibly worse.  In no shape, way or form can you be arrested for non-payment on a consumer debt.  Do not believe these threats, as they are without merit and cannot be carried out in the manner they allege.  

Who are they?

In the past when pressed by law enforcement for an address, the callers have provided the following information:

David Morgan and Associates
Morgan & Associates
Morgan Associates
954-727-8481
1155 Northwest 85th Street
Wintergarden, Florida  33150
(Address is likely invalid)

The collector's MO matches a once legit collections agency called Ellis Crosby & Associates.  Here are some links on them:

http://www.budhibbs.com/collectorpages/ellis_crosby_and_associates.htm
http://www.budhibbs.com/collectorpages/EllisCrosbyJudgment.pdf

They have been previously fined over $1.3 million for various violations.  They have been known to use phone banks in India to make their calls, which more or less coincides with the difficult to understand accent many of us detect when we are contacted.  

The last time this group went by any "official" name was back in 2008:

Ellis Crosby & Associates / Douglas & Morgan Associates
4494 Southside Boulevard Suite #200
Jacksonville Florida 32216
Phone:  800-928-3536 / (904) 928-3536
(Address is likely invalid)

There are NUMEROUS consumer alerts out against this group of individuals:

Florida:
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/061107/met_176207561.shtml

Kansas:  
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/01/ks_debt_collection.html

Colorado:  
http://www.coloradoattorneygeneral.gov/press/ ... lls_likely_orig

Rhode Island:  
http://www.collectionscreditrisk.com/news/rho ... -3002135-1.html

West Virginia:
http://www.wvago.gov/internetloanscam.cfm

Missouri:
On July 15th, 2010 a Public Awareness Bulletin was sent out by Missouri Information Analysis Center.  

"..received reports from individuals in Ohio and Illinois reference suspicious telephone calls they received. In both instances, the callers are reporting that a voicemail is received from a man, with a Middle Eastern accent, identifying himself as an officer working with the Financial Crimes Unit.  The message indicates that the reason for the call concerns a loan made by the receiver or someone in the receiver's family. The voicemail requests that a return call be made and a telephone number is provided. When a return call is made, the caller is asked to provide personal identifying information such as their date of birth and social security number.

Reports indicate that the calls are frequent and persistent and that they even threaten arrest or legal action if information or money is not provided. It appears that the individuals making these calls may have access to some records connecting individuals and their relatives.  Missouri does not have a Financial Crimes Unit and all indications are that this is a fictitious agency. If you receive a similar phone call, please be advised that it is a scam and please contact your local law enforcement agency or the Missouri Information Analysis Center at 866-362-6422."

Bottom line:

Do not supply the callers with any additional information.  Inform them you have reported them to law enforcement and hang up.  If you haven't already, go ahead and report the calls to local law enforcement, your state's Attorney General and beyond.  Look up the local Secret Service branch's information in your area and get in contact with an agent there.  

If you ever applied for a cash advance online, your information is out there.  
Possible sources for the breach of your privacy are:

* The scammers obtained your information from Teletrack - a reporting agency used by many cash advance lenders to determine their risk lending to you.  The service is able to tell cash advance lenders if you have existing loans with other companies, for example.  Many state laws prohibit borrowers from having more than two cash advances out at the same time.

* The scammers created their own fake payday loan application site.  People looking for a cash advance went to the site and applied, thus freely providing the scammers with their information for malicious use at a later time.  

* The scammers were able to get into the database(s) of cash advance lenders - probable targets being Sonic Payday and Cashnet USA.  


How to protect yourself:

* Inform your employer.  You are likely getting calls at home and/or at work, so make sure your employer is aware the calls are part of a scam and to not take them seriously.  Advise the callers that they are no longer allowed to call you at work.  If they continue to call, document the date and time of the calls you received.  Save voice mails left if at all possible.  

* Change your number(s).  For some this may not be an option, for others a one-time number change can be done free of charge.

Be advised - any references you listed on your payday loan application will be contacted.  Let those people know that this is a scam, and they can disregard.

* Use Google Voice.  Google Voice is a great replacement voice mail system for just about any phone number you use.  Messages can be transcribed and voice mail recordings can be saved as mp3 files.  

Pro Tip - call the scammers with a Google Voice number before turning off your old phone numbers.  Make sure when you call you identify yourself so they can start up their script.  At any point after they have your information pulled up just hang up.  They will then start religiously calling your Google Voice number.  At this point, you are free to change your regular phone number(s) and enjoy not having these people ever call you again.  (And laugh at the fact these people are basically talking to a brick wall several times a day)

The scammers change their numbers frequently.  Law enforcement used to think it was because the callers ran out of minutes on their prepaid wireless accounts or they were shuttered due to fraud, but now they understand it's simply to evade detection by savvy consumers online.  With the proliferation of VoIP, it's even easier for the crooks to stay a couple of steps ahead of law enforcement.  Below is just a sampling of the 30+ numbers that have been used in recent memory.

1-201-244-7722
1-209-349-7382
1-209-797-2212
1-212-500-0839
1-213-256-0408
1-213-995-3039
1-281-763-0433
1-347-289-3902
1-347-844-6817
1-347-844-6831
1-424-354-4270
1-516-232-8905
1-516-232-8935
1-518-212-0219
1-561-300-8018
1-561-210-4185
1-626-200-4646
1-631-456-4041
1-646-274-1143
1-646-810-8635
1-650-241-4604
1-707-401-4056
1-707-633-2789
1-708-401-0535
1-716-442-2824
1-717-862-4080
1-718-705-8669
1-760-514-0132
1-760-563-5384
1-772-318-4938
1-850-201-1111
1-858-777-1977
1-859-908-2281
1-866-860-4509
1-877-226-7488
1-888-706-7463
1-888-771-9249
1-888-785-4479
1-909-327-4870

So can they really do anything to you?

It's not a simple yes or no answer.  Logic dictates that, if they really wanted to take you for a ride and drain your bank accounts, they already would have.  

So, why haven't they?  

Authorization.  

Why do you think you are being called so much?  Perhaps it is because they like the sound of your voice?  No, they have to have your authorization to take any form of payment from you, period.  The callers know their audience, and that audience is typically a bunch of people that have applied for payday loans in the past.  Most of those people they call couldn't afford an attorney if they wanted one, and are so used to receiving collections calls that so long as they sound like a real collector, they will likely be perceived as one.

Furthermore, they don't even really want to talk to your attorney - that just sounds official and scary enough.  A real attorney would take the callers to task and write them off as two-bit con artists.  The callers need you, in writing, to authorize payment against the fictitious debt they claim you owe.  Go ahead, ask them for proof you owe the debt - more commonly known as verification of debt.  See what they say.  A phone authorization carries very little weight, so if they have something signed by you on file, you are done for - and the callers know that.  That authorization is the only thing these callers are doing by the book, and for good reason.  If they just went all willy nilly and made an ACH debit from your checking account, without your written approval, you could in turn report the transaction as fraudulent to your financial institution.  In about 7-10 business days, you would get the funds returned to your account.  Then the scammers would be up against a bank and their team of lawyers and investigators.  

Bottom line:

If you haven't paid the callers a dime, don't.  If you planned on paying them to shut them up, just don't.  Remember - you are not being contacted by a legally licensed, ethically owned and operated collector.  Read up on the FDCPA - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf - and know your rights.

PS--The FBI sent out a Press Release on this scam just last week:

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.

Some fraudsters have instructed victims to fax a statement agreeing to pay a certain amount, on a specific date, via a pre-paid Visa card. The statement further declares the victim will never dispute the debt.

If you receive these calls, do not follow the caller’s instructions. Rather, you should:

Notify your banking institutions.
Contact the three major credit bureaus and request an alert be put on your file.
Contact your local law enforcement agencies if you feel you are in immediate danger.
File a complaint at www.IC3.gov.
Tips to avoid becoming a victim of this scam:

Never give your Social Security number—or personal information of any kind—over the telephone or online unless you initiate the contact.
Be suspicious of any e-mail with urgent requests for personal financial information. The e-mail may include upsetting or exciting but false statements to get you to react immediately.
Avoid filling out forms in e-mail messages that request personal information.
Ensure that your browser is up-to-date and security patches have been applied.
Check your bank, credit, and debit card statements regularly to make sure that there are no unauthorized transactions. If anything looks suspicious, contact your bank and all card issuers.
When you contact companies, use numbers provided on the back of cards or statements

http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/paydayloanscam_120710

https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-951-489-0227

I just got home and received a VERY similar call on my voice mail.  I thought the number the caller gave me was 972-234-8700 but could have been mistaken.  She identified herself as from Legal Securities Bureau and that I had to show cause to stop a restraining order against me.  And that I too could take care of this in 24-48 hours to hold off a subpoena.  They can go ahead and serve me.  I've never had a payday loan with them, so I'd like to see the egg on their face and maybe a countersuit.  I'm sure it's the same company that has called several times before saying I owe them a payday loan, which I do not.  I have paid all my payday loans as of today.  This "company" if it is the same has been calling for over 3 years now.  They are now using more of a scare tactic.  Of course, I googled all of this and found these posts.

Got a call on a cell number that i've had not used for over 8 years. niece has number.left same message that i had a restraining order and also gave me a case number. I searched the number knowing that my credit is good and that a yearly get a background check by the state and federal agency. If I did have a restraining order I wouldnt be working.

My sister had texted me with the same exact information and when I called they gave me the first 3 digits of my social security number, they gave me the address of my BFF that I was staying with and they kept repeating "are you going to deal with this today or do we turn it over to the courts and you can fight it out in court!"  I told them I would be calling them back!  This was freaking me out cuz I know exactly who I owe and who I don't!  These people are jerks and its obvious it is a scam!  This has got to stop!!!

My daughter lives with her mother my ex and she called me today in a panic that this company Legal Securities Bureau had called her mother brand new house phone number that she had for only 2 weeks. Keep in mind me and my ex divorced 6 yrs ago. then they called my new home number... Restraining orders are for people that bother other people not debts. But I called them back and asked for the lady that left the message but the extremley arrogant man wouldnt acknowledge that she even worked there but I needed to pay x amount of dollars for a defaulted payday loan that I never even took out.may they all burn in hell.

I just received a call at work from a woman calling from a private number telling me I was being sued and needed to call phone number 972-234-8700 regarding an affidavit.  Upon calling that number (company identified as Legal Securities Bureau), a gentleman told me that I was being sued over a payday loan and was also going to be charged with intentional fraud of a company. He did not state nor ask for any personal information but told me in 6-days I would be served with a subpoena.  This is total nonsense and I too, will be reporting this company to the Better Business Bureau.

I too have received phone calls from the same company. They have also started contacting my dads house phone, how they got the number, I have no clue.  I will not call them back, as I have tried dealing with these people in the past and they just wanted to be vulgar and nonsense was involved.  I will not even attempt to pay something that I didn't take out first off, but not only that, if you can't provide me with a signed contract of where I took out the "loan" then STOP calling me.  I do not even pay my bills online in fear of my information being stolen.  It's ashame of the scams people get involved in!!

Recieved a call about a restraining order but not about me but my sister.

a man calling himself a special agent and said his name is glen edwards game me a  case number similar to the ones listed and said that i was being sued for fraud. this man is an idiot because i work for a federal prison which does in debt back ground checks and if this was true i would not be able to work there.

I got a voicemail from this jacka$$ today..on my mothers private home number! I however posted on fb that a special investigator william oaks said something about a restraining order ..I googled the area code of the return ph # left which was out of texas...I have never been to texas!! Anyways found the needed info here. Thanks...I really hope someone stops this!!

Fraud Scam

A Lynn White call this morning asking for our daughter by her maiden name (couln't even pronounce her name correctly) from the number listed on this page.  Obvious scam - hope you can catch them.  Could tell it was a fraud from the moment the phone call came through.

Ok so I just got off the phone with these people a Special Investigator Shelton. Mind you its 0745 AM(illegal) then tells me it's a criminal investigation against me and gives me a case number and says I need to call this number I then start questioning Investigator Shelton where he tries to back track what he says...who knows a good lawyer?

Stupid idiots!! Of course it is Christmas and they are out trying to get money!! Scared the crap out of me

Today we had two phone calls, one on our land line phone and another on a cell phone approximately 10 minutes later.  Both calls appeared as "unknown" on the caller ID and the caller left a message on the answering machine indicating she was "Special Investigator" Katie Reid (or Reeve) - couldn't understand the accent completely.  Katie advised that my husband, whose name she gave, was a "respondent in a court action in which he must appear."  She also indicated a complaint number such as "ABCD1234" with a return phone call number of 972-234-8700. .  She further said "please forward this information to your attorney.  This order to show cause is a restraining order.  You and your attorney have 24-48 hours to respond."  I have no clue why this phone call was placed to us.  If it was a debt collection call as others have indicated, I can only say we have a good credit rating and do not owe money to anyone that we do not pay completely as agreed.  I do know this is a SCAM.  Let me say that if any of you are wondering about these calls, DO NOT RESPOND to them.  If someone is suing you for any reason, you will get a personal subpoena from a process server at your home or business or a registered letter in the mail from an attorney, court, etc.  You will NOT get information like this via your phone from some SCAM person threatening you on behalf of a collection agency, etc.    Do not call them back, no matter how angry you get, as this only gives these people more information about you that they can use to further harass you.  Nothing you say to these people will matter to them.  The REAL KICKER with this phone call was that at the end of the message on the answering machine, Katie says "have a blessed day."  I realize people need jobs these days, but if someone can accept a job like this and know what they are doing is wrong and hurtful to those they call, then they are the ones who need to have "a blessed day."

I too have received this same phone call and thanks from this website I have realized that this is a scame I got the call about 6 months ago but didnt pay attention to it I figured it it was true I would get something in the mail.  Has anyone received any subpoena's

I got several calls from them and was so scared I paid them.

OMGosh!!!!! I too just started getting these calls....well, unfortunately my mom started getting these calls!!!!!!!!! not cool!!!! I had already decided to file bankruptcy, but after I was repeatedly yelled at, put down, and hung up on 3 times...and being told that I did not have a right to say anything..that HE was the only one able to talk and that HE would be the one who was gonna tell me what to do....i went and filed the chapter 7 THAT DAY....IN TEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE...DO NOT PAY THESE PEOPLE!!!!! thank you fro this site and that i was able to find it...better late than never...but this has diminished the fear i had of my accts being frozen and the sheriff coming to my door. i feel like an idiot thought...one of the things he tried to verify was my address which ironically enough is a PO BOX....he preceded to tell me that they had attempted to "serve me" at my address...umm....hello ass@**.....its a frickin PO BOX :/ anyways....in the midst of the abuse and terror tactics its hard to think about looking stuff like this up. I had tried to google the various company names that had been givin...just never thought about looking up the phone numbers. I truly wish there was another way to get the word out to the people getting these calls...before its too late. :( thank you all again for your experiences with this...it has truly brought some peace to my already chaotic life!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!!!

I just had a very similar experience with an exceedinly rude representative of this company, and just before New year's eve to boot. Happy New year huh!!!