Phone threats
Complaint
Bobby
Country: United States
A man named Calvin or Kevin Petterson making allegations that that my office clerk owes him money and if she doesn't send him a cashier check he will have her picked up by the FBI.He had everybody in my crying and scared half to death. I calmed them down and said their is no way this could be true and just as I said that he called back and I got on the phone and told to never never never never never call this # again. So far so good he has not called back. These kind of phone calls must stop people should not be in fear when they have done nothing wrong. What can be done to stop these kind of calls.
Comments
http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpact.htm#807
"§ 807. False or misleading representations [15 USC 1692e]
A debt collector may not use any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt. Without limiting the general application of the foregoing, the following conduct is a violation of this section:
(1) The false representation or implication that the debt collector is vouched for, bonded by, or affiliated with the United States or any State, including the use of any badge, uniform, or facsimile thereof.
(2) The false representation of --
(A) the character, amount, or legal status of any debt; or
(B) any services rendered or compensation which may be lawfully received by any debt collector for the collection of a debt.
(3) The false representation or implication that any individual is an attorney or that any communication is from an attorney.
(4) The representation or implication that nonpayment of any debt will result in the arrest or imprisonment of any person or the seizure, garnishment, attachment, or sale of any property or wages of any person unless such action is lawful and the debt collector or creditor intends to take such action.
(5) The threat to take any action that cannot legally be taken or that is not intended to be taken.
(6) The false representation or implication that a sale, referral, or other transfer of any interest in a debt shall cause the consumer to --
(A) lose any claim or defense to payment of the debt; or
(B) become subject to any practice prohibited by this title.
(7) The false representation or implication that the consumer committed any crime or other conduct in order to disgrace the consumer.
(8) Communicating or threatening to communicate to any person credit information which is known or which should be known to be false, including the failure to communicate that a disputed debt is disputed.
(9) The use or distribution of any written communication which simulates or is falsely represented to be a document authorized, issued, or approved by any court, official, or agency of the United States or any State, or which creates a false impression as to its source, authorization, or approval.
(10) The use of any false representation or deceptive means to collect or attempt to collect any debt or to obtain information concerning a consumer.
(11) The failure to disclose in the initial written communication with the consumer and, in addition, if the initial communication with the consumer is oral, in that initial oral communication, that the debt collector is attempting to collect a debt and that any information obtained will be used for that purpose, and the failure to disclose in subsequent communications that the communication is from a debt collector, except that this paragraph shall not apply to a formal pleading made in connection with a legal action.
(12) The false representation or implication that accounts have been turned over to innocent purchasers for value.
(13) The false representation or implication that documents are legal process.
(14) The use of any business, company, or organization name other than the true name of the debt collector's business, company, or organization.
(15) The false representation or implication that documents are not legal process forms or do not require action by the consumer.
(16) The false representation or implication that a debt collector operates or is employed by a consumer reporting agency as defined by section 603(f) of this Act. "
If this involves a debt that someone alleges she owes, regardless of whether she is misidentified or thinks the claim is valid, she would be wise to contact an attorney with experience in consumer debt, FDCPA, and FCRA litigation.
If she knows of no such allegation, and has not even received any collection letter, you may be dealing with a threat to your company thru her as your employee. You should contact local law enforcement.
Names mentioned in other reports: MW Marketing, Access Processing? BBB search finds companies that do not appear to be related. May be a debt collector for a payday lender. On-line complaints appear to be tied to the number, 321-422-5133, and the name "Kevin Peterson". 321 area code IS Florida.
This is a serious matter, due to the physical threats with many reports of this "Kevin Peterson" falsely claiming to be an "Officer", and threatening to come "from Florida" to arrest people. Threatening to "arrest" is a physical threat, even more so when the one claiming it is falsely claiming to be an "officer". In addition, his threats appear to be made across state lines.
You need to contact the FBI, and they may also be interested because his threats involve THEM. You should also contact the Florida Attorney General, since the calls appear to be from Florida.
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/rI4qMog8tQDxwAjJyA-dgw
Example, with a number of similar reports:
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-321-422-5133
"Jenn - 28 Aug 2007
I keep getting harrassing calls from Officer Kevin Peterson from 321-422-5133 saying that I am going to be arressted for fraud tomorrow if I don't pay $800 today. I called the police and they called them and told Mr. Peterson to stop calling himself an officer of the law. what should I do to stop him from calling my job ?
Caller ID: 321-422-5133"
"Rating: 0
Worried - 7 Sep 2007
While at work I received a call from an Indian Gentleman if you want to call him that who proceeded to call my work number several times stating that he is an investigator and they are going to arrest me for fraudulent activity. He called back and called back each time treating one of my co-workers with foul language. He stated that they will have me arrested for a loan I did through Access Processing if I don't pay them $690.00. I told him that I don't have that kind of money. I offered to set up a payment plan he laughed at me and called me some nasty names. Who is Access Processing?
How do I get this to stop??? I am so humiliated!
Caller ID: 321-422-5133
Caller: Access Processing"
http://myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsrel ... 52573A100703D53
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/061107/met_176207561.shtml
All their phony names sound like made up "detectives". I'm surprised they haven't used "Clint Eastwood" yet.
As you already picked up, they are BSing you.
They are not "detectives", "prosecutors", or "attorneys". They are low wage poorly educated bullies trying to appear to be what they are not, and they don't even know the proper use of the words they are using.
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-949-340-2718
http://www.wvago.gov/press.cfm?ID=444&fx=more
"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Norman Googel
Phone: (800) 368-8808
Release Date: August 21, 2008
Attorney General McGraw Warns Public of Fake Internet Loan Collectors Impersonating Law Enforcement Officers and Extorting Money From Consumers
Attorney General Darrell McGraw took the extraordinary step today of warning the public about a band of scam artists making threats to consumers who allegedly obtained Internet payday loans in West Virginia and across the nation. The consumers they threaten never obtained a loan at all or paid it off years ago.
Internet payday loans are short-term loans or cash advances, usually for 14 days, made over the Internet via interactive web sites and secured by an agreement authorizing debits of the loan and all fees owed from the consumer’s checking account. These loans typically charge interest rates ranging from 600-800 APR and are unlawful in West Virginia.
The scam artists, who speak English with a foreign accent, call themselves “U.S. National Bank,” “Federal Investigation Bureau,” “United Legal Processing” and numerous other phony names. They refuse to disclose real names and addresses and are believed to be operating “off the grid” from homes, automobiles, or from off shore locations or foreign countries, including India. Since the scammers have kept themselves purposely well hidden, thus far no law enforcement agencies have succeeded in locating or shutting them down.
The scammers typically pose as law enforcement officers, investigators, lawyers, and bankers and threaten consumers that they will be arrested for “bank fraud” or other fictitious crimes unless money is wired immediately. They simultaneously scare and confuse consumers by using meaningless legalese gobbledygook phrases such as, “We are downloading warrants against you” or “We are filing an affidavit against you.” Consumers who don’t immediately fall for the scam are warned, “Only God can help you now.”
The scammers almost always call consumers at work several times a day, and tell their supervisors, “Your employee has committed fraud and is about to be arrested.” Such threats have proven unsettling even to the most savvy consumers and employers who suspect the calls are fraudulent.
Attorney General McGraw stated, “Ordinarily my office protects consumers from fraudulent activities by seeking injunctions in court. But legal action cannot be taken until the scam artists can be located. Even then, it is unlikely that the persons behind the fraudulent calls and extortionist threats would obey a court order. In this case, the consumer’s best defense is to be armed with the knowledge of the scam so that all demands for money can be resisted, despite the false but scarey threats of arrest.”
McGraw added, “Because the fraudsters make a special point of calling consumers repeatedly at work, employers must understand that the consumers are innocent victims of a criminal enterprise and cannot stop the calls from coming. I also wish to assure the citizens of West Virginia that my office will continue to do everything possible to locate and shut down the outlaw debt collectors.”
More information about this fraudulent debt collection scheme is available at the Attorney General’s website, www.wvago.gov/internetloanscam. Any consumers who have been threatened by these persons or wish to file a complaint about another consumer matter may do so by calling the Consumer Protection Hot Line, 1-800-368-8808, or by obtaining a complaint form from the Attorney General’s web site.
"
You are dealing with con men running an extortion racket. See the West Virginia Attorney General's press release above.
Access to relative information implies they may have access to information from Accurint or Choicepoint, which collects such information for sale to law enforcement, private investigators, debt collectors, etc.
Con men will try to make their script believable, but that includes faking it. If you never took out a payday loan, then you don't owe one. If you did, you still probably don't owe these crooks.
https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/7722284008
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-772-228-4008
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/national-affadavit-processing-service-c190563.html
They cannot do ANY of the things they threaten, even though they may have gotten access to identity data.
They are just a bunch of criminal liars.
They often pretend to be "attorneys",. "process servers" supposedly "serving papers", "investigators", or whatever they make up. They often call and harass relatives or employers, as that increases the embarassment and intimidation factor, even though abusive collection is illegal and violates FDCPA. They don't care about any debt collection laws, since they hide behind mail drops and layered shell LLCs, if they are even anything more than some guys with anonymous cell phones.
Practically nothing shows up against that number on Google.
On top of the illegal threats, that is one indicator they are probably just crooks running a con,
If they have thick accents, they are probably calling from overseas, possibly India, even if the call appears to be from a U.S. area code. VoIP is cheap, and allows them to spoof caller id.
See Nightline tonight. There is a story on one of these scam "debt collectors" who harassed a lady in West Virginia, pretending to be the "local sheriff". She sued them, got a $10 Million judgement, and is now hounding them to collect it.