extortion "debt collector" calls, phony

ComplaintsCollection AgenciesBrown & Travis Law Firm, Atty William Jacobs

Complaint

0
Deborah Erbeck
Country: United States
For over 4 weeks I have gotten phone calls from an "attorney" who claims to be William Jacobs from the Brown & Travis Law Firm.  He states that he is sueing me on behalf of Mideastern Financial.  I have not received any mailing from them and each time I speak with him, I request the address of the law firm, Brown & Travis.  He will only ramble on about how I don't want to talk to him.  He sounds like the comedian Gilbert Godfried.  The phone number last used to call me was 412-342-5360 and I traced this back in the white pages as a mobile number.  I could not find any such law firm in that state, only in Texas, with a totally different area code.  Nor is there any Mideastern Financial, or an attorney William Jacobs in the Pittsburgh area.  I am going to report it to the state as false misrepresentation of an attorney as well as to my local police.

Comments

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  • +1
    tj
    Sounds like a pretty typical fake "debt collection" extortion racket.

    This type of phone extortion scam is becoming increasingly common.

    A real debt collector or attorney would have sent you notice of the alleged debt in writing, in order to comply with FDCPA.  That would have provided their address to which to send a dispute requesting proof of the debt.

    If you were really sued, you would have a record of the lawsuit at your local county courthouse, and you would have to be served a summons.


    Some of these thugs are calling from overseas, often India (as indicated by thick Indian accents), but some are also in the U.S.  it is not surprising that a scammer might use the name of an actual law firm in the scam, but with slight alterations (different area code) to look less suspicious if you tried to check them out.  

    They are looking for suckers who feel intimidated and might even be afraid to call the law firm to check.  They just keep calling people until someone falls for it.  They feel real safe pulling this hiding behind the anonymity of a disposable cell phone.

    A real attorney using these tactics could be sued for violating FDCPA, and might be disbarred.

    File complaints with FTC, your state AG, and your state bar association.
     Your state bar association can also confirm there is no such attorney in your state by that name, or can provide you the phone number of any attorneys with a similar name, so you can call them and confirm this is just a scam.  

    There is really no downside for vetting them even if it's not fake, as you will then know who you are dealing with so you can contact your own attorney, but it's very unlikely they are real when they use these illegal tactics.
  • +1
    tj
    With fake "debt collection" shakedown rackets, and in particular when they play "attorney" or "process server", or even "police detective" or "DA", you can expect that they will keep raising the level of threats ("court costs", "attorney fees", etc.), while offering a lower "settlement" if you pay immediately.  

    It's all aimed at panicking and extorting people before they can check anything out, which is what implies it's all fake.  Just a "con".
  • 0
    fern johnson
    | 2 replies
    Extortion, harrassment and con referred to as the "India Scam".  Been fighting the battle for almost 6 months.  If this was indeed a loan you defaulted on you would have been contacted by the loan agency and then by thier legal department.  They deal with these matters personally, they don't call in outside law firms.  They have thier own attorneys on retainer and many on property at thier corporate offices.  File complaints with the FTC,FBI,local law enforcement, notify all credit reporting agencies and you bank.  Whatever you do, don't give them a penny, don't give them any pers. info.  They called me again today and left a message that they were calling from Brown and Travis Law Firm, said his name was Robert Wolf and that I was to call him back at 561-910-0042 (a Florida #) within 2 days or else.
    • +1
      Ms. A replies to fern johnson
      | 1 reply
      I  have also gotten this same call from a Mr. Robert Woods "(Attorney at Law)" He called me multiple times today claiming I owed a Midland Financial and I need to pay within 2 days or civil charges will be brought against me. The number he continues to call me at is (561) 910-0042. this is the other information in an email I received from him: Brown & Travis Law Firm

      9906 Glades Road,

      Boca Raton FL 33428

      (561) 910 0042

      www.bntlawfirm.com



      This has got to be a scam! He has an Indian accent an continously talks in circles when I ask for more information on the matter.
      • 0
        victoria t replies to Ms. A
        I got this msg from the same name and number they are really pissing me off now
  • 0
    batman123
    same as some of the above.Calling and calling;going to sue me.Supposed to call 561-910-0042.I am sick of itThey say they are Brown and Travis Law Firm
  • 0
    dudefeelingfroggy
    Constantly I recieve these phone calls and in retaliation I've requested names possible locations of such firm and have been given false information. In turn I've replied to counter sue this firm or aka [***] don't exist with harrassment charges and then they stop and then few days they begin once again how do you get rid of these annoying ass wipes pardon my language but quite fed up.
  • 0
    sw1
    I too have received the same type of call from "Robert Woods" with Brown and Travis law firm, call back number (561)910 0042. Mr. Woods doesn't have a receptionist because he always answers. Lol  We should all block our numbers and give him a few calls letting him know what we think of his scam!!
  • 0
    Lisa B
    Just received a message from "Robert Wood".  He claims that I need to call him back within 2 business days, so I called back asked for the law firm name and business number: Brown and Travis,  #4397587.  I then asked him to mail me the documents for this supposed debt I owe in which they will be suing me and garnishing my wages, he told me he would just send the summons and hung up.  So I called back immediately and got the machine.  I left a messaged saying I was not going to pay for a debt I know nothing about, and that as a resident in California, they cannot contact my employer.  I asked him to send me the documentation of the debt, if I owe it I will pay but I need to see the where this debt originated first.  I was not rude, but spoke with authority.  I then contacted the Florida department of licensing and there is no such license.  The woman I spoke to told me to call Florida Consumer Affairs.  They were helpful and told me to file a complaint on their website 800helpfla.com.  I am tired of this guy harassing me... they are now calling from Florida numbers... a couple months ago they were using numbers out of Indiana.  I called one number back and got a message saying the "magic jack customer you are trying to reach has not set up their voicemail box" , what law firm uses magic jack???
  • 0
    Lisa B
    Haven't heard from this man for several days. But reported him and Brown & Travis Law Firm to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Consumer Services.  I also reported them to the Federal Trade Commission.  I refuse to be bullied by Indian scammers and hope this helps them shut them down!!  

    www.ftc.gov   if you want to fight back!!
  • 0
    batman123
    calls and threats from William Jacobs;sick of it
  • 0
    LC
    | 2 replies
    I  got a call today from Karen Smith of Smith & Travis law firm asking for my mother who is being sued (but they never actually called her directly). She was extremly rude. I immediatly looked it up and found multiple complaints about the same issues. This woman claimed they were in Florida as well, but the number she called from is a Ohio number. I didn't try to call it back, because I don't trust that I'm not going to get some crazy phone bill afterwards. Heres the information I got:

    Smith & Travis law Firm in Florida
    (513) 348-1790 ext: 228
    • 0
      TT replies to LC
      I just got a phone call from a guy 5 min ago, he asked for Teresa Norton, I am not her so I said you have the wrong number. The guy then responded with "well we will just sue her then" and then hung up. Clearly this is a scam so I hope the guy calls back so I can tell him off.
    • 0
      markxl replies to LC
      i just had the same issue and i did call back but they keep hanging up on me im sooooooo pissed and they know it lol
  • 0
    RXD
    Anita Johnston called with a lawsuit message from this same # and bisiness name and adress.She said I have to pay all that money or my paycheck will be taken and everything in my apartment. I told her I don't have no clue on this and she kept pressuring me for my check book # so i had to hang up to shut her off and she called me back like five times so far ad left messages threatening my paycheck again.She had my ss and I have called ss and they said she is a fraud and told me to put out an alert on my ss and tell my job not to give my paycheck anywhere.
  • 0
    karin
    they are calling me at my house every night with a private # and calling me all kind of names
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