telephone scams
Complaint
corina
Country: United States
My mother in law rec'd a message on her cell phone (3/22/2012), and it said this msg is for Corina --- my name is Thomas Brooks an I have been served paperwork with 2 charges....call (888) 749-7725 case #399476. I first was wondering how they had her number, I dont even have it! I returned the call an spoke with a woman named Amy she stated that in February of 2004 I had got a cash advance for $300, and that NCA was hired to basically find me as to collect the debt. Amy said that I was gonna be served papers an that for me not to refuse the papers, because then I wouldnt know what day I was to appear in court. Amy also said that they had video surveillance of me that they were able to compare to my license, I asked if I was gonna be taken to jail...she said only if I dont appear in court. Then she said that the company that gave me the advance was seeking fraud charges on me, because the check I wrote was insufficiant funds...then I got scared! Then she proceeded to tell me that if I could pay $380 rite then with a debit or credit card that she could stop all the court ect.. Then she asked if I was married...she also said that none of this will appear on my credit report but it will appear if my SS # is checked for things such as employment. Then she said that she was calling out of New York an would be in the office for another hour...she gave me her direct extension 798 an told me to make some calls an see if I could come up with the $380 an to call her back. At the time I was so scared of the thought that I could go to jail, it didnt even occur to me that she didn't even have my address an I've lived in the place for 13.5 years!!!! Stupid me gave her my address an my number...This Amy called me back at 5pm our time stating that she was leaving for the day an that we would just "wing it tonite" she then said that she would call me tomorrow (3/23/2012-TODAY) at 5am my time to see if by chance I was able to come up with the money. Amy called me today at 5:15am California time...an again STUPID ME gave her my cc card info an paid the $380...she said gave me a confirmation number and said that I would be recieving paperwork in 2-3 weeks informing me that the debt has been settled ect.. The more I thought about it, it just didnt sound right, so I called her back and played stupid and asked her what the name of the cash advance place was that I just payed...she first tried to tell me that she didnt have that information, I told her that she had given it to me yesterday, she then said no "sweetie" I wouldnt have that information as there are thousands those places everywhere, but I argued with her telling her that Im not crazy an that she did give me the name of the place yesterday! Then all of a sudden she says oh yes, here it is.."Advanced America" she went as far as to give me a checking acct number and the exact date that I supposedly had written this check...then she I asked if her company had ID number...she gave me misc number an said that, that was my ID/acct number with Advanced America, again I asked for her company ID number then she gave me 399470, an said you can also go to our website an it will explain what our company does ect..ect...I searched for the website...nothing....just other sites related...I also searched Advanced America an the sites are online application sites..how could they have a video of me????? I have called my CC company and stopped the transaction an the $$$ is gonna be put refunded to my acct.
Comments
I told them I did some research and wanted to retract my payment until I contacted a bank I used to have an account with. The lady basically shunned me saying I was [***] out of luck. Told me to contact the original company I was indebted to, but they couldn't even give me the name of the company or the exact dollar amount of what I supppsedly owed!
So now my credit card transaction is still pending and nothing can be done until it goes through. Will I have a hard time disputing this whole ordeal? Should I just cut my losses or fight it.....I feel so dumb and almost embarrassed to even explain this situaion to my credit card company!
Any help or advice would be appreciated....
Thanks
They can't name the alleged creditor, because there isn't one.
No recording by a scammer is reliable, and all it proves it they are running a convincing con.
When you are dealing with a scam, you don't depend on the scammer to return your money.
File a fraud and extortion complaint with your local police.
Immediately contact your bank to block your card number.
If and when the charge goes through, dispute it through your bank as fraudulent.
Follow up by sending your bank a signed fraud affidavit.
If your bank wants any more documentation, get a copy of the police report and send them a copy.
Blocking a payment on a debt is not fraud, like some bounced check paying to buy something, because it was never "payment for value". That's why bounced post-dated checks for payday loans are not some criminal act, even though the debt collectors who collect on them often threaten prosecution. The lender knew when he received it that the check was not good. It was the same as the loan, a promise to pay at some date in the future.
You don't pay, they get nothing, and you get nothing, no reduction in owed "debt", if there is any.
They are no worse off than when they first called.
Maybe they don't buy drugs this weekend.
Process servers don't normally call ahead, as that would allow the party being served to evade service.
The exception apparently is these fake debt collection shakedown rackets, where the first call is almost always from a "process server", preferably to some relative, coworker, or employer.
The classic Corona Scam shakedowns first called as a "process server", to try to create panic, and to leave a number to call back. They prefer to call relatives, to add embarassment and an element of anonymous intimidation. When the victim calls back, they reach a closer, who is often more experienced in manipulating the victim to "close", or extort payment.
The split allows hiring of cheap "process server" callers off the street, who can be sold on how what they are doing is "legal", and that the "debts" are "legitimate". Give them a cut of the take and if they are any good (read: sociopaths), they will learn to weave implied threats into their script, sometimes playing "deputy", assistant DA, or whatever strikes their fancy.
The closers can operate with the benefit of the implied threats, while denying any responsibility for making them, since "the process servers are a different company".
This pattern shows up across multiple clusters of shakedown operations, and they all seem to be acting from the same scripts.
If you review the earlier complaints against NCA, you find they leave out the "process server" part, leaning more heavily on threats of prosecution, including numerous complaints reporting they claimed they supposedly had the victim videotaped passing this "bad check". Although they probably thought that made a credible threat, many complainants actually laughed at it, making them sound like naive amateurs.
If your first call is now from this "City Serv process server", then it appears they have now refined their scripts to be more like the classic Corona form. The Corona scam actually had an LLC they called "City Services", as one of their "process server" fronts.
Contact FTC and the New York Attorney General.
The NY AG went after a bunch of these shakedown rackets after the Dateline expose a couple years ago.
Such Lies.
Ignore them or we all should just call and harass them.
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Attorneys who actually sue don't do phone cons. It would get them sued or disbarred. They file, and just hire a process server, maybe a deputy, and serve you without further notice. Real process servers don't call ahead.
And if you were sued and served a summons, you would have your day in court, find out what this alleged "debt" was and whether you owed it, be able to defend yourself, have representation by counsel, and demand the other side show their cards through discovery.
Never going to happen. The phone shakedowns don't sue. If they did, they would have no reason to run cons.
Any liar can tell you on the phone he's "going to serve you". That implies there's already a "lawsuit", so you're supposed to panic and pay of the shakedown, without any proof of debt. It's an easy con to play, just keep calling until you find a sucker.
Indian swindlers have been running the same cons for years.
Richard & Peggy Cerrone, are required to pay $85,000 in penalties and must take significant steps to clean up their business practices. Richard Cerrone owns and operates the Southern Tier Agency, Inc., Check & Credit Reporting, Inc., and Credit & Check Filing, Inc. Peggy Cerrone owns and operates the Cornerstone Resolution Group, Inc. The Investigation revealed the Cerrone companies repeatedly violated the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. On more than 30 occasions consumers have filed suit against the Cerrone companies. Moreover, consumers have submitted more than 200 complaints to the Federal Trade Commission, the Better Business Bureau, and the OAG against the Cerrones companies.
Called them back and confronted politely Michele and she hung up on me. Guess I did a decent job.