Harassment
Complaint
Debra M. Persiano
Country: United States
I got a call today at home from a man stating he was a process server for Collin County DA's Office and he is with the Sheriff's office and needed to come serve a warrant on me. I was shocked and asked why? He stated do you live ....are you still at this address are you now at this address and I stated who are you? He again, stated he was from the county going to serve court papers on me today. He gave me a toll free number for what he stated was the county's office which is 1 866.872.6116 gave me a case no. which he called a Cause No. 008307-TX. I called the number was transferred to a Mr. Fisher's office who stated that law suite in the amount of $6,214.24 was filed in Collin Co., Tx and that warrant was out for me. He then after back and forth said let me get more information from my secretary and state this was for an outstanding debt in from Capital One a credit card that I obtained several years back and had disputes over interest charges etc. He stated that if I did not want to go to court or jail that I could pay $1,951.00 in full by end of business today and this matter could be cleared up. I explained that I recently lost my job etc. Anyway, he stated that I needed to call him back by EOB today or they will serve the papers. Ok, so that was a heads up for me. I called the DA's office nothing is filed on me as of today, after searching PMG it is clear that they do not practice best practices for collections and have been in trouble for this before back in 2004. I need someone to give me advise. I want to pay off my debt, I don't want this type of collections to continue this upset me, made my blood pressure raise, this type of collections are not the right thing to do. Had they called and ask to make arrangements or give me an opportunity to clear the matter, rather then threaten me by taken legal action, or harassment stating they are sending a sheriff over today. This is wrong, bad business, and should not continue this company is bad news.
Comments
This type of scam is currently growing in popularity, not only from this "Corona cluster", but out of other scammy telemarketing areas, like Buffalo NY, Las Vegas area, etc. It's distinct from the "Indian debt collector" scammers, which are generally overseas in India or Pakistan.
You could ennumerate the common characteristics from your own experience, but they include:
1) First contact often by some "process server", often via calls to relatives first, supposedly trying to track you down to "serve" you, but directing you to call their number instead.
2) On calling, victims report additional threats aimed at getting immediate payment of several thousand dollars. Claims they have sued you. Sometimes claim you will be arrested, that they are with "the County", "the DA" or "the Sheriff". Playing up the "court costs and attorney fees", and push to "settle" for about "half".
3) Many reports that on checking with the local court, no lawsuit was found.
4) Consumer phone complaint sites, like 800notes and whocallsme, have many consumer complaints against their various numbers. They also have posts that appear to be "shills" trying to make it appear that the "debts" and "lawsuits" are real, or that it is better to settle.
5) No proof of the alleged debt ever provided. Several reports of a crude printout or settlement letter, with little more than the alleged amount, and nothing traceable to any real account.
6) No reports of receiving the FDCPA required letter notifying you of your right to dispute and request validation. Contact is ALWAYS by phone, as above.
7) Victims often report they have no idea what the debt is, or sometimes that it sounds similar to something on their credit report, but details don't match.
8) A number of reports they are pulling credit reports. Some have found their credit inquiries immediately before the first call, or got an email from their credit monitoring service.
9) Some reports that they have used credit report information in an attempt to intimidate victims. (Similar tactics were reported in connection with CAMCO)
10) Calls to relatives would also indicate they may have access to skip-trace information.
11) Some part of this group may have become a client of a credit reporting agency and/or skip-trace service like Accurint or Choicepoint.
12) Continuing proliferation of "company names" and mail drops, and new phone numbers, that still cross-connect. (hence "cluster")
13) Few addresses are physical business locations. Almost all are mail drops, at UPS Stores, etc., in the general area.
through anywho.com (yellowpages.com) and 411.com.
Numbers marked with * show NO RESULTS from reverse search.
They are not listing any of these phone numbers, even when
numbers appear in Corona business license listings.
Portfolio Management Group,
Horizon Global Group,
HGG tied to PMG by Fictitious Name registration in Riverside County.
PMG, HGG, TAS
866-872-6116 *
866-872-6117 *
866-872-5550 *
866-872-8399 *
877-546-0642 *
888-280-7216 * (TAS)
TAS
888-280-7216 *
Pacific Asset Group
888-310-3751 *
888-295-1624 *
DC Brown
951-734-9100 *
Pacific Management and Recovery,
Union Management
951-824-5265 *
888-332-0080 *
866-214-2646 *
866-668-0012 *
866-767-8814 *
National FC
888-393-6050 *
Atlantic Resource Management,
Atlantic Case Management, NFC
888-393-6043 *
888-393-6044 *
LM Partners
888-541-8058 *
AF Group
813-863-1962 *
888-295-1662 *
888-280-7216 * (TAS) Ties AF Group back to PMG, HDD
National Filing Services,
Global Filing Services
888-745-8841 *
951-824-5265 *
813-863-1962 * (connects to AF Group)
"process service division"
Prime West Management Recovery LLC
109 North Maple Suite C, Corona, CA 92880
866-969-7222
Heavy Hitters Investment
Corona CA
Wayne Lunsford
951-581-6424
Usual Corona Scam pattern:
"I got a call yesterday also to a person who is not even part of my family, telling her they were from the Sheriff's Dept and that I had 3 hrs to contact them. This person contacted my brother and he contacted me. I called (866)988-1001 and it is PRIME WEST MANAGEMENT centered in Corona for a credit card debt that was closed years ago. "Valerie" the representative sounded very convincing telling me that I had a court summons that I didnt go to blah blah blah... but when I asked her info on WHAT court I was supposed to go or what this was about she told me that "I cant disclose that information unless we process your payment" She was offering me settlement for $700 out of a $1,500 debt but I had to pay it right away...
..."
"Our family received a call from the sheriff's department; actually, it was from a processing center claiming and pretending to be the sheriff's department. The person, Kevin Johnson, explained that a family member has an outstanding debt and they wanted to serve him with papers. I asked him for the company's physical address, but he refused to provide the information and disconnected our conversation. So, I decided to contact Terry G. Box, sheriff's department. He is the sheriff for Collin County. He stated, "We do not serve summons from collection agencies." Soon, I contacted the Collin County Courthouse to see if there was a pending lawsuit for our family member. Apparently, it does not exist. So, if you receive a call from a processing center that represents Prime West Management.
..."
"Union Management Services, LLC is located at 541 N Main St Ste 104-261 Corona, CA 92880. The officers include Jason Begley, Wayne Lunsford. Union Management Services, LLC was incorporated on Monday, March 29, 2010 in the State of CA and is currently active. Incorporating Solutions Group, Inc. A California Corporation represents Union Management Services, LLC as their registered agent.
Source: Public Record data - Department of State - Division of Corporations
Officers:
Jason Begley
Wayne Lunsford
..."
http://www.corporationwiki.com/California/Cor ... c/47701637.aspx
"City Investment Services, LLC is located at 541 N Main St Ste 104-261 Corona, CA 92880. The officers include Jason Begley, Wayne Lunsford. City Investment Services, LLC was incorporated on Monday, March 29, 2010 in the State of CA and is currently active. Incorporating Solutions Group, Inc. A California Corporation represents City Investment Services, LLC as their registered agent.
Source: Public Record data - Department of State - Division of Corporations
Officers:
Jason Begley
Wayne Lunsford
..."
http://www.corporationwiki.com/California/Corona/jason-begley/45437365.aspx
"Jason Begley
...
Related People:
Wayne Lunsford
Related Companies:
City Investment Services, LLC
Heavy Hitters Investments, Inc.
Union Management Services, LLC
..."
http://www.corporationwiki.com/California/Cor ... c/45437362.aspx
"Heavy Hitters Investments, Inc. is located at 541 N Main St Ste 104-261 Corona, CA 92880. The officers include Jason Begley. Heavy Hitters Investments, Inc. was incorporated on Monday, April 26, 2010 in the State of CA and is currently active. Incorporating Solutions Group Inc A Cal Corporation represents Heavy Hitters Investments, Inc. as their registered agent.
Source: Public Record data - Department of State - Division of Corporations
Officers:
..."]
Corona business license
http://www.discovercorona.com/index.cfm/index ... d=579&id=647818
Name: Heavy Hitters Investments
License No: 647818
Issue Date: 12/30/2010
Expire Date: 09/30/2011
Business Address: 980 Montecito Dr 205
Corona, CA 92879
Start Date: 10/01/2010
Mailing Address: 980 Montecito Dr 205
Corona, CA 92879
Mail drop:
http://www.corporationwiki.com/California/Cor ... -a20479153.aspx
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-668-0012
"Pacific Management Recovery, Llc.
541 N Main St., Suite 104-261
Corona, CA
92880
1-866-668-0012
..."
Report of Pacific Management & Recovery allegedly using fake account numbers in collecting on two "First Bank of Delaware" accounts.
http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=410036
The MO was pretty much the same as everything all of you have written; I was given a deadline of 4 p.m. Pacific time (7 p.m. in N.C.) to settle a potential $4,800 debt on a credit card that was closed in 2002 for $1,200. If I didn't, there would be a criminal summons filed against me ASAP.
I settled that card a few years after I had, yes, let it slide ... but it has been settled.
I made the mistake of giving them my address and the last four of my SSN before I realized this was probably a scam; is there any damage control I can do for that? Guess I have to lawyer up now?
You will, however, find "shill" posts in just about any complaint thread that mentions them. These shills sometimes appear as the very first "complaints" when they start using a new phone number, so this may be an attempt to deliberately create a confusing picture of their practices and capabilities to counter real complaints.
The "process server" call to a relative, threats of a lawsuit or arrest, unrecognized or old paid "debt", hiding location, and shill posts, form a syndrome or pattern that practically defines the "Corona scam".
In some cases, they appear to be making up accounts, often allegedly "HSBC", "Wells Fargo" or "First Bank of Delaware", although people often know when they never had an account with the alleged "creditor". In other cases, they may be using credit reports.
If you had settled an old account years ago, but some information on that account was still on one of your credit reports where it could be found, then you would be an ideal victim for this type of scam.
There are indications across a range of complaints that they may be obtaining consumer information from credit reports, skip-trace services (to find relatives or employers), internet searches, and on-line court filings, which would be sufficient to fake the appearance that they might be collecting on an old account.
"My elderly father was contacted today; he called me immediately with the number "
First contact with a relative is reported in about half of all real complaints against the Corona scam. This appears to be a deliberate tactic aimed at embarassing the debtor and panicking the family. Normal debt collectors may have a mix of correct and erroneous call complaints, but nowhere near this high a rate of "relative call" complaints. FDCPA prohibits disclosure of a debt to third parties, yet they play this little "process server" charade, as part of appearing to "sue", so they can set a short "deadline" to "settle".
"I was given a deadline of 4 p.m. Pacific time (7 p.m. in N.C.) to settle "
They ALWAYS try to force a rushed decision to pay, with no proof of the alleged debt or their right to collect it. That alone says its a "con".
Normal debt collectors send the first letter required by FDCPA to notify you of your right to dispute and request proof of the alleged debt, so they don't get sued. These jerks just pretend they sent it, but NO ONE ever gets these imaginary letters, except their shills.
Nothing will get FTC or Attorney General scrutiny faster than criminal threats combined with clear violations like no "g" letters, but they don't care about being sued, since they are hiding, and using many names, making more names every few months.
"a potential $4,800 debt on a credit card that was closed in 2002 for $1,200."
They can make up any numbers they want. They usually try to play up the "full amount due" and "the court and attorney fees" as part of "settling" for the smaller amount, but only if you PAY THEM NOW!!!
"If I didn't, there would be a criminal summons filed against me ASAP."
No legitimate debt collector would threaten this, as delinquent debt is a civil matter, not criminal. This sort of violation gets them sued. No surprise that a scammer pulling a "con" would call YOU a criminal.
"I made the mistake of giving them my address and the last four of my SSN before I realized this was probably a scam; is there any damage control I can do for that?"
Not clear what they might pull, but you might as well post a fraud alert to your credit reports. Contact any of the 3 credit reporting agencies, Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion, and notify them that your identity information has been compromised.
The CRA you notify will notify the other 2, and the fraud alert will stay on your reports fo 90 days. It also gives you the right to pull free credit reports from each of the CRAs, to check for fraudulent accounts, so get copies of each CRA, and see if any recent inquiry points to these scammers. They have been reported to pull credit reports shortly before their harassing calls, to use in the scheme.
What information did they appear to have about this old account, and what did they not have, did they manage to wangle out of you?
From your credit reports, obtain the information on this old settled account. You know you settled, so contact the original creditor, and confirm the account was settled, or if sold to a debt collector you settled with, confirm that.
It is unlikely you will find this account was actually sold to this operation, as they are trying too hard to NOT prove debts, but you might as well know what you are dealing with, to counter their bluff. Not only can you rely on your settlement, but also check statute of limitations in your state, measured from when you made the last payment in that settlement. SOL is a defense that can be raised should you be sued, although they wouldn't be threatening so much if they really sued.
Then file complaints with FTC, your state Attorney General, and the California Attorney General, for violations of FDCPA (deceptive collection, harassment, abusive collection, falsely claiming to sue, threatening criminal charges on a paid debt, collecting on debts they do not own, etc, etc.)
In addition, contact the FBI. The nearest FBI field office to Corona is in Riverside.
Next contact a consumer attorney, and run it all by them. You might want to sue THEM, for statutory and actual damages and attorney fees, for FDCPA violations, and possibly also FCRA violations if they pulled your credit reports without permissible purpose.
They are actually pretty dumb, as you can find all their Corona business licenses and LLC registrations on-line, and that points you to the owners real names. I have to wonder what drugs they are using, that they not only think they are going to get away with this, but they are even expanding, rather than trying to hide under a rock.
The "process server" call is a charade. The real purpose of the call is to threaten you with embarassment in front of your employer, then get you to call the number, letting you think you are being "sued", so they can con you into a "settlement".
This exact same pattern and series of steps repeats in every complaint report.
"It is a bunch of companies, subsidiaries, etc that pass the paperwork from hand to hand. They said their name was LM Partners, but the address they give is for AF Group"
At least 14 different names are being used for this scam, all trace to the Corona CA area. For all we know, the "companies" might just be a bunch of LLC shells, and it could all be the same people.
"I called the local police dept. and the police officer told me that the same thing happened to her, they called her at work but since all calls are recorded she informed them of that and they haven't called back. "
Ask her what name they used.
There are two broad classes of scammers pulling this scam:
1) Indian or Pakistani overseas phone extortion rackets.
2) These U.S. based scams.
Of the U.S. based scams, there are several clusters around the country, notably Buffalo NY (several shut down by NY AG), Jacksonville FL (largely disrupted by FL AG), a few others in OH, IL, and GA, and this group in southern CA, with rising recent activity traced to Corona.
"I have no idea what this debt is that they are saying that I owe"
Most people reporting this scam don't know either. A few think it may be an old paid debt. It all say "con".
"they have no right to harrass people and to potentially cause them to lose their job."
File complaints with FTC, your state Attorney General, and the FBI. Notify your employer that you (along with many others) have been targeted by a phony "debt collector" criminal extortion racket, and that you have filed the above complaints.
If you want to some entertainment, Google "800notes AF Group" (or any of their other names), and watch them attempt to control complaint threads with shill posts, as they get outed repeatedly.
http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=449433
PMG Western Management / Pacific Management Recovery claiming they pull Experian.
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-990-2990
"Caller told me that it was on Experian"
There are several complaints noting credit inquiries on Experian from Pacific Management Group (or related names HGG, ARM, etc.).
Prime West Management Recovery, LLC
Officers: Jason Begley, Wayne Lunsford
http://www.corporationwiki.com/California/Cor ... c/47665309.aspx
http://www.corporationwiki.com/California/Cor ... c/65519830.aspx
Pacific Management Recovery, LLC, Corona, CA
Officers: Jason Begley
http://www.corporationwiki.com/California/Cor ... c/47551817.aspx
Union Management Services, LLC, Corona, CA
Officers: Jason Begley, Wayne Lunsford
http://www.corporationwiki.com/California/Cor ... c/47701636.aspx
National FC, LLC, Corona, CA
http://www.corporationwiki.com/California/Cor ... c/47572725.aspx
connects to: National Fc, LLC A Wyoming LLC, Cheyenne, WY
National Filing Services, LLC, Orange, CA
http://www.corporationwiki.com/California/Ora ... c/45518814.aspx
Global Filing Services, LLC, Orange, CA
http://www.corporationwiki.com/California/Ora ... c/45518812.aspx
Portfolio Mg, LLC, Corona, CA
http://www.corporationwiki.com/California/Cor ... c/47572718.aspx
connected to: Portfolio Mg LLC A Wyoming LLC, Cheyenne, WY
Hsbc told me my acct had been sold to another company Forward Property inc and they provided me the number so I called them and number was no longer active. I called back to the first number and the guy said hey well we can settle this out of court for $562.00 1 time payment if not you will be sued for $2500.00 . I asked them to provide me with a VOD so I can pay them and he told me he couldnt because that was there evidence to the judge that they tried to contact me before.
He got upset and said look you have untill Tuesday to pay if you do fine if not we will serve you on Wed morning. So I dont know what to do ,
So I called and asked for a Vod and he says I should have got one in November I informed him that I never got one. I informed he that I was not about to pay something to some random person calling on a private number that if he was giving me till Tue why not send me a overnight letter. He said because the attorny has that info and there not going to share there evidence with me.
The company name is AF Group there phone number 888-246-6420 and there buisness is at
32295 Mission Trail Ste. 8385-10
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
Phone: 888-246-6420
I had my brother that lives in California 10 min away and he says it looks like its a drop box. Also this is the email they sent me since they said that was the best they can do .
AF Group
32295 Mission Trail Ste. 8385-10
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
Phone: 888-246-6420 Fax: 909-212-7258
March 11, 2011
*Personal and Confidential*
RE: Original Creditor: HSBC ORCHARD
Original Account: #
Account:
Balance: $2,572.13
As of March 11, 2011 AF Group is prepared to settle this account in full for $562.32 to satisfy
the above referenced account, provided that the funds are received NO LATER THAN MARCH
15, 2011. If funds are not received in our office by the due date, this settlement offer agreement
will be considered NULL and VOID.
Once the funds for the above referenced account have cleared your bank, the AFG will release
you from all claims and liabilities pertaining to this account and our trade line with the major
credit bureaus will be updated to PAID.
Sincerely,
RYAN JONES
Legal Manager
on BBB and see were we go from there any more advice would be appreciated
What information did they have, and how much did they have you provide, to "verify"?
How much of the actual account number did they have?
That might provide a clue as to what sort of access they have to account information.
Did they provide some digits, and have you "verify" some of the digits, or did they have all of the digits correct?
Pull your credit reports directly from the credit reporting agencies, and see if there is a recent inquiry. It might be under any of several names, but you are looking for one that does not match any recent application for credit, and not repeated monthly "account review" inquiries from your current creditors. Start with Experian, as they have been reported in connection with inquiries from this group.
What names do you see listed associated with recent inquiries?
Do you see any debt collector tradelines?
Based on other reports, the first call was NOT from any "process server", and there is no one calling from near you who would be able to serve you a summons. If the "process server" is legitimate, then suit has already been filed in your local court, so check with your court to see if there is any lawsuit against you. If they had already sued you, then they would have been required to have a process server serve you with a summons. A real process server would NOT just call you to have you call this "AF Group". If not, you have caught them in a lie. Using deception to collect debts is a violation of FDCPA, and you can sue them.
"I asked them to provide me with a VOD so I can pay them and he told me he couldnt because that was there evidence to the judge that they tried to contact me before. "
Normal debt collectors send you a letter first, as required by FDCPA, notifying you of your right to dispute and request validation. Based on many reports, this group NEVER sends that letter, only pretends they did.
If they had sued you, you could have requested proof of the debt, and of their right to collect it, under discovery. That is a BS excuse, another
lie.
"He got upset"
So what? With all the complaints from people who are reporting these scammers are attempting to collect on unowed debts, it's hardly new for someone to doubt him. He can play-act "upset" all he wants.
"look you have untill Tuesday to pay if you do fine if not we will serve you on Wed morning. So I dont know what to do"
Check with your court. If there is no lawsuit, then not only are they not going to serve you, but they are in violation of FDCPA for threatening to sue when they had no intention of doing so. You can sue them for that.
"So I called and asked for a Vod and he says I should have got one in November I informed him that I never got one. I informed he that I was not about to pay something to some random person calling on a private number that if he was giving me till Tue why not send me a overnight letter. He said because the attorny has that info and there not going to share there evidence with me. "
Not going to share the evidence with you? What real debt collector who can prove the debt would even say that? In fact, what real debt collector would call you pretending to be a "process server", and fail to send you the letter required by FDCPA that notifies you of your right to dispute and request validation (proof from the original creditor)?
The address is a mail drop. Most of their addresses, under various names, are mail drops. Only address connected to one of their names, that I could find that might have people in it is "PMG, 140 North Maple Street Suite 107, Corona, CA 92880"
"trade line with the major credit bureaus will be updated to PAID."
Pull your credit reports and see if they even have a trade line.
"I called back to the first number and the guy said hey well we can settle this out of court for $562.00 1 time payment if not you will be sued for $2500.00 "
Even though they offered to settle for $562, IF you pay immediately, they are threatening to sue for $2500 if you don't. That means they are claiming you "owe" them $2500 as the amount of the "debt", and not including "court or attorney fees", since those have not yet been incurred, and no court has awarded them. Claiming you "owe" this specific amount including "court or attorney fees" would be deceptive, violate FDCPA, and you could sue them.
For a $562 balance in 2008 to become $2500, would be unlikely. Even at 32% APR, compounded monthly for, say 36 months (most of 2008 to now), you only get $562*2.58 = $1450, maybe slightly more with late fees. NO WAY does it get to $2500. No matter how you look at it, their statements are deceptive, intended to drive you toward paying $562 without checking out this alleged "debt". The "$2500" amount is pure fiction, made up to make "settling" for "$562" IMMEDIATELY look like a good deal.
If you do owe this balance, and you pay these people this "settlement" but they don't own the account or have the right to collect it, you have
basically just handed over your money to them (even if through deception and fraud), and you would still owe whoever actually owns the account, whenever they come along. When scams collapse, the people defrauded seldom get much restitution.
This has "con" written all over it.
There are other reports that the Corona Police Department has been receiving dozens of complaints against this group, and is forwarding them to the local FBI office, probably in Riverside. There are also reports that FTC is investigating them.
Contact FTC, your state Attorney General, Corona Police Department, and Riverside office of the FBI, at
FBI
3480 Vine Street, Suite 200
Riverside, CA 92507
Phone: (951) 686-0335
This group has been sued a number of times for violations of FDCPA. Pull your credit reports, check with your local court, and contact a consumer attorney licensed in your state. You might try www.naca.net
Granino v. National FC, LLC
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/florida/flsdce/0:2010cv61354/362516/
Higgins v. National FC, L.L.C.
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/texas/txsdce/4:2009cv04028/718658/
-----------------------------------------------------------
http://dockets.justia.com/search?query=Pacific+management+recovery
Frascogna v. Pacific Management Recovery, LLC
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/mississippi/mssdce/3:2011cv00020/74381/
Ramirez v. Pacific Management & Recovery LLC
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/texas/txwdce/3:2010cv00402/453264/
VAN SANT v. PACIFIC MANAGEMENT RECOVERY, LLC
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/pennsylvania/paedce/2:2010cv02111/360600/
Stephanie Taylor v. Pacific Management Recovery, LLC
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/cacdce/2:2010cv03054/470824/
Lyons v. Pacific Managment Recovery, LLC
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/casdce/3:2010cv00109/314118/
-----------------------------------------------------------
http://dockets.justia.com/search?query=prime+west+management+recovery
Raquel Garay v. Prime West Management Recovery, LLC
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/cacdce/2:2011cv00683/492871/
-----------------------------------------------------------
http://dockets.justia.com/search?query=atlantic+resource+management
Engler v. Atlantic Resource Management, LLC
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/new-york/nywdce/1:2010cv00968/81948/