Harrassment and Terroristic threats

ComplaintsCollection AgenciesAmerican Law Division of California

Complaint

0
Francine Fedin
Country: United States
I am constantly receiving harrassing phone calls from this Co. looking for Debbie White. She used my name as a reference whithout my knowledge so this co calls me...I repeataly told them to stop, they told me that they are going to come out and arrest me,, Yesterday 4/8/2010 they called and said that they are taking me to court..this has been an ongoing problem. I want it to stop NOW,   here are the numbers 1-949-502-0123, 1-916-458-5665, 426-606-3786...

Comments

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  • 0
    S. Edwards
    I have received two calls from these individuals today, 10-26-2010, about 10 minutes ago.  The name given to me was a Mike Johnson, 424-785-1075 and 209-349-3112, address: American Law Division, 4848 Central District Court House, Los Angeles, CA.  I advised Mr. Johnson that if he had papers that were signed by me to fax me copies of the documents or mail them.  He stated that he could not mail them, but would fax them.  I gave him my work fax number (I work for a law enforcement agency). I told Mr. Johnson that he was calling me at work and that all calls were being recorded. I am still waiting for them to fax me the documents.
  • 0
    Unknown
    "American Law Division" has been harrassing me at work and cell phone number.  First off you can not even understand a word they say, then they yell at you and expect you to stay quiet while they speak and they won't release any information about themselves or where they are calling from.  Then they get like two others to act as supervisors and still you can not understand a word they say.  Oh yea... and they claim they are working for the County of Los Angeles.

    Here is the number that has been calling me 213-373-1768
  • 0
    tj
    Their BBB reports have 3 addresses:  a courthouse in LA, another in San Bernardino, and some address in Folsom.  They are all phony addresses.  "American" and "California" are just in their phony name to fake "credibility".

    They appear to just give addresses they have found on the internet to create the appearance they are "attorneys" or "court employees" or maybe law enforcement, as part of their con.  BBB reports mail returned as undeliverable.  

    These scams appear to be using cheap VoIP long distance services, making it is easy to get a phone number with any area code, or to spoof caller id.
    They are probably calling from overseas.

    http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/American-Law-Division-100090527

    "This company contacts consumers by telephone attempting to collect on allegedly non-existent debts. Consumers are contacted and advised they owe a debt for a payday loan they know nothing about. Reports received by our office allege alarming claims by consumers of threats of incarceration, or public embarrassment. The callers demand to be given bank account or credit card numbers and other personal information as a means to resolve the alleged debt. Consumers also report they company fails to identify themselves by providing a valid address for their company, or verification of the debt.
    ...
    Complainants allege the company contacts them concerning non-existent pay day loan debts, using appalling tactics, such as threats of arrest or incarceration. Consumers also complain that company personnel uses various harassment tactics in order to coerce them into providing payment information, without properly identifying themselves or the alleged creditor. The company has not responded to complaints presented by our office.
    ...
    If you are targeted by these criminals, be sure to report them to all the following federal and state law enforcement agencies (most of which you can do online or over the phone):
    1) The U.S. Secret Service is responsible for protecting the country's financial infrastructure and payment systems from international and domestic threats. Call or write your local Secret Service field office to alert them to the details of this attempted extortion. The addresses and phone numbers for the local Secret Service field offices are listed at http://www.secretservice.gov/field_offices.shtml or in your phone book.
    2) Alert the FBI at https://tips.fbi.gov Be sure to tell the FBI that you are being targeted by extortionists over the phone. And if the crooks claim to be law enforcement or lawyers, officers of the court or bankers, be sure to include that information in your report. 3) File a complaint with your local police. Most police departments will take a report over the phone. Be sure to tell them that you're being targeted by an extortionist and give them all the details. 4) File a complaint your state's attorney general, the contact information for whom is at www.naag.org 5) File a complaint online with The Federal Trade Commission at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en If these crooks call back, promise them nothing, pay them nothing and tell them nothing other than that you know they're a scam and that you've reported them to law enforcement. (And be sure to report them to all the agencies above each time they call you.) By the way, here's just a *small* sample of numbers used by this particular group of scammers. Read the reports and you'll see the same pattern time and again -- phony organization names, thick foreign accents, and oddly worded threats that are so melodramatic and ridiculous that it's laughable.
    ..."

    http://www.bbb.org/northeast-california/busin ... som-ca-47025661

    http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/American-Law-Division-100097201

    http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/American-Law-Division-100087081
  • 0
    nikki
    I got this same call on Monday this guy has made my life a living hell for the past three days. he told me i was going to jail and i have been a pins and needles. he admitted to me he was a scammer and he had been doing this for 13 years and there was nothing anyone could do to him.....and appearently i made him mad and he told me my SS# and home address EVERYTHING and he told me " i promise you i will ruin you, i will make sure that no one ever hires u again and that u get fired from ur job" so yeah i am a bit scared so i went ahead and put fraud alert up and also go life lock wich by the way is wonderful, he hascked my computer and got into my emails. when he called the last time i let him talk to a VA state trooper and this guy was telling the cop to arrest me because i was not who i said i was i was using someone else's information and that i was comitting fraud, of course i wasnt and the police knew that. but just so every one knows this guy is CRAZY and i have received somewhere around 40 calls from him since monday. this is a scam and whoever on here says that he isnt is full of it. i dont understand how someone could be so cruel to people and put them through this.
  • 0
    nikki
    oh and just so everyone knows these are the numbers that he is currently using but for how long i do not know

    239-259-1493
    360-718-3430(this is the "lawyer" Jonathan Knights that contacted me)


    so he is using Eric Matthews (Miss congeniality lol,)John Matthews, Abe Walker, and Jonathan Knights.
  • 0
    tj
    Complaints against that number start showing up Oct. 4.
    https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-239-259-1493

    They have been using this number since April.
    https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-360-718-3430

    Any thick accents?
  • 0
    tj
    "he admitted to me he was a scammer and he had been doing this for 13 years and there was nothing anyone could do to him.."

    Where there has been any clue, most such scammers have been calling from overseas, probably India or Pakistan.


    "...and appearently i made him mad"
    So he's mad.  Oh, well.  


    "he told me my SS# and home address EVERYTHING"

    Numerous reports indicate they have gotten access to U.S. consumer credit reports, and skip trace information.  Other complaints also include attempts to use SSN and other identity information as "proof".  There are also reports of harassing calls to employers or relatives, information which they could get from the above sources.


    "and he told me " i promise you i will ruin you, i will make sure that no one ever hires u again and that u get fired from ur job" "

    These guys are criminals, with threats so over the top they are obviously phony.  You would have to have an idiot for a boss to fall for his BS, but someone must be paying them for their threats, since they keep using the same threats.
  • 0
    tj
    One consumer reported being faxed a "document" from the "U.S. Supreme Court", saying he owed some "debt".
  • 0
    tj
    File a complaint with the FBI, providing the number they are calling from if you have it, say, through caller id.

    Then when they call, tell them you reported them to the FBI and are recording the call as evidence.

    Or just ignore them.  They are just criminals, probably half-way around the world, so they don't think anyone can do anything to them.  They can't do anythihg to anyone, either, other than make threats, unless you let them.

    Don't let them.
  • 0
    word636
    i got a phone call from american law division stating that they have a court case against me for non payment of a payday loan from a company that i have no business with.  they left a number of 903-641-7247.  i called the number back.  There were major interference on the line and it took several minutes in order to obtain information from them about the purposed fraud that i was accused of.  When i stated that i have no dealing with the company they claim to be representing and refuse to pay anything they said that i have a court date for tomorrow morning at 11am and that they will contact my employer and my friends to tell them to come to the court case.  i told them that if they wish to file a claim against me in the state of north carolina for not paying off a payday loan that they are more than free to do so since my state have ruled payday loans illegal and that i will be filing claim with my attorney generals office. i have had several complaints over the last few months from these people and once filing with my attonery generals office my attonery generals office has contacted them and informed them to stop with the harrassing phone calls or face legal actions from my state.  check out your states attorney generals office and file a comsumer complaint.  I doubt if I or anyone i know will be hearing from them since i informed them that i will be informing my attonery generals office of their threats.  Which i just filled out the complaint report.
  • 0
    Me
    I have been receiving calls from phone number 424-785-1075 who stated his name was Ben stating that have an online payday loan and there was an affidavit for a lawsuit pending. when i asked the details of the loan and the amount they could not disclose the specific amount and stated it was "around 300.00" and insisted that i resolve this matter by paying 5000.00 dollars for court costs and attorney fees. When i continued to question the loan and insisted they send me the documentation of the loan since they had all of my information already, they refused. Then placed me on hold for approximately 1 minute and said "I have just spoken with my attorney and he agreed you can pay 1245.00 to resolve this matter" i continued to question becoming agitated because I could hardly understand a word he said. He placed me on hold again for 1 minute and stated he talked to the attorney again and was able to get it down to 800.00. I said wow that was fast. I requested to speak to a supervisor, a person who sounded the same answered. I stated i wanted to speak to a woman who can speak ENGLISH...they placed me on hold AGAIN. I did not get her name but she stated for me to go to purchase at Mastercard/Visa and pay 300.00 to resolve this matter. They stated that i needed to fax a hand written letter stating that i wanted to resolve this matter outside of the court by paying a settlement amount of 300.00 using a visa debit card and to fax a copy of my drivers license to 888-421-0773 then to call Hugh Foster  at 714-459-5403 when it was done. I didnt fax it but i called the number and low and behold the person said "hello" no business name and he sounded the same as the others. Barely English Speaking!!!! SCAM??? FRAUD???
  • 0
    tj
    Total scam.

    They are not "attorneys", or law enforcement of any kind.
    They cannot "sue", "prosecute", or "arrest" anyone.
    The alleged "debts" are entirely phony.
    Just criminals calling from India running a phone extortion racket.
  • 0
    smarter then they are
    I received a call but didnt answer, when i heard the message a man that i couldnt understand was telling me that someone i knew used me a reference to get a loan. the name that he used was someone that i do know. is it possible that this person that i do know used me somehow. knowing this person... i wouldnt put it past her... sad... but anyway he said in his 2 minute message that i needed to contact him and make some arrangements to pay for the loan that this person took out or he was taking me to court to get payment. the number that he called from was also a california number. 424/785-1075... yeah right... let him hold his breath and i will call him soon.
  • 0
    bjo51984
    Ya they have called me twice one claiming to be the fbi its all a scam
  • 0
    D.Nix
    They called me from a 213-283-0648 and told me that I would be arrested on Friday if I did not send them a wire transfer of $500, I told him you have my name and phone number so you must have my address, when you come to arrest I will be waiting and he hung up
  • 0
    tj
    There are some reports that they may be getting consumer information through phony internet payday loan sites.  Other reports are consistent with having access to credit reports or skip-trace databases.

    Either might allow them to convincingly fake a claim to be collecting on an old "debt", although their accents and threats tip off many.
  • 0
    tj
    The more extreme the threats, the more likely threatening is all they can do.
  • 0
    tj
    Scam complaints against number start recently (Oct. 14).
    (It is common for scammers to repeatedly change their phone numbers.)

    https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-424-785-1075

    "teri
    14 Oct 2010
    They were very rude he said he was calling from "the department of social security number" very strong accent hard to understand yelled at me that he needed information on my social security number that it was going to be red flagged tomorrow"

    "JK
    21 Oct 2010
    Had this number call today. He has a strong foreign accent. He said he was Ben Wilson from the American Law Division and that he has a Law Affadavit in my name....  nothing but lies. not scamming me lol"

    "Tracy
    3 Nov 2010
    Same here.  Another one of those scam messages.  They keep calling and changing their numbers.  I really don't even think that they are in this country.  If they are, they are violating all federal laws regarding collections.  They do not even have a professional demeanor.  I hope that no one is falling for this.  Please do not pay them anything without a written verification of a debt.  They want to get your credit card number so that they can collect money and get out of the way of an investigation quick.  One time they even told me to go to Walmart and buy a prepaid credit card.  I didn't fall for it so they called my work number 20 - 30 times a day.  We finally started forwarding their calls to an unused phone in our office...SCAM>>>SCAM!
    Caller: No name given
    Call Type: Debt Collector
    "

    " man that i couldnt understand was telling me that someone i knew used me a reference to get a loan"
    Then it isn't your debt.  Being "used as a reference" is NOT "cosigning".  (Actually, since these are known criminals, your friend didn't take out a loan, either.)

    "is it possible that this person that i do know used me somehow. "
    Not likely.  They may just have been suckered into applying at a phony on-line "payday loan" site.  Or these scammers might have just found some mention of you and your friend, maybe Facebook, or similar sites.  It's a con, nothing more, and they will use any angle they think might work.

    "i wouldnt put it past her... "
    And if they call enough people, they will find some who might be almost convinced, like you, and might therefore fall for the "friend used your identity" scam.

    "he said in his 2 minute message that i needed to contact him and make some arrangements to pay for the loan that this person took out"And WHY should you pay some loan someone else took out?

    "or he was taking me to court to get payment."
    Not going to happen.  They are running this scam from India.  If they can't con you by phone, they try harassment, or move on.  That's all they can do.
  • 0
    Me
    Thank you....after telling them when they called back that i was recording the conversation as evidence after filing a claim with BBB, consumer reporting, FBI, and the Attorney General, it has been about a week now and they have not called me back.....yet!!
  • 0
    Jackie
    A couple of months ago, i started getting these harassing phone calls
    from these so called scammers. If it wasn't bad enough, that they were
    calling me at home, they started calling me at work. After a couple of
    weeks of them calling my work, and threating my bosses, and getting
    down right beligerent, i had them tell these guys, that i was no longer
    employed with the company. My immediate boss told them, that they
    weren't allowed to call and harass me at work, and if they continued,
    they would be sued for harassmet. That got them to stop, until monday
    of this week. They are using a different company name this time, American
    Law Division and their phone number is: 213-514-5334. I don't even answer
    my phone. If the number doesn't show up on my caller ID, i don't answer
    it, and let it go to voice mail. I never return their call either if
    they leave a message, because i know that they are a scam and a fraud.
    I have had maybe 4 payday loans, but they have been paid off months
    ago, and i have my bank statements to prove it. The best thing to
    do is to report them to every agency out there, like some of the
    other posts have stated, and don't bother answering your phone or
    returning their calls. Eventually they will give up and move on.
    Also, do like i did, and tell your boss to tell them you no longer
    work there, and that will get them to stop calling your place of
    employment.  The guy that is calling me now, his name is Kevin
    Matthews, what a crock. What person with a heavy Indian accent that
    you can't even understand, is going to have an American name. So
    not!!  Try to relax, these guys can't touch you.
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