Fake process server calls

ComplaintsCollection AgenciesThurston and Associates

Complaint

0
Quintin L King
Country: United States
I have received numerous calls from this "company", all of which start with a request for address verification for Process serving. Intimations that a law suit has been filed (the Company, to the best of my knowledge is in Florida, I live and own a business in Illinois). What process server doesn't have an address? These people call constantly and wont reveal the name of the entity for which they are collecting unless you "confirm" your address and last four of social. I am formally filing a complaint with the FTC and the Florida Dept of Financial Regulation, but wondered if anyone has had experience with these people?

Comments

  • 0
    tj
    Good to know the FL AG is aware of them.
  • 0
    tj
    You might also contact the Florida Office of Financial Regulation.
  • 0
    tj
    "People can do nothing with the last four digits of your social most of the time they have the first five and just need the last four to make sure it is really the person"

    That is supposedly how it is normally used.


    But if they are set up with Accurint access, and use name to find someone, they can get the first 5 digits through Accurint.

    They can then call, and use a pretext like "debt collection" to get the last 4 digits.  If they punch that into Accurint, it will verify that the full number matches.

    They then have all 9 digits, for whatever purpose they choose to use it, obtained on a random person also identifiable by name and address.
  • 0
    tj
    Calling and harassing relatives is a common illegal tactic used in fake "debt collection" scams.

    Check your credit reports to see if they pulled one, since this is also common with this type of scam.

    File complaints with FTC, your state AG, the FL AG, and your Sheriff or Police Department.
  • 0
    tj
    Do NOT give them any information.
    If they are making deceptive, fraudulent, or threatening calls, record them.

    File complaints with FTC, your state AG, and the Florida AG.

    In addition, contact the Florida Office of Financial Regulation.
  • 0
    phil
    HEY EVERYONE I LIVE IN ORLANDO RIGHT NEXT TO THIS BUSINESS AND I HAVE WORKED FOR THIS COMPANY AND I WANT TO TELL YOU GUYS IF YOU ADD ME ON YOUTUBE: youtube.com/thugginsin I CAN TELL YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS COMPANY AND A WAY WE CAN ALL TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THIS COMPANY AND MAKE A SHINY PENNY OUT OF THIS. I AM TRYING MY BEST NOT TO SAY MUCH BECAUSE THIS WILL BE CONCERTED A CONSPIRACY IF I GO EVEN FARTHER INTO WHAT THIS COMPANY IS DOING AND US BEING A UNION BUT ADD ME AS A FRIEND ON YOUTUBE OR SUBSCRIBE AND MESSAGE ME THAT YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THURSTON!!!!! PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND NO THEY WILL NOT SEND AN OFFICER TO YOUR HOUSE JUST TAKE THE NUMBER THEY GIVE YOU AND DESTROY THAT NUMBER!!!! DON'T GET ME WRONG THEY ARE GOING TO STILL CALL YOU IN ORDER TO LET THEM STOP CALLING YOU MESSAGE ME ON YOUTUBE! THE REASON WHY IM GIVING YOU MY YOUTUBE AND NOT MY FACEBOOK IS BECAUSE LIKE I SAID THIS IS A BIG OPERATIONS AND SOME THINGS NEED TO BE NOT SAID, YES PHIL IS NOT MY REAL NAME, SO PLEASE WHEN YOU MESSAGE ME ON YOUTUBE DO NOT GIVE ME YOUR REAL NAME OR ANY OTHER INFO THAN I ASK FOR

    THANKYOU!!!
  • 0
    tj
    What is their physical address?
  • 0
    tj
    What other phone numbers do they use?
  • 0
    bb
    A former tenant gave these people my address and cell phone.  Somehow they got my disabled husband's cell phone.  He is bedridden and we would never give out his number.  They have been calling, intimidating and actually screaming into the phone.  they are going to send a uniformed process server to our house to serve someone who has never lived here. These people need to be prosecuted for harrassment.
  • 0
    LOL
    THEY HAVE SEVERAL OFFICES IN THIS LITTLE RUN DOWN COMPLEX. BUT THE MAIN ADDRESS FOR THIS COMPANY IS 5720 OLD CHENEY HIGHWAY ORLANDO FLORIDA 32807
  • 0
    tj
    First file a complaint with your local police.  This may fit within your state's criminal statutes for assault and elder abuse.

    Then contact FTC, your state Attorney Geneeral, and the Florida Attorney General.

    If this is like many similar collection scams, they are using Accurint to obtain skiptracing information, allowing them access to (possibly erroneous) neighbor, relative, former resident, and phone number information.

    Contact Accurint (a division of Lexis-Nexis) and notify them you are being illegally harassed and threatened as a result of information they provided to an illegal scam debt collector, and you have filed complaints with FTC and the Attorney General.
  • 0
    tj
    So the "New Hampshire" suggestion is wrong, or maybe they were using VoIP to produce a local area code.  

    Use of a Texas area code has also been reported.

    Address also shows some bookseller, and some martial arts studio.
    Are they physically located there, or is this a mail drop?
    Any relationship?
  • 0
    MHsa
    This is a collection agency.  They state they are a processing company and that there is a lawsuit for a judgement pending.  My particular "case" is with First Delaware bank for a credit card balance.
  • 0
    Andrea Simeral-Boyer
    I just got my first call this morning. So glad I searched the name and phone number on the net, and found you all. That, in itself, serves as protection on Level 1!

    THANK YOU!
  • 0
    Hal in GA
    After the 1st call, regarding serving papers, I tried to call the # the lady gave me to verify what this was all about. Music came on, then the call was disconnected. After the 5th call (different lady each time), she connected me to a lady named Debra Anderson at Thurston & Associates, 888-242-1315 x 121. I told her I looked up Thurston & Assoc. and did not find them as a legal firm: realtor, interior decorators, but not them. I said she was on the web as a scam. She laughed & said that wasn't them and not everyone was on the web (yeah, right, in 2011). But guess what: the call was about serving papers, and she gave me the last 4 digits of an SS# that wasn't my husband's. I told her it wasn't him, (without giving the actual SS#). I passed the phone to my husband, who said the same thing, and she said she would take him off the list. We'll see. If we get the call again, I will contact the FTC.
  • 0
    tj
    First Bank of Delaware must be the most common bank mentioned in these fake "process server" scams.

    Anyone know why?
  • 0
    Toyaredd
    I also recieved a call from this company with the same mo. When I asked them what agency they are collecting for the could not tell me, therefore I ask the person not to call my house again or I will call the police. He cursed at my and hung up. The number that these people are calling from is 1-888-242-1315 so please beware they are trying to scam people!!!!!
  • 0
    tj
    Contact FTC and the Florida Attorney General.
  • 0
    STOP THE SCAMMERS
    So sick of these people scamming everyone they possibly can. They have harassed us waaay to long. We received the same calls from a FAKE "process servers office." We did our research and found the following info. They also have 3 or 4 other fake collection agencies in the same area but we have not found the info for them. rest assured when we do, you will have it. Hope it helps.

    Thurston & Associates: 5720 Old Cheney Hwy. Orlando Florida 32807.
    Owner: Tom Wilson.
    18135 CORALWOOD LN      
    GROVELAND FL 34736
    407-558-9855

    Co-Owner: Merrill T Miller.
    107 WALTON HEATH DR
    ORLANDO FL 32828
    407-488-5217


    Business plan:
    Use a fake "Process server" to call and scare consumers into thinking they are going to be served the next day. When you call the number they give you, you are actually calling the same office that called you. If you listen close enough you can hear them in the back ground as we did.
    A collector will then try and collect on the debt, even if it is out of statue of limitations. It is against the law for them to threaten/act as if/say, they are going to/can/will take you to court if the debt is beyond statute of limitations. The statute of limitations begins on the last activity on your account.

    P-L-E-A-S-E
    Copy this link and paste it into your browser and be aware of your state laws.
    http://www.creditinfocenter.com/rebuild/statuteLimitations.shtml

    If you have already made arrangements with this SCAM company, it's not to late. Whether you made the arrangement with your checking account or credit card, you can dispute the monies with your bank/c.c. company for up to 90 days..... DO NOT BECOME A VICTIM LIKE WE DID!

    They scammed us out of almost $1,200 a few months back and we were still able to get the money back.

    VERY soon they will be put down. They just don't know it.
    We recorded the call for our own good but was advised it cannot be used in court if we sue them. Your call will probably sound the same.

    SCAMMER: You have been named a defendant in a civil lawsuit regarding your ***** account. The amount your being taken to court for is $*,***. We are not a collection agency. We buy peoples debts to take them to court. Did you receive the letter we sent you 43 days ago?
    If you would have received the letter would you have tried to handle this without going to court? Let me speak to my director to see if I can get some interest taken off.
    Then your put on hold.
    SCAMMER: Did you receive a summons or just the phone call?
    You can either settle for $*,*** , or make monthly payments towards $ *,***

    DON'T FALL FOR IT.
    The only way to stop these scammers is if enough of us complain.
    Here is the info to do just that.
    To mail complaint, type this into your browser;
    http://www.flofr.com/Consumer/Forms/OFR-CCA-103.pdf

    To call in the complaint.
    Director of operations Daniel Waters direct line.
    Office of Finance & Regulation.
    407-245-0606.
  • 0
    STOP THE SCAMMERS
    So sick of these people scamming everyone they possibly can. They have harassed us waaay to long. We received the same calls from a FAKE "process servers office." We did our research and found the following info. They also have 3 or 4 other fake collection agencies in the same area but we have not found the info for them. rest assured when we do, you will have it. Hope it helps.

    Thurston & Associates: 5720 Old Cheney Hwy. Orlando Florida 32807.
    Owner: Tom Wilson.
    18135 CORALWOOD LN    
    GROVELAND FL 34736
    407-558-9855

    Co-Owner: Merrill T Miller.
    107 WALTON HEATH DR
    ORLANDO FL 32828
    407-488-5217


    Business plan:
    Use a fake "Process server" to call and scare consumers into thinking they are going to be served the next day. When you call the number they give you, you are actually calling the same office that called you. If you listen close enough you can hear them in the back ground as we did.
    A collector will then try and collect on the debt, even if it is out of statue of limitations. It is against the law for them to threaten/act as if/say, they are going to/can/will take you to court if the debt is beyond statute of limitations. The statute of limitations begins on the last activity on your account.

    P-L-E-A-S-E
    Copy this link and paste it into your browser and be aware of your state laws.
    http://www.creditinfocenter.com/rebuild/statuteLimitations.shtml

    If you have already made arrangements with this SCAM company, it's not to late. Whether you made the arrangement with your checking account or credit card, you can dispute the monies with your bank/c.c. company for up to 90 days..... DO NOT BECOME A VICTIM LIKE WE DID!

    They scammed us out of almost $1,200 a few months back and we were still able to get the money back.

    VERY soon they will be put down. They just don't know it.
    We recorded the call for our own good but was advised it cannot be used in court if we sue them. Your call will probably sound the same.

    SCAMMER: You have been named a defendant in a civil lawsuit regarding your ***** account. The amount your being taken to court for is $*,***. We are not a collection agency. We buy peoples debts to take them to court. Did you receive the letter we sent you 43 days ago?
    If you would have received the letter would you have tried to handle this without going to court? Let me speak to my director to see if I can get some interest taken off.
    Then your put on hold.
    SCAMMER: Did you receive a summons or just the phone call?
    You can either settle for $*,*** , or make monthly payments towards $ *,***

    DON'T FALL FOR IT.
    The only way to stop these scammers is if enough of us complain.
    Here is the info to do just that.
    To mail complaint, type this into your browser;
    http://www.flofr.com/Consumer/Forms/OFR-CCA-103.pdf

    To call in the complaint.
    Director of operations Daniel Waters direct line.
    Office of Finance & Regulation.
    407-245-0606.

Post a new comment