Fake process server calls
Complaint
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
Was wondering if you had looked into the company "Vanderbilt and Assoc." any further? My mother and father have been getting calls from this company in ref. to my Wife every day for the past 2 weeks. I did not get their number until this evening and tried to call but it was "after business hours" according to the recorded message I received. It asked me to leave my name, number, case number and last 4 of my ss# to verify that I am the account holder. Which obviously I did NOT do. I thought this was a scam as my wife and I have not had any outstanding debt since 2005, well debt as in relation to credit cards or other outside sources of creditors. However, I googled them anyway and found this site. I am going to call them in the morning and request the creditor information and validation of the debt, just as my attorney (a friend of mine, I have not gotten scared and ran out to retain an attorney) advised me to do when I received a similar call a few months back. However, those calls were the "Payday loan" scams with the thick Indian accent threats. I was curious about those calls too, considering I did not have a payday loan with anyone or any loans at that time with any company. However, they tried to scam me into paying anyway.
However, this call now is from a woman caller from the Vanderbilt and Assoc. company. They have called my parents house as I stated above every day for two weeks and left a message on their answering machine, my parents have never spoken to anyone personally because they are always at work too.
So after reading all of your very helpful post I researched a little more on google and found a link to a BBB (Better Business Bureau) posting on google and looked at it. It states (as I figured) that they are not a member of the BBB, however, they have a C- rating because of 21 complaints. However, it goes on to state that their rating was raised because they answered and closed 21 complaints with the BBB within the last 12 months. Which that had to have been within the last 6 months as the company was just created on 11/02/2011.
So do you know anything about this Company other than what I have already read here in your postings and do you know how to get more information from the BBB about this company, those complaints or the companies responses to said complaints?
The cluster of various names with addresses on Old Cheney Road all appear to be connected, with common ownership. When one name gets too tarnished, (or maybe they are about to lose a lawsuit), they just start up another. This is apparently common practice among swamp dwelling debt collectors.
When you request validation, don't just do it on the phone. Set them up for FDPCA violations, so you can sue. Send a letter, CRRR, and include that you dispute the debt, and that it is inconvenient for you to receive their calls at any time. They have apparently been sued before,
FDCPA allows consumers to sue for violations, including deception, abusive collection, harassment, threats of illegal actions, etc. It allows courts to award damages, and attorney fees, so you can find attorneys who take these cases on contingency. You might try www.naca.net to find a consumer attorney in your state.
If you have ever applied online for a payday loan, the loan sites sell information not only to "lenders", but to scammers like the Indians. Or they set up their own phony sites. Not much you can do about the Indian scammers, except ignore them, make fun of them, or harass them back.
Debt collectors in Florida are required to be licensed, and if they get too many complaints, they can be shut down.
I definitely would not give out my address or SSN. If they were legitimate they should already have this information from the merchant. If you give them your SSN ,they can then put this in the file and ruin your credit. Most boiler room scams run out of Florida, usually near Orlando, and this one fits like a glove to the scam model. My address is on Yahoo, my name and address is in the phone book. I don't know how they got my cell phone number. If they really have a " civil matter" they need to serve me at my address. I will call them but will not give out any information other than my name that they already have.
That is pretty typical of these shakedown scams.
Their threats are generally by implication, fully intending to threaten, but leaving some semantic way out if they are caught. They are a bunch of weazels.
It may be they are buying old OOS debt portfolios, pulling credit and Accurint reports, and tailoring their scripts to the information they find, so they "accidentally" might collect from whoever they guessed was the "debtor", or they may even be leaving out the buying part. there's really no way to tell, short of raiding them or getting an ex-employee to spill it.
There is enough information available in credit reports and Accurint searches to present a credible "debt collection" attempt, with SSN, DOB, past account information, etc., even without any real "debt", and where scam "debt collection" complaints have started piling up against shady collection agencies, they have usually been associated with reports of finding real recent credit inquiries, followed by later disclosure by insiders of Accurint skip-tracing and blatantly illegal scripts.
This has been the "collections" shakedown scam profile.
"...
Attorney General Pam Bondi News Release
March 1, 2013
Media Contact: Jenn Meale
Phone: (850) 245-0150
Attorney General Bondi’s Office Announces Temporary Injunction and Asset Freeze Against Debt Collection Companies
TALLAHASEE, Fla.–Attorney General Pam Bondi's office has obtained a temporary injunction and asset freeze against Vanderbilt & Associates, LLC, Buchanan Capital Management, LLC, and their owner for allegedly engaging in unlawful debt collection schemes. The Office of Financial Regulation and the Orlando Police Department assisted with the case involving allegations that the companies would call consumers and claim to be law enforcement officials, government agents, process servers or county clerk’s office employees to intimidate or scare consumers into paying debts. In many cases, these alleged practices were targeted at debts that were non-existent, had already been paid, or for which the company had no legal rights to collect. These alleged practices are in violation of the Florida Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act.
“We will do everything within our power to protect Floridians from unlawful debt collection practices that often employ scare tactics to manipulate individuals,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi. “My office will continue to partner with the Office of Financial Regulation and the Orlando Police Department to enforce Florida’s tough consumer protection laws.”
“We are committed to working with our partners in law enforcement to prosecute those who engage in unlicensed and unlawful activities and to protect the citizens of Florida,” said Commissioner Drew J. Breakspear, Florida Office of Financial Regulation. “We encourage Floridians to always do their homework before doing businesses with anyone, including debt collectors. Be sure to verify a company’s license and if you suspect questionable practice, request assistance by contacting the company’s regulatory agency or law enforcement.”
"The Orlando Police Department will relentlessly investigate these crimes and work together with other agencies, including Attorney General Pam Bondi's office and the Office of Financial Regulation, to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. In uncertain economic times, for those to take advantage of victims trying to support their families financially is reprehensible," stated Chief Paul Rooney.
The temporary injunction bars the companies and their owners from engaging in unlawful debt collection schemes. It also bars them from using any unfair or deceptive practices in the collection of consumer debts and from violating of the Florida Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act. The temporary injunction and asset freeze were obtained against Vanderbilt & Associates, LLC, Buchanan Capital Management, LLC, Merrill T. Miller, and their affiliates.
..."
( what state? ) He or it claims to have a case against you for check fraud. ( I haven't written a check in 7 years. ) He or it then rambles on ,in some form of ebonics, a meaningless case number and tells you that you have the legal right to call the offended party at 866-920-3358 or 855-732-7587 so they can extort money or try to scare you into giving them more information. (Do Not give them ANY Information if you answer this type of call.) He Claims you will be served at work or home and sometimes says service will be that day. Process servers never tell you they are coming.)
These Idiots calls for a month say they're coming and never do. I wish they would. These worthless pieces of trash are a waste of human skin. While serving my country I learned how to deal with those that prey upon the innocent so please " james" and "alexis" come to my house and I'll instruct you.
They obviously use data collecting websites that publish your name, phone numbers, associations, and any other personal information about you for unscrupulous and nefarious purposes. Those websites should be sued for assisting these stalkers. The only information they are using at this point is your name and phone number so don't give them any more. They don't have real jobs other than stealing Money through this scam based on harassment and fear.
Ignore these calls. Warn all who might be affected that you are being harassed. Google and Bing yourself to see your electronic footprint. Opt out of all data Collecting websites that are disseminating your personal information. Pull credit reports on yourself to look over and see if someone is stealing your identity. File complaints with proper gov't services.
There are other means to track and hunt these leaches down if you are creative and have the resources. What you do when you find them is your business.
Unlist or change your phone number. Remove any associations between your name and phone number from your answering machine or service. Your message should only say "thank you for calling 555-5555 please leave a message."
Whenever you are asked for a your number, Use your home number for GP (general purposes) . You can then screen those calls with your answering machine at the end of the day.
Give your cell number only to friends and family. Never answer numbers you don't recognize. If it's important they'll leave a message. When your cell gets unknown or unwelcome calls use a search engine to research the number then give that number a name like "telemarketer" so if and when they call again you can see who they are.
As for any post trying to validate these calls as legit those post are by shills and trolls disregard them.
Best thing to do is to know the law.
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