(206) 855-5260

Consumer Alert: Attorney General warns Kansans of debt collection scamJanuary 29, 2010 -- Attorney General Steve Six is cautioning Kansas consumers about telephone calls from apparent fake debt collectors who are impersonating law enforcement officers in an effort to extort money from consumers.   Consumers are warned to not submit payments to these fraudulent debt collectors.When calling, the scammers most often state they are attempting to collect a debt related to an internet payday loan obtained by the consumer, but which the consumer never repaid.  Consumers state they have never obtained such a loan or paid off the loan years ago.  The scam artists have most recently identified themselves as ACS, National Affidavit Processing Department and United Financial Crime Division, but may use additional phony names.  It appears the phone numbers used by the scammers are “s****ed” numbers, so that the number appearing on a consumer’s caller ID is not the actual number of where the call originated. It appears the calls in question may be originating from outside the United States.When questioned, the individual calling refuses to disclose the full name or address of the collection agency they claim to represent.  These scammers have been able to provide consumers with identifying information, such as the consumer’s social security number, home address, e-mail address, names of family members and the consumer’s computer IP address.  Since the callers are able to provide valid personal information, consumers may become confused and believe they are being contacted in regard to a legitimate debt.If the initial debt collection scam is unsuccessful, consumers have been re-contacted months later with the scammers posing as law enforcement officers or officers of the court.  Typically, the consumer is threatened with arrest for fraud or some other fic***ious crime unless the consumer agrees to immediately wire money via Western Union.  The fic***ious officers strive to frighten and confuse consumers into compliance by using legal sounding terms such as “We’re filing an affidavit a***nst you” or by stating a lawsuit has been or is in the process of being filed a***nst the consumer.A hallmark of each scam has been calling consumers repeatedly at their place of employment.  This scam hit home when an employee of the Kansas Attorney General’s Office was repeatedly called both on her cell phone and at work.  Despite the employee’s repeated verbal disputes, the caller refused to provide any identifying information to allow her to send a written dispute. The scammer also continued to call her numerous times a day regarding a payday loan she denied obtaining. Two months later, she was a***n contacted by telephone by an individual identifying himself as an “officer”. “I denied owing the debt and refused to pay without being provided validation of the debt. I was then told, ‘If that’s the case, I will have local law enforcement come to your place of business and drag you out kicking and screaming’,” stated the employee.“It is important for consumers to know their rights under the law,” Attorney General Six said. “If a consumer is receiving calls from a debt collection company and believe it is a scam, I encourage them to contact our office immediately.”Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), collectors are required to send consumers a written notice within five days of the initial contact.  The notification should contain  information such as the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed and a statement informing the consumer they have thirty days to contact the debtor in writing to dispute the debt or request validation of the debt. In addition, legitimate debt collectors are prohibited by the FDCPA from making false or misleading representations, such as the consumer has committed a crime, implying nonpayment will result in the consumer’s arrest, or using the threat of violence.More information is available on the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf. To register a complaint with the Kansas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, call 1(800) 432-2310 or visit www.ksag.org.http://www.ksag.org/page/consumer-alert-attor ... collection-scam

Hello,If you get a call from this number (206)855-5260 or pretty much any 206-855-???? Number, from anyone one claiming to be Law enforcement or an officer it is bogus. But I need your help. Please call the FTC, FCC and your local congress representative and file a complaint. It takes but a moment. When calling your Congress rep, tell them that Congressman Inslee (State of Washington) office has received information about this fraud and is interested in the complaints. Congressman Inslee is a member of a committee that may be able to help hold telephone companies responsible for selling these numbers with no accountability. If other Congress reps or Senators call him then the squeaky wheel s****s. This is a country wide problem so we can rally and make a c****e.  With your complaints we may create a new federal law that holds telephone companies liable for their involvement in these annoying harassing phone calls and the fraud, stress that goes along with it. On a side note, do not worry about these calls they are just trying to scare you into giving information. Block your call and call them back, don’t give them any information. I do it and call many times in a row and it is fun to listen to them get all mad, sometimes the number even gets disconnected which is a win in my book.

Some one name Nick Anderson called me talking about somebody is sueing me for money which is a lie cause i have settled all my debts and he couldnt give me no information but this phone number which is phoney

Yeah I just got a call from Officer Alan Jones. Said I have a lawsuit and Im going to Jail, But he was at a call center and you heard his foreign accent and million others. When asked him to fax whatever do***entation to me, he said he couldnt and got his Manager on the phone. his name was Max Green (Escape the ***e??) lol He ***g up on me. LOL

have identified himself as a det. max green with a very heavy accent and would not give me his badge number nor his crime unit. I do not know of any reason this person is trying to contact me!....watch out!