US Investigation Bureau Attempt to collect from unpaid payday loan scam Tomfiver, New Jersey
I received a call from a guy identifying himself as Officer Jeff Anderson from the US Investigation Bureau, Crime Prevention Department. He had my name, social and address. He then went on to verbally abuse me stating i had an unpaid payday loan and legal action was being taken. I then asked him for the company and address information and he was very shakey and uncertain of who I owed the debt to and also what his own company's addess is. Then he went on to insist that I pay $620 by 1 pm today or else 3 federal charges for fraud and check charges would be filed in federal court and I would be arrested at my home or job. I pressed him for his full address and he stated he was in New Jersey, but, gave a zip code for Alabama.
These guys are clear crooks and they were trying to make me believe that their company is a federal agency that I never heard of nor could I pull up on the Internet. Since I was home for the day, I kept pressing them for information and he told me they lied about being a federal agency and are trying to collect a debt. I then asked for documentation of a debt owed, paperwork showing I agreed to re-pay a debt, or anything!!! He told me they would only send paper to me after I gave my debit or credit card number and some documentation would be faxed to me.
Bottom line: They are crooks, liars and worse bad crooks and liars!!!
2 Updates & Rebuttals
anonymous
Auburn,New York,
United States of America
US Investigation Bureau
#3General Comment
Tue, October 19, 2010
I also received a phone call from a guy identifying himself as Officer Patrick Wilson from the US Investigation Bureau. He stated that it was a legal matter and that I needed to call back the number he had given me, stating that I was to be arrested. The reason I was to be arrested I am unsure of, because I could not understand him-he had a very heavy arabian/indian accent. I asked to speak to his manager to which he replied "there wasn't one there to speak with." He had my name, phone number, address and SS number. This was not the only time he has tried calling, he's called my work naming himself Peter Smith-wishing to speak with me. He also called the other day at least 18 times-according to my caller id (he'd hang up and call right back), the same number each time. I told him to leave me alone and not call again, but he is very persistent and very rude!! These guys ARE crooks and liars and something needs to be done about them. At least now people can be aware that; they are out there and they will call you again and again and again!!!
Flynrider
Phoeix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Crooks that have your ID.
#3Consumer Suggestion
Thu, December 10, 2009
It has become clear from numerous reports of this scam, that the scammers have come into posession of a large amount of personal information, including names, addresses, phone numbers, references, bank acct. numbers and social security numbers. Most of those reporting the scam indicate that at some time in the past, they filled out an online loan application. My guess is that these scammers have obtained (most likely illegally) a large database of this personal info.
While these particular scammers are only using the info to try to make themselves appear to be a legitimate collector, that does not mean they couldn't sell the info to some other criminal when they are done with it. The amount of information they are revealing on these phone calls is enough to allow anyone to steal your identity.
If you've received one of these scam calls, you should consider your identity to be at risk. I highly recommend going to the FTC's identity theft website and taking the precautions outlined there :
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/