latest phone scam

On 1/31/2011 at around 6pm, a man called me claiming his name was Officer Scott Mason calling from Gwinnett County regarding a Money Cash Advance. He then called me names, cussed and threatened to have me arrested the next day if I did not pay him $843.00 for a supposedly a $400 online loan he claims I applied for out online. He knew my social security number, address, full name, email address and last place of employment and said if I didn't pay him the company was going sue me and I would have to pay over $2000 in court charges. Then he had me write down his phone number to call him back which is (404) 981-6103 and said I had to fax him something in writing stating that I authorize the debit in the amount of $843 from a prepaid card or credit card towards my outstanding amount and I ensure the payment won't get declined and I won't dispute this payment along with the date the money will be sent, the card information, exp date, CVV#, billing address, my signature, and attached photo id and to fax to (650) 560-1721. I have since contacted my local police department and filed a report with BBBonline, the FBI, consumer reports online, social security dept., and posted a message to every scam site I could find on the internet.
And since I have received at least 2 emails from individuals stating that the same thing or similar has happened to them. See below:
“ Hi Deborah,
WhoScammedYou.com commented on their wall post.
WhoScammedYou.com wrote: "Debby, You should post your experiences on http://www.facebook.com/l/8ab87;WhoScammedYou.com to warn others when they Google this person. We have world wide exposure!"
Hi Deborah,
Janet Hill commented on WhoScammedYou.com's wall post.
Janet wrote: "Thanks for posting this, someone from this number just called me."
See the comment thread
Reply to this email to comment on this post.
Thanks,
The Facebook Team “
On 2/8/2011 same situation occurred:
Caller claims there is a lawsuit filed against my name and social security #, threatened to black list my social security and file court documents under my name and social security #. Said his name was Alex Scott, his phone number is 469-718-7315 but on my caller ID it shows 315-551-5643 Syracuse, New York. I immediately phoned the police for whom I previously filed a police report with and added to the report. Furthermore, I have contacted the FTC, and the IRS and filed reports.
On 2/11/2011:
I got a call from 800-252-2107, 760-666-2107, and 714-464-8744 and all of them are scams. I have since changed my phone numbers too.

Hi I just had a question someone PLEASE help I just got a number from a 011000000000 they claimed that my husband had some type of legal claim on his social security??? When I brought to there attention that i thought they were a scam they threatened to have a summons sent to my mother in laws address with officers. Really? I don't understand how low they can get considering he is the the Marine Corps and does not need this happening to him with everything else in his life. Did anyone else have a similar situation? Is this a scam?

yes, did you read my post above yours?

you need to file a police report on this incident, that is what I did. In addition, report it to the FTC online as well. Even if your husband did owe money, there is no such place as a debt prison or debt police.

I responded in your other thread, but even if he owes a debt, under the Fair Debt Collection Act, it is illegal to threaten you with arrest, and by law, they have to put the information about the debt IN WRITING.

These people (often scammers, but occasionally "real" debt collectors, but again this is illegal so they can be charged for it) use this approach to scare you. They want to force you to respond out of fear before you have time to think. Once they get you to sign anything or agree on the phone that you owe a debt (even if you didn't owe a debt in the first place), they have you in a bad position, as it is much, much harder to prove you don't owe anything when they have you on the record agreeing you do.

The best practice is to NEVER agree to any offer on the phone, and never allow a caller to manipulate you. Also NEVER give credit card, social security number, drivers license number, or banking information to someone who calls you, even if they already know things about you. If your credit card company or bank (or anyone you would expect to call you) calls you and wants you to give (or even confirm) sensitive information, hang up and call them back on their PUBLISHED number (not one given to you on the phone). If they are legitimate, they will not have a problem with this.

If you are called about a debt, or are called with a fabulous vacation offer, or even are asked by phone to donate to a charity--tell them to put the request/offer in writing and send it to you. Don't give them (or confirm) any of your sensitive information. This way, you can check it out without someone on the phone putting pressure on you, and if it is a scam, you have something concrete to take to the police. And then if you really do owe money you have something you can take to an attorney if you need one.

As Buried said in his response, regular creditors cannot take your social security, only specific government creditors. Here's a simple explanation: http://www.indianajustice.org/Data/DocumentLibrary/Documents/1064318196.79/view_article_publicweb?topic_id=1020100&library=PublicWeb )

good info Dotti thanks.