Posted by Derrick/MT on 5/8/08 5:41pm
Msg #246772

FBI Internet Fraud Division

Can you guys help me to understand this. I have briefly read that some of you have gone and filed a complaint with the FBI concerning some of our less than desirable signing services. Now I am all for new ways to collect from these deadbeat companies but how does going through the fraud division help us out? How does what we do relate to what the internet fraud division does?

Reply by OR on 5/8/08 7:19pm
Msg #246800

Because this business is mostly done over the internet. Thus if they don't pay you they have conducted internet fraud. The agency that monitors the internet and business that is done over the internet is the FBI Internet division.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 5/8/08 7:55pm
Msg #246806

Yes, but I don't think they'll give a high priority

to a complaint unless a) there's a significant amount of money involved and/or b) there are a number of other people with the same or similar complaints against the same company. IOW, they might step up for a SOX or a Signatures Plus, but if you're chasing $125 from someone and no one else is complaining about them, it may be a while before they get to your complaint (if at all). Doesn't hurt to try, although you may improve your odds by finding others to join your complaint.

Sometimes all it takes is a letter of inquiry from the feds to put the fear of God into these bottom-feeding lowlifes...

Reply by DD/OR on 5/8/08 9:44pm
Msg #246823

Re: Yes, but I don't think they'll give a high priority

I don't agree. They will act on it, no matter what. It's still fraud wheather its one company or whatever the amount. That is how I collected from a company. He/she should also complain to the Attorney General of the state the SS is in. They'll send a letter and the notary will receive their check. A notary should never allow a SS to get by without paying. There are too many ways to collect. A SS is living in a dream world if they think they can get by without paying notaries. The cards are stacked against them. They're just too stupid to realize it. DD

Reply by John_NorCal on 5/8/08 9:54pm
Msg #246825

Re: Yes, but I don't think they'll give a high priority

[They will act on it, no matter what.]

Sorry, but you're deluding yourself DD/OR. I had an internet business, someone defrauded me out of over $600.00 in merchandise using a fraudulent credit card. I placed a complaint with the FBI Internet Fraud Division, I sent them all the back up showing where the merchandise was delivered to, everything I had I gave to them. Glad I didn't hold my breath, I'm still waiting.

Reply by DD/OR on 5/9/08 2:16pm
Msg #246923

Re: Yes, but I don't think they'll give a high priority

I sent numerous invoices to the company and I sent a demand letter giving them 3 days to pay or I would start complaining to different agencies. They ignored me. Then I started filing complaints. My first complaint was to the FBI Fraud Division. While I was trying to decide who to complain to next, I received a check from the company a few days later. So I'm assuming it was because of the FBI.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 5/9/08 4:59pm
Msg #246951

Re: Yes, but I don't think they'll give a high priority

It sounds more like coincidence - the feds don't move that fast on anything. The only way I could imagine it happening that quickly is if a complaint triggers the sending of a form letter to the other party. I think that's unlikely, because there's too much potential for fraud and harassment.

I'm not saying you shouldn't try it - sometimes the threat alone can shake them up. My point is that the FBI is not going to react as the complaints come in the door. They have limited resources to do this stuff, so the bigger cases are going to get the higher priority.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 5/8/08 10:50pm
Msg #246833

Re: Yes, but I don't think they'll give a high priority

Do you seriously believe that, given all the rest of the stuff they have to worry about (such as, oh, I don't know - terrorism, maybe???), the FBI is going to divert resources just to chase some company that owes you a couple of hundred bucks? You might get their immediate attention if it involves many individuals scammed out of thousands of dollars, but other than that you're going to be waiting for Godot...

Here's my personal efficiency test when it comes to government agencies, and I find it saves me a lot of time and aggravation when dealing with them: How long would I be willing to hang by the neck waiting for something to happen?

Your posts always seem long on generalities and short on specifics. John_NorCal just posted specific info about how he tried it and it didn't work for him. Please provide SPECIFIC info about how you tried it and it did work for you - and "That is how I collected from a company" is too vague, so you'll have to do better than that. Tell us what you did, how they reacted, and what the outcome was. Otherwise, few folks here are going to take anything you say seriously.

Reply by OR on 5/9/08 12:30am
Msg #246847

Re: Yes, but I don't think they'll give a high priority

Well you don't have to try it if you don't want to. I know that worked when told North American Signing Service (Livermore CA.) I was willing to go to the FBI Internet Fraud and report them it worked. I am not the only person saying that it will help us to collect. Jeremy Belmont posted it first on a nother web site. That is where I found the information. When I stepped up and said that I was going to take action to collect and even make a report to the FBI Internet Fraud if I had too. I got paid in 4 days. This company was 104 days past due. I had sent countless past due emails and made phone calls she never responded. So I wrote a demand letter that said that she had 5 business days to pay me or I would report her. She called me and said that payment was in the mail. I have done work for other SS that ran late on payments but they keep in touch and we are a team. I had one SS in particular just lately that was over 100 days late too. He kept in touch. I give him credit because He stands behind his name his word. But when an SS send you out with a contract to pay you and shut the doors of communication and wont pay then this may help. I am saying it did for me like Jeremy Belmont on another web site said just another tool in the tool box to use.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 5/9/08 6:21am
Msg #246851

Re: Yes, but I don't think they'll give a high priority

But you didn't actually report them - you just threatened to do it. I'm glad the threat worked for you, but I still think that if they called your bluff and you DID report them, you'd still be waiting.

Reply by cal2az on 5/9/08 11:40am
Msg #246891

Re: FBI Internet Fraud Division - White Collar Crime

Their White Collar Crime Complaint form asks if there are other victims, to list them with contact information. It may be with more victims - more notice. It goes on record at least.

Reply by OR on 5/9/08 4:31pm
Msg #246947

Re: FBI Internet Fraud Division - White Collar Crime

I want to be very clear here. I do not think it is wise to report every company that did not pay you in 60 or even 90 days days. I am talking about the companys that "dont" pay wont comunicate with a long a history of not paying other Notary's.
I did talk to the FBI. It is easy to make a complaint. You go to http://www.ic3.gov/ and file one. From the first complaint they start to build a case. Once the case is strong enough they will do a full investigation. That is more then the BBB or the State Attorney Gene real will do. I did not have to file a complaint in my case because she paid me in 4 days. I was ready to stand behind my word and file a complaint. Like Jeremy Belmont said it is a tool in the tool box to use. I "do" think it would help with some of the worst non payment company's. I have talked to the FBI and they told me that they "do" investigate bad internet fraud. They have to have a list of complaints, I don't know how many complaints they need. But some of these non paying company's have a long list of people who where willing to post already about non payment. I am saying that the FBI internet Fraud division told me that they "would" investigate each company that has enough complaints filed agent them.