JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A local woman tells Action News that she was target of payday loan scam Monday that is making its way across the country.
“A case has been submitted against you,” said the message left on Kathy Milligan voicemail.
Milligan is a former debt collector who is well aware of scams, but says this call sounded legitimate.
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“If I do not hear from you or your attorney of record,” said the caller, “the case will be discharged and submitted to your county for prosecution.”
Milligan called the number back and was told she’s facing time in the Duval County jail for bank fraud and theft, for not paying interest on a payday loan taken two years ago.
“The loan was for $500 but they looking for $2,013.59, which I thought was an odd amount.”
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Milligan denied the charges but the smooth-talking callers knew all about her.
“They knew my bank and said that I should have my attorney call them back. That's something that really got me, and that's why I thought maybe this isn't a scam.”
Milligan’s attorney told her it is a scam, that is making it’s way across the country. She was advised to ignore calls from that number, or if she did answer, to tell the callers to send her paperwork for her attorney to review.
Action News also called the number, and found it was registered to an organization called “Pre-trial Intervention.” According to the nonprofit consumer warning site, Scam Call Fighters, PTI purchases customer data off the internet, and violates the Federal Trade Commission’s Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by threatening criminal charges.
Milligan says that’s a scare tactic that often works, and that she wants others to avoid.
“Please don't pay anybody anything until you can get legal means and find out if it's legit," said Milligan.