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Missouri man making false inquiries into short term loans

Apr 02, 2012 Philip Burgess

Missouri man making false inquiries into short term loans
A man falsely identifying himself as a police officer has been harassing citizens of Florida and Kansas, threatening them with legal action if they do not pay back outstanding debts.
 Citizens have been receiving calls from someone claiming to be detective Joe Wilson of Columbia, Missouri threatening them with home searches if they don't pay the police department for back payments and outstanding short term lending bills, The Columbia Tribune explained, though there is no one by that name on the Columbia police force. The fake cop tells the people they must settle debts with the department as well as short term loan businesses, without identifying what the loan is, reported the source. Columbia police officer Latisha Stroer told the Tribune that police representatives do not attempt to collect outstanding debts. The Federal Trade Commission noted that there are set rules that debt collectors must follow when trying to secure an overdue payment. For instance, debt collectors cannot call before 8 am or after 9 pm unless the person with the delinquent account agrees. Also, a debt collector cannot harass debtors, make false statements or threaten legal action.