Editor's Note: Account Control Systems Inc., based in Northvale, N.J. and Montvale, N.J. is not affiliated with the fraudulent operation using the "ACS Inc." name. ACS Financial LLC, a collection agency in Seattle, also is not affiliated with the fraudulent operation.
The Better Business Bureau serving the western part of Florida has issued an alert about a fraudulent debt collection operation using the name ACS Inc.
More than 1,500 people located across the U.S. have complained about the scam, in which callers contact people by phone and email in an attempt to collect a debt they do not owe. The operation uses several other phony company names, according to the BBB.
People contacted by ACS Inc. report the callers used threats to coax them to make a payment or provide personal information, according to the BBB.
"Some consumers have been intimidated to pay or they will be arrested by the FBI, FTC or other law enforcement agencies,” the BBB reports.
Scammers reportedly used multiple phone numbers and email addresses along with false names when they contact consumers. As of Thursday, there were more than 80 phone numbers and 125 email addresses linked to ACS Inc. contacts. When consumers ask for validation of the supposed debts, the callers refuse to provide the information.
The BBB found that the phone numbers and emails are used only for a short period of time to prevent consumers and law enforcement from being able to contact them, according to the news release.
"When calling some of the numbers that have been disconnected, BBB received the following message: ’This number has been disconnected because of suspected or fraudulent activity.’ "
