877-331-8194

Received a message saying that a person I do not know was in violation of state law. My answer machine answered and they left a message saying because I answered I was this person. I called the number to find out how they got my number and what company were they with and the lady immediately hung up. I called again and she was very rude and never did answer my questions.

Many years ago my mother had a business. We closed the business a few years ago (11/2007; she's almost 86 now) after 50+ years of operation. As it happens, I had the business line forwarded to me, just in case someone who knows her calls.

Today, I received a call from the number in question: 877-331-9184. It was a male voice, a recorded message, saying they were desperately trying to reach my mother (he used her full legal name), and to call the same number.

A woman answered, and never identified her self nor the company she represents. Since I was calling an toll-free number, I kept asking for their name. She never gave it to me. She did say she was in Atlanta, and that they represent merchants from across the world that have bad check collections. This merchant was 'Golden Keys.'

She said that tomorrow by noon the attorney was going to be in front of the judge to have a warrent filed for my mother's arrest for writing a bad check. A check that was 5 years old! She gave me the check number and date.

I told her the corporation (that they check was written from) was closed, there were no funds and that very soon my mother was leaving her state to live be with me. She's recently had surgury, appears to have dementia and there are no funds. I asked if they really wants to arrest an 86 yo dementia patient. She said they have arrested people older than that.

I asked her to fax me a copy of the check ($175). She said the attorney had it, she only had notes on the account about converations with my mother about the money (which were not dated). (Mind you that legally, a corporation is a 'person,' and they would have to arrest the corporation, not it's officer. This person/corporation is 'dead.')

I laughed, and said that if she was expecting me to send $175 to her for something she could not prove my mother owed, it would not happen. She kept talking about my mother's arrest, and how they would come to her home. What ever.

I then called my mother and my brother and asked them about it. No one knew anything. Mom was totally confused, thinking the company was selling her keys of gold. Bro told me 20/20 recently did a piece on these companies that prey upon senior citizens.

While talking to him, I was searching the 'net, and the name brings up "golden keys international honor society" (apparently an scam directed at college grads seeking to honored) and 'golden keys marketing system' who has a website [http://www.goldenkeys.net/] that says it is permenantly closed but gives a forwarding email link [support@goldenkeys.net]. Further digging hits sites about a Sri Lanka credit card scam where the [http://www.thecolombotimes.com/business-news/ ... otelawala-.html; http://www.spot.lk/article2715-golden-key-scam-police-uncover-more-deals.html; and http://sundaytimes.lk/090111/FinancialTimes/ft321.html]. Something about investors not being able to get the money out of their accounts.

I decided to search the phone number (as you have) and it led me to this page. Everyone having the same story...threaten to arrest if you don't pay now.

Look at these:
https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/8773318194 and
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-877-331-8194.

On the latter one, you'll find a long post about how the caller has broken the law. Please read it carefully and go through the links. REPORT THEM, please!

If it was a legit debt, they are limited by what they can do to collect. Threatening to have you arrest is not one of them!

Then I remembered...

About 3 years ago this same call arrived, only it reach my mother. She was in tears about being arrested. She called me.

I called the bank. I got a copy of the check.

Guess what...IT CLEARED...in 2005! It wasn't a bad check at all. In 2007 when someone was threatening my mother, I faxed a copy of it to them, and never heard from them...until now.

I did try to call the number just before I wrote this up, and the answering machine said it was "America's Network, Inc."

Go look at the links about reporting them. I'm sure the woman in Atlanta thinks she just got hired by a great company do to collections from her home. Little does she know she could also be arrested.

Go figure!

MotherLode

Update...

I called the company the next day. The womann I spoke to the night before was nice enough, and I wanted to see if she knew what she was doing, the legality of it all, and most importantly, that the check had cleared back in 2005.

She's been working for them 'quite a while,' and the tactics are not illegal because they are a merchant services company, and don't fall under the guidelines for collection companies.

As for the check that had cleared? "Well, if that is what you think." {Click. Dial tone.}

Any ideas Lament?

My 65 year old mother called me very upset stating that she spoke to a 'representative' from this phone number  8773318194 saying that her company "Data Control" had a check for 300.00 that bounced from 2003 from my mother and that the attorney was going to be in front of the judge the next morning filing a criminal complaint against my mother.

My mother asked who the check was made out to and the woman said "Larson brothers" My Mom did not recognize the name.

My mother asked for the check to be faxed and the woman said she would fax it.We are still waiting!

This screams "scam" to me since they will not give out any information about themselves and want you to rush and give them money. They try scare tactics. Do not give them information and do not send them money.

Got a call from this number 877 331 8194. Man with a southern accent, saying my number was implicated in  "Possibly a criminal investigation." I knew it was a scam and plan to report to local police.

877 331 8194 Called my phone with a message... a man with a weird southern accent saying that my number could be part of an investigation (possibly criminal) .. called back left a msg... havent recieved another call back... assuming scam.. but dont know for sure..

Ladies and Gentlmen, I recieved a call today at my work voice mail stating that criminal action will be brought upon me if I do not return the call by 2pm the next day. I called and they asked for my name and phone number. I said that I do not feel comfortable giving my last name. I then asked what company did they worked for and they said " We work for a lot of companies" and they hung up the phone, I called back and got a different agent and they asked for my infromation name and phone number. I gave them my full name and they said that I was not in the system and it was a wrong call. This sounds like a prank, it totaly ruined my day at work and freaked me out. If your gutt tells you something is wrong, your probably right. I plan to call security if they call again.

I received an automated call from this number saying that my phone # was linked to a criminal investigation and to call back immediately.  I have a brother who is in prison and thought it might have something to do with him, so I called and got an answering machine.  I left my name and number (mistake) and haven't heard back yet.  Decided to google the number and found this site.

I recieved a call telling me that I needed to call regarding an investigation that could be a criminal investigation. When I called the number 877-331-8194 no one answered and I was sent to an answering machine that said it was America's Network Inc. I don't believe whoever is calling has any basis because they did not identify themself or their company and did not identify me in any way. Also this was originally a business number but I switched it over to my cel and my husband holds the business phone. Whoever these people are they say it is not a prank call or a sales call, but it seems like its all bull to me. Don't give out any personal information, they must be abl to provide you with proof that you owe them something in order to have you pay them. If they have no proof that they can send you in writing it is not legit. They also cannot put you in jail for a bad check. thats ridiculous, don't let them bully you

We received an outrageous message left on our phone saying that our "phone number" has been implicated in an investigation, claimed that the call was urgent and told us to not delay in returning the call.  I first looked it up and found that many people were upset with this and similar messages.   We have only had this number for about 8 months and have fielded a number of calls from debt collectors.  But none were so rude and made such attempts at intimidation.  You could even hear what sounded like police radio conversations in the background.  The man said that would should not hesitate and should call back immediately to aid in the investigation.

What an outrage!  How completely rude and unprofessional!  If I had children or teens and they heard that message it might have really frightened them!  I called back and firmly told them to remove my number from their call list.  A recording answered saying that the name of the company was America's Network, Incorporated, that all their 'investigators' were currently busy, and did not offer the option of holding.  It sent me straight to voice mail where I left a strong message.

If it was a person and not a recording leaving the message on our phone in the first place, they would have heard our greeting which gives our name and they would have known they did not have the correct number.

How do we get this 'business' reported to an agency that will do something about them?

Got a call from this number on the machine also saying my phone number  wasimplicated in an investigation and could be a criminal investigation.  Stated this was not a sales or marketing call.  Call them back between 9a and 6 pm   also sounded like a police scanner in the background noise to make it sound like anofficail call. Made itsound like a police call but not not state the investigators name or from what official dept. they were from.   Called the number from a cell phone blocking my number and a woman answered andasked her what co. was this and she stated were many company's.

I live in Atlanta Ga.

They called me telling me that I owed them money. And they would arrest me if i don't pay them. they said that I owe them $33.00 for a TJ Maxx check that i wrote several years ago. after verifying that i did not write this check through my bank.  I informed them i would not be paying them. These people are scam artist.

just got a voice mail on my cell phone that began with at muffled buzzing, then a woman saying "please do not be alarmed...we have been trying to contact you for several weeks now (not true)...you are being investigated for a civil or criminal investigation.(Gee which is it ???...They are very different) This matter is time sensitive. You are running out of time... because the investigation is about to close. Please call now.
Obviously I did not call--she never identified herself or said who she was calling...this has scam written all over it!

I just got a call from this [***] clown organization, wouldn't you expect a little more detailed information if you were really involved in a legal matter instead of some vague recorded message? I love how they don't specify civil or criminal investigation either, just could be one or the other. I'm getting tired of these jerks phishing for personal information. Even if they are a legitimate company, it seems that these people don't give a rats ass whether they have the right number or not.

Came home to the same exact phone message that S got.  I suspected it was a scam but called the number anyways just to see what they would pull on me.  I got an answering machine that requested my name and number...yeah, I don't think so.  I did a google search and found this site, confirming my suspicions that it's a bunch of B.S.

I just played back a message on my answering machine saying the very same message. I also received a similar call a few months ago which I foolishly called the number back and the man identified himself as some law officer an there was a warrant out for my arrest for scamming a bank out of money but they couldn' more information about it but I would be arrested if  didn't show up in cou in Florida. I just told him good luck because they wee crazy and hung up on him.

Got a call from these evil people about a check that Pizza Hut had lost a few years back.  My wife called and was threatened with arrest and prosecution.  I knew exactly what had happened when my wife told me what check it was.  That matter was resolved in 2003 and everybody was satisfied.  The only way I know that this awful company could have found out is from lists of missing or insufficient funds checks that check processors track.  My wife was in tears when she told me that the representative theatened her with arrest and court.  This company must be stopped and shut down!  These attempts to collect are illegal under federal law!  Contact your Attorney General's office in your state and demand that they start an official fraud investigation on this company!

Here is the CEO's contact info.  Forward it to whoever you need to or contact the weasel directly to let him know that you will not take it anymore.  Clark Howard should be on this as well!

Ronald E. Mullinax
CEO
American's Network, Inc.
2285 Oak Rd
Snellville, Ga. 30078
678-708-0200 Phone 678-708-0236

A message was left on my answering machine that they had been attempting to reach me for weeks (this was the first time I had heard from them) and I was the subject of a criminal or civil investigation.  When I attempted to call back, I got an answering machine, but then I was told the mail box was full and I could not leave a message at this time.

i received a message saying that I was involved in a civil or criminal investigation.  I was told that they had been trying to reach me for several weeks, and I needed to call this number immediately 18773318194. I did call it and the mailbox was full.  I googled the phone number and got this page.  I even reported it to my local police station.  This is a full fledged SCAM.  Plain and simple.

When I first recieved a call from this number a few weeks ago I ignored it.  However they called me back today and left the same message about a pending "civil or criminal investigation" into me.  I happen to be a lawyer at a large Atlanta law firm, and know that there is no "civil or criminal investigation" into me - they are outright lying.  In addition, they called me on my cell phone, which is in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (47 U.S.C. 227 et seq).

I would be interested in talking to/meeting with anyone who has received calls from this number.  You can e-mail me at consumerlaw.atl@gmail.com

Bringing a class action against these people is the best way to stop them from abusing other innocent people with their intimidation tactics.