Email scammers have gotten more sophisticated, and unfortunately some people are duped into paying them. I recently received emails purportedly from “Capital amortization LLC.” I did a quick web-search but could not see anyone writing about them. Worried other unsuspecting individuals might be conned into giving up payment, I wanted to at least record what I had received so others searching the web might find them, and hopefully protect someone from believing these scams.
The First Email
If the entire amount due is not received on or before 06/5/2017, I shall instruct legal counsel to commence legal proceedings against you.
Unlike most scams, the first email used my actual name. Therefore, for a flash moment, I was alarmed I may have a forgotten debt. But I quickly noticed that it included a wrong (fake) social security number. It spelled my name in all lower case. It referred to me as an “it.” English-language struggler, maybe? Also — big red flag — it came from a gmail account. And it seemed copied-and-pasted so badly, parts were unclear.
Subject: ACCOUNT COLLECTION SETTLEMENT NOTICE
From: COLLECTION DEPARTMENT<robertgarcia01897@gmail.com>
June 2, 2017
Name: cynthia conlin
SSN: 423110466
This is to notify you that cynthia conlin is currently in default under its obligations to CAPITAL AMORTIZATION LLC in the amount of $1,230.00.
Our records indicate that payment on your account is overdue in the amount of $1,230.00.
I have been asked to review your seriously past due account.
This invoice is long past due and your refusal to remit payment is beginning to concern us. Is there some reason that you feel you have no responsibility to pay this debt?
Despite our earnest efforts to resolve your past due account, payment on this account has still not been made.
Please advise us if any discrepancy exists which would explain your lack of response.
Unless payment is received within 3 days, I will have no option but to existing we also used a credit score developed by us in making our credit decision, you may experience difficulties in obtaining a loan in the future Few lenders report to the traditional credit reporting agencies. Instead, they deal with specialized “subprime” agencies such as Tele Track and DP Bureau.
Naturally, we want to help you out in any way we can, since you’ve been a good person. We think we can extend some help with your credit account with us.
If there is a problem about the enclosed bill, won’t you please Email me at the give below, so that we can discuss the situation. Whatever the source of the problem is, we are in the dark until we hear from you.
Here’s how we can help you. Normally, when you pay within 2 days, you receive a [20%] discount.
We are prepared to proceed with legal action. However, my clients would prefer to give you one last opportunity to make payment and avoid legal action. Accordingly, please remit full payment within three (3) days of this letter,
I know you would like to maintain a good credit– and so I’ll look forward to receiving your payment
Therefore, demand is hereby made upon you for full payment of the entire balance due on said note in the amount of $1,230.00, including interest accrued to date. If the entire amount due is not received on or before 06/5/2017, I shall instruct legal counsel to commence legal proceedings against you. Please carefully review the note, which obligates you to pay in addition to the principal balance and interest, costs of collection and attorney’s fees.
Your prompt attention to the foregoing is anticipated.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss this matter, please Email the undersigned immediately.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
CAPITAL AMORTIZATION LLC
I could not resist a reply.
It all smelled bad — really bad — but my curiosity compelled me to respond.
Second Email: A little more info, but still not enough to go on
A few hours later, “Jeff Davis” sent me another email. This time from a domain-level address. Getting wiser? Again, however, it was copied and pasted.
Subject:UNPAID LOAN INFORMATION & DISPUTES SOLUTION
From: Settlement Services <inquest@capitalamortization.com>
Hi
My name is Jeff Davis from Capital amortization LLC. Which stands for the association of original creditor and Settlement Company. This is all about an online loan which was borrowed by you from our online lenders and within the stipulated time period given by the company, but you have not yet paid back to the company now the company wants their money back so that is the reason why the company has decided to filed a case against your name.
LOAN INFORMATION.
Principal Amount: $400.00.
Penalty & interest: $830.00
Total Due Balance: $1,230.00
Date: June 12th, 2014.
What is Capital amortization LLC?
Capital amortization LLC, is a nationwide system used by many payday lenders to check on borrowers’ loan performance. The system is provided by a private third party and lenders subscribe to it to check borrowers’ data. It serves two purposes: to protect lenders from fraudulent borrowers and to assess borrowers’ loan behavior.
There are more than 170 payday lenders working with us and you have taken out a loan from one of our lenders you failed to pay in timely manner that’s why they have forwarded your case file to us, We have all the proofs with all of your personal details in the affidavit with me so before it gets downloaded inside the courthouse with the legal procedures on your name and on your social security number with hampering your credit ratings just reply me back whether you want to put hold on this case file and settle it outside the courthouse with the settlement amount or else you want to take this matter inside the courthouse with the penalty fees and judge fees and courthouse fees and you may end up in a legal mess.
We are prepared to proceed with legal action. However, my clients would prefer to give you one last opportunity to make payment and avoid legal action. Accordingly, please remit payment,
If once the case gets download in the court then it will add Late payment fees, Documentation fees, Penalty fees, Judge fees and Attorney Charges and Courthouse fees which may go up to $4591.00
Kindly let us know are you willing to resolve this matter out of the court house or we should proceed further with the legal charges against you. Once this case will be downloaded against you then we won’t be able to help you out.
Reply me back immediately so we can be in a position whether to put hold on your case file or to proceed it inside the courthouse,
Thank You.
Sincerely,
Capital amortization LLC
When I question an email, one of the first things I usually do is look at the headers. Although this particular email appeared to be from capitalamortization.com, the headers revealed that it was really from Osunwa58582@outlook.com. Not every scammer is quite so sloppy. Even without seeing an IP address, the name “Osunwa,” alone, gives me an idea of where the email might originate.
Capital Amortization, or ‘Osunwa,’ keeps trying.
This time, he even has a “Case File” number, like a real creditor. However, his email was still too vague. He refers to an “online loan” from “online lenders” and “the company” and his “clients.” All very vague, and all mish-moshed from various collection letters, no doubt. Oddly, also, he sent the same email to me twice. It was:
Subject: UNPAID LOAN INFORMATION & DISPUTES SOLUTION
from: Settlement Services<inquest@capitalamortization.com>
Hi
My name is Jeff Davis from Capital amortization LLC. Which stands for the association of original creditor and Settlement Company. This is all about an online loan which was borrowed by you from our online lenders and within the stipulated time period given by the company, but you have not yet paid back to the company now the company wants their money back so that is the reason why the company has decided to forward your case file inside the courthouse,
Case File#: JA-04051993/RP-56,
Company Name: USA Cash Advance,
Principal Amount: $400.00.
Penalty & interest: $830.00
Total Due Balance: $1,230.00
Date: June 12th, 2014.
What is Capital amortization LLC?
Capital amortization LLC, is a nationwide system used by many payday lenders to check on borrowers’ loan performance. The system is provided by a private third party and lenders subscribe to it to check borrowers’ data. It serves two purposes: to protect lenders from fraudulent borrowers and to assess borrowers’ loan behavior.
There are more than 170 payday lenders working with us and you have taken out a loan from one of our lenders you failed to pay in timely manner that’s why they have forwarded your case file to us, We have all the proofs with all of your personal details in the affidavit with me so before it gets downloaded inside the courthouse with the legal procedures on your name and on your social security number with hampering your credit ratings just reply me back whether you want to put hold on this case file and settle it outside the courthouse with the settlement amount or else you want to take this matter inside the courthouse with the penalty fees and judge fees and courthouse fees and you may end up in a legal mess.
We are prepared to proceed with legal action. However, my clients would prefer to give you one last opportunity to make payment and avoid legal action. Accordingly, please remit payment if you cannot make full payment at this time, please contact us to make a payment arrangement that is mutually acceptable,
If once the case gets download in the court then it will add Late payment fees, Documentation fees, Penalty fees, Judge fees and Attorney Charges and Courthouse fees which may go up to $4591.00
Kindly let us know are you willing to resolve this matter out of the court house or we should proceed further with the legal charges against you. Once this case will be downloaded against you then we won’t be able to help you out.
Reply me back immediately so we can be in a position whether to put hold on your case file or to proceed it inside the courthouse,
Thank You.
Sincerely,
Jeff Davis
Capital amortization LLC
My reply
I, of course, am a stickler for detail. What was Osunwa even talking about. I had to point out his errors:
You have not identified any actual debt. Please tell me what attorney you will be using to file a lawsuit against me, and I will gladly contact the attorney.
Now he gives me the name of an actual lender.
The next day, Osunwa replied. Finally some information. A lender and a date! Too bad I have never received a loan from USA Cash Advance. Funny how a $400 loan can triple so quickly. He wrote:
Subject: INFORMATION
From: inquest@capitalamortization.com
This debt was with USA Cash Advance, the loan was for $400.00 including late fees, penalty fees and interest it became $1230.00. the loan was taken out on June 12th 2014.
Now I want to know that do you want to resolve this matter outside the courthouse or not,
Reply me back immediately so I can be in a position whether to put hold on your case file or to proceed it inside the court house.
Thank you.
Courthouse: Inside or out?
But Jeff — Osunwa — told me that he wants to know: Do I want to resolve this matter outside the courthouse or not?
Who does he think he’s asking? Of course I prefer to be inside the courthouse. Bring it on!
My response:
Yes, please proceed with it inside the court house. I would prefer to litigate this issue. Thank you, kindly. Have your attorney contact me if he or she would like me to waive service of process. Have a great day!
I literally got the same email, with the same amount owed, supposedly from a online loan from USA Cash Advance also. I was very alarmed though because they did have our SS number correct. So that does worry me… but at least rest assured I know it’s a scam.
It *is* alarming and unexpected, and it even is getting through spam filters. You can expect that scammers will get more and more sophisticated as time goes on. Best to just ignore. Hope people aren’t falling for it. 🙁
I just got the same email ! Same threat , I have asked for paper work and which bank account did they deposit the money . We will see where it goes !
I wonder if you’ll get the same response I did!
Thank yo for posting this. I just got the same email for the same amount, except it said it was from Interstate Clearance. I will not respond. I have been warned by credit monitoring services that my information including SSN is on the “dark web” so I check all my accounts almost daily to make sure there is no unexpected activity. That may be how they got my SSN. There isn’t much else you can do.
The SSN in my email was a wrong SSN. If they have your real SSN I’d be very suspicious.
Same email for weeks it’s incredible
I just got the same E-mail saying I took out a loan for the same amount that they gave you. Mr. Jeff Davis said he had all my personal information, to which i replied then show me this information you! i have yet to receive another E-mail.