I am freaked out. I got about 5 missed calls on my phone today and when I finally answered, got a man (spanish name) that identified himself as a customs officer and started asking me questions. He said that an illegal phamacy had been raided and wanted to know about any orders I had now, when the last time I ordered was, if I had children, if there was a husband that they could stay with if I was not there (as in arrested?) I hung up, passed out and he has tried to call back once. I looked up the phone number and it says a landline in Allentown, NJ.
Does anyone out there have any advice or insight for me? I am a basket case.

what and how much did you order and from where?

There have been some scams like this. They tell you that if you send some money to them they can make it go away.

Why don't you post the number the call came from.

You are being extorted. You should ignore it. If he calls again you may want to contact local LE.

The phone number is 609-223-7741

Im doing better, but jeez, I feel like I'm going to puke - still. He did a whole badge number and everything. He left a voicemail saying who he was and that it was very urgent that he talk to me.

I had ordered from Secret Products in the past and they got raided a while back, so it seemed possible.

Any insight at this point will help me. I just know he's gonna call again tomorrow etc.

looks like that number has tryed to call and maybe scam a few people. Do a google search on it

Bump.

This sounds completely bogus to me. I dont believe Customs would be the ones calling you in this situation. If he was legit he would leave his contact information and you would be able to verify that he was actually with Customs.

Oh I think that is just a basic number with voicemail. It is an automated message, you can't even hit 0 to get to an operator. I think it is a throw away number.

If he calls tomorrow, ask him what you can do to clear this up, play dumb.

If he tells you about sending money, get all the info for it, still play dumb.

After you get everything then you can do one of two things. Call the police, let them handle it, which is what is needed to stop these people, but no one ever wants to do that.

Second thing, tell them if they ever dial your number again, you will turn all this info over to the FBI.

Do you really think its nothing? I'm real skittish as to how they got my phone number and knew to come after me about a drug raid etc.

Yup, I think it is the same scam. They have bought customer lists from someone.

Did you ever do business with an OCS, maybe Chris Larsen or someone else that was less than a pillar of the community?

You used to use Chat? That might be where they bought the customer list from.

I doubt customs handle things like this. They're in charge of mail, and if there's a serious problem, they contact law enforcement. And if this is an order from a long time ago, all they might have is a paper trail and no actual evidence that you possess anything illegal.

He said that there had been a raid on an illegal pharmacy and that so far 23 people had been indited (sp?) and asked alot of questions saying that I was being recorded and that if my answers were not truthful, I would be in alot of trouble. Asked my son's age, marital status, when I had last ordered, if I had an order in the works right now, if I had ordered from more than one place etc. then, I told him I had to go (yea, and pass out) and he said that he could give me his number but that it was very important that we talk - I hung up and actually did pass out. My poor son was in a doctor's appointment and was SO worried. I told him my blood sugar was low and he said "well, this is the best place for you to faint, i guess." The dude called back once, I was in the shower, then not again today. By then it was late in the afternoon. His name was Peter Franco. When he left the voicemail he said it was very urgent that I get in contact with him today.

Cops don't call. Tell him you need his agency's contact information so your attorney can handle it and watch how fast he disappears.

If it was me I'd tell him to go pound sand and hang up.

Google the number and go from there. IF that is a legit L.E. person, a legal consult might be in order to help you with what to say or what NOT to say next time. If there was a REAL problem, it would be at the door, not on the phone. They don't call and warn people, they (L.E.) just go visit them.

Stacy is most likely right...if they tell you to send the money for the fine to Nigeria or Uganda, just say ok...sure.
The scams out there are simply amazing. People still get taken with the fake check in the mail that tells them to cash it and send 75% back to them....

Just don't say ANYTHING. If this is legit, which it isn't, nothing you say on the phone can help you. Don't talk to anyone on the phone about anything like this.

Once again, how many times have you heard of law enforcement calling the subject of their investigation to tell them they're in trouble? Never.

I got a call like this once and it's complete BS. If he was with the the US Government he would if you were married, had kids,etc. Ignore it.

Thank you all so much for the reassurance. I felt like it was so real and still feel shaky and paranoid. Sadly, most of us know how it feels to deal with anxiety like this on top of the pain and misery that have brought us to this place to begin with. Its as though there isn't enough actual crime out there... I am hoping for sleep tonight...

What a parasite this guy is, he needs to be dragged across to Mexico (from the gangsters) and shot in the back of the head. He is doing nothing but leeching off of a community which thrive on support from others; scum.

It is obvious that any officer of the law would _never_ interrogate you by phone. We should try trace his number, and have someone break his legs.

Has anyone (or you, though I know youre worried) tried calling this guy? I get REALLY cheap international calls to the US - I'd love to call that number & get him on the phone, and give him a PIECE of my mind!!!!

I did call back just to see who the number was and it said that the person at that ext. wasn't available. I did a reverse phone lookup and it said a landline in Allentown, New Jersey.

LE don't leave voxmail.
They ask to speak directly or visit in person.
I'd change my phone #

This has scam written all over it. I would be more worried about any personal information you gave this person because he could use it to steal your identity, which sounds WAY more likely than it being the law calling you.

Even if he doesn't ask for money to be sent to some far away land, don't give any information and tell him to call your lawyer (and if you don't have one, give him the number for your local automated time and temperature or some other bogus number -- heck, give him a 555 number!)

I just called that number and left a message saying that I was a UK resident intendning to visit the US soon and wanted to get information on importation of certain items such as foosd stuffs and flowers and could he call me back and gave the number of a mobile phone of someone who is deceased (but I can't bring myself to throw away the phone)

If he has to pay to retreive voicemail, which he may, it might be a bit of wease to all phone up and ask stupid customs related questions.

Wow! You are so clever!! He didn't call back today, but I'm not entirely convinced that he won't try again. I'm still a bit edgey.

Relax ...Stare into my Avatar

I mean't of couse, all of us phone up, not just jobusgal.

Come on, have some fun and get dialling. There are so very very many stupid questions you could ask about animal fur and bush meat, alcohol content allowed per grm of perfume, what the duty is on goods bought in from a tax haven, can you bring in a llama?

Get dialling.

Excellent Idea ...Spam the Spammers Phone #

Do you ever spam scam spammers...get then all thinking you've fallen for it but keep asking more and more stupid questions and then saying that you have fallen in love with them and want to be their only one and will they send you money for a ticket so that you can visit them or some other stupid scenario. It's great fun.

I am SO envious of anyone that could pull that off! I am a horrible liar. (not like I lie all the time, but like WHEN I lie, I suck at it!)