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Feds accuse Charlotte debt collection agency of pretending to be lawyers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Federal Trade Commission said Lombardo, Daniels and Moss used intimidation and deception to con people out of a combined $2.1 million.

The FTC is suing the debt collection agency, saying it had a scheme to defraud consumers out of money some didn't even owe or if they did owe, the company had no right to collect.

The FTC said the collectors used multiple names to make people think it was a law firm: Lombardo, Daniels & Moss; Barron, Gibson & Phillips; and Cohen, Daniels & Moss.

The Feds claim Lombardo threatened to arrest people or sue them if they didn't pay over the phone immediately. The government also claims the company called repeatedly and even used profanity to pressure consumers, for example, to "pay the 'f***ing' thing."

The FTC also claims the company had some people's personal information, like Social Security numbers, bank account numbers and relatives' names to convince them the calls were legitimate.

The FTC also alleges Lombardo "illegally disclosed purported debts to third parties, failed to disclose that they were debt collectors calling to collect a debt and that any information consumers provided could be used for that purpose, and failed to send consumers legally required written notices with the debt amount and the creditor's name, giving consumers an opportunity to dispute the debt."

A Federal judge has ordered Lombardo to stop doing business and froze its assets.

Even if you owe money, you can't be arrested for not paying.  When in doubt, demand the caller send you something in writing.

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