“We can’t do anything about that. You will have to call these other people.” This is how scammers live under the radar and continue feeding off honest citizens with their crimes. None of the authorities could care less as long as the box on their form is filled in with or without factual information and the revenue flow they are responsible for continues arriving.
This all started with a scam that cost the scammee over $100. The scammer’s Oregon vehicle license number was noted and the Sheriff called. He ran a trace on the plates and found that the license was registered to a company north of Seattle and provided tow phone numbers: one of an office in Eugene, Or and the other for an office in Tacoma, WA. “Since it is a legitimate company, you’ll have to deal with them directly.” He further recommended that the Better Business Bureau (BBB) could also be contacted and provided a phone number of the Washington state branch. When both “company” phone numbers proved to be invalid, the BBB was called. They laughed and stated that the so-called “company” in question already has an “F” rating with nine unanswered complaints against them. However, “you are welcome to file a complaint on the form provided.” They also provided yet another phone number for the company, which of course, was also invalid. Otherwise, thee is nothing more the BBB can do.
The U.S. Bank, upon which the check was drawn, cooperated fully and determined that the check paid to the scammers was cashed less than an hour later in Battle Ground, WA and provided two U.S. Bank phone numbers that officials could use to obtain security camera views of the perp cashing the check. They were subsequently provided to the Sheriff’s office and a response is still pending.
The next chapter of this venture is even more interesting. At this point, there is no evidence that the “Company” to which the license plate is registered actually exists. Apparently, everyone has new phone numbers these days including the Washington Department of Licensing (WDOL). When finally contacted, it was learned that they do not handle business licenses. That comes under the Department of Revenue (WDOR). They provided a business license number for a company in Everett, WA and further recommended contacting the Snohomish County Dept. of Licensing or the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) using the phone numbers that were also provided.
The SNOCODOL uses an automatic phone answering system (adjectives for which are unfit for print). A call back message was left which is still pending. So on to the AGO. Right away it was stated that they cannot do anything without a complaint form properly filled in that must include the company’s name and address. Back to WDOR for company address and another invalid phone number. The latter was not for the “company” in question but for the “QCS Broadway store.” One GPS unit could not find such an address; however, Google Earth does point to an Everett location. So back to WDOR again. After reviewing the progress, or more appropriately the lack of progress to date, it was now recommended that the WDOR Fraud Division be contacted. Transferred there, another automatic answering system was encountered. When transferred there, that is more like a broken record straight out of an Invaders Handbook. The odds of winning the lottery are far better than ever getting a reply from WDOR Fraud. That, too, is still pending.
The only thing learned after talking with more than 30 employees that we pay is that “We can’t do anything about that,” which leaves one with a frightening sense of insecurity and bewilderment as to who the scammers really are. As long as all the proper forms are filled in with something, fees paid and no blood spilled, you are on your own, living with the biggest scam of all.
James Farber
Amboy
