Our topic comes from an issue brought to our attention just last week from someone in the Millinocket area. It’s worth noting that our consumer did a lot of things right, including noting several written tip-offs, in order not to become a victim.

The case involved a collection notice mailed by Parker Elliott Inc., a debt collection agency in Southern California. The letter referenced our consumer as the person representing Karkos Plumbing and Heating and included the consumer’s home address. Tip-off No. 1: Our consumer is retired and has no connection with this business.

The letter mentioned an alleged debt of more than $2,400 to Wolverine Brass Inc. No details or supporting documents were provided; the letter was designed to make the reader believe this was a legitimate collection effort.

The tone of the letter was conciliatory. It read, in part, “I will do for you what I have done for very few debtors, I will go … back to be [sic] charming.” Tip-off No. 2: questionable grammar.

The letter itself was on photocopied letterhead; our consumer sent us the letter on which the signature, too, had been photocopied. Tip-off No. 3, in the words of our consumer: “Not very professional.”

The biggest tip-off was simply that our consumer knew he had never had a business relationship with either Karkos Plumbing or the alleged creditor, Wolverine Brass Inc. He noted that the dunning letter had arrived last Monday, when our article, “Intimidation used by swindlers baseless; Ignore empty threats” appeared in this newspaper.

He did the right thing by not phoning or e-mailing Neil Verducci, whose name (and photocopied signature) appeared as the contact person for Parker Elliott. After seeing the letter, our caseworker hit the phones and made some interesting discoveries.

Karkos Plumbing and Heating was sold to another business, which inherited some bills. One was from Wolverine Brass, which may have hired Parker Elliott to collect. Neil Verducci apparently found the name of our consumer, whose name was close to that of an employee of the new company, which is in Farmington, some distance from our consumer.

Verducci apparently put the name into an Internet search engine and sent a dunning letter to the person living closest to the business he was after! He may have sent letters to others with similar names, if history is any indicator. An official of the business in Farmington said he has received about 10 nearly identical letters from Verducci.

The practice amounts to a pattern of deception, according to Detective Lee Jones of the Lewiston Police Department, who has been looking into Parker Elliott’s activities. Jones said he spoke with Verducci by phone and determined that what he was doing “sure sounded like a scam.”

During a phone call to an official at the business in Farmington, Verducci allegedly threatened to have technicians’ licenses revoked and the business property foreclosed upon. The official said he told Verducci the land was rented and hung up. Jones said the creditor and inheritor of the old bill have settled up without any help from the likes of Parker Elliott.

With scammers trying multiple mailings – backed up by empty threats – to make easy money, business owners and citizens alike need to be vigilant. Make sure the bill you pay is one that you owe. If you have questions about a debt collection agency or its practices, you may contact the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation in Augusta (624-8500) or your local police department.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration, now in its 30th year, of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast CONTACT, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. Individual and business memberships are available at modest rates. Interested and motivated prospective volunteers are always needed and welcomed to apply to help with our mission. For assistance with consumer-related issues, including consumer fraud and identity theft, or for more information, write: Consumer Forum, P.O. Box 486, Brewer ME 04412, or e-mail contacexdir@live.com.