GCIS INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING: Debt collector who targeted troops shut down

ISSUED BY: GCIS Communications Command Center

SOURCE: Air Force Times

19February2011 11:30amEST

GCIS INTELLIGENCE UPDATE: (AP) - BUFFALO, N.Y. — A New York debt collector accused of targeting military families is out of business.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Friday that Stephanie Lowinger of Buffalo has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of scheming to defraud and has been permanently banned from future debt collection activities.

Investigators say Lowinger and collectors she employed falsely told members of military families that those on active duty faced arrest by military police and a dishonorable discharge if they didn’t pay alleged debts.

Also Friday, Schneiderman’s office announced monetary settlements with three other western New York debt collectors accused of violating regulations against bullying and threatening consumers.

The actions continue a crackdown by the state on abusive and illegal debt collection methods. (read full report)

"GCIS INTELLIGENCE UPDATE" is an intelligence briefing presented by Griffith Colson Intelligence Service, and provided to the public for informative purposes only. All subject matter is credited to it's source of origin, and is not intended to represent original content authored by GCIS, it's partners or affiliates. All opinions presented are those of the author, and not necessarily those of GCIS or it's partners.