Been sent a threatening letter from ACS:Law - Virgin Media Broadband

Dave 909 · 07-05-2009, 22:06

I gather these get sent out every now and then?.

Today been sent a letter demanding £635 for a game they are claiming wedownloaded july 08. And that they had gone to the hight court to get an order to get contact information off what it names as Cable Internet Ltd.

Neither do they name the propper ISP of provide a copy of any court papers.

VM has told us tonight that there is nothing on our account to say that any such action or cour papers has been received by them and that they have handed over no contact information.

The company ACS:Law sounds similar to another genuine company ACS Law but not the same.

VM told us it's a fake letter and to ignore it. Anyone else get this letter recently to know if we should respond or ignore as VM suggested due to it being fake?.

Sananda Maitreya · 07-05-2009, 22:25

Did you download the game?

kiellliam · 07-05-2009, 22:41

Same here not me though http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...2-acs-law.html

It's a scam

http://www.p2pfreak.com/forum/torren...wo-worlds.html

Do what Virgin Media says

bluesnow · 08-05-2009, 08:14

I received my letter from acs:law yesterday also. haven't contacted Virgin yet but i will be in the next few hours.
my says i uploaded on 30th Jan 08...

Was it for Call of Juarez

08-05-2009, 08:45

Get in touch with trading standards its the only way to stop these people.

It reeks of yet another scam to make money and they know how much worry this would cause people.

my bet is if it is a scam and trading standards start sniffing around they will soon shut up shop.

GKP · 08-05-2009, 09:31

While I agree that trading standards is the way to go, I am somewhat concerned that confidential customer information held by VM has escaped into the wild and maybe that should be investigated by Virgin (Or better) someone competent.
If that is the case, a lot more scams are being thought up to send to more of us.

Lucky it's not your ID card details that ACS:Law has!!!

sduffield · 08-05-2009, 09:42

It's a scam. The website http://www.acs-law.co.uk returns a blank page. Doing a WHOIS on the domain name returns the acs-law.co.uk address as an individual based in Beckenham, Kent.

bluesnow · 08-05-2009, 09:45

tech support have told me they have had loads of calls over the last 24hrs about this and advise to forward all info to there special team at email abusefollowed by the blueyonder addy.

they believe it to be a scam because they haven't given out any detail. they don't know how or where acs law got the info.

best to ring virgin CS and ask to speak to tech support. CS didn't know anything about it but when i spoke to tech they already knew the game and acs from prevous calls they had had.

bluesnow · 08-05-2009, 09:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by sduffield

It's a scam. The website http://www.acs-law.co.uk returns a blank page. Doing a WHOIS on the domain name returns the acs-law.co.uk address as an individual based in Beckenham, Kent.

this is the address i have taken from the email

Whois query for acs-law.org.uk...

Results returned from whois.nic.uk:
Domain name:
acs-law.org.uk

Registrant:
Terence Tsang

Registrant type:
Unknown

Registrant's address:
Rupert LAw
Quorn
Leics
LE12 8PE
GB

Registrar:
Total Web Solutions Ltd t/a Total Registrations [Tag = TOTALREG]
URL: http://www.totalregistrations.com

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 09-Apr-2009
Renewal date: 09-Apr-2011
Last updated: 14-Apr-2009

Registration status:
Registration request being processed.

Name servers:
ns1.dfsv61.com
ns2.dfsv61.com

WHOIS lookup made at 10:48:15 08-May-2009

Dino · 08-05-2009, 09:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by GKP

While I agree that trading standards is the way to go, I am somewhat concerned that confidential customer information held by VM has escaped into the wild and maybe that should be investigated by Virgin

There is no evidence that VM have lost customer details. Say a thousand letters are sent out stating you are a VM customer and only 50 of those reach genuine VM customers, those 50 may think that as it is a scam, VM must have leaked their details whereas in fact it's random. I used to get the odd email asking me to re-submit my Barclays account details; I've never been a Barclays customer...

ak001 · 08-05-2009, 11:17

If anyone has/or receives these letters..then report it to the police (not 999) & report it to the OFT & trading standards as well.
Its a scam that has been exposed.
Sites like The Consumer Action Group are onto it now.

bluesnow · 08-05-2009, 14:26

Lawdit hopefully some extra info soon

BenMcr77 · 08-05-2009, 14:33

Do NOT ignore the letters

ACS Law are associated with Davenport Solicitors

Virgin have released details of customers after being forced to by a court order. There has been no breach of DPA nor have any details 'got into the wild'

Cruachan · 08-05-2009, 15:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr77

Do NOT ignore the letters

ACS Law are associated with Davenport Solicitors

Virgin have released details of customers after being forced to by a court order. There has been no breach of DPA nor have any details 'got into the wild'

That could be what the sammers are relying on - using a company name very close to a legitimate one associated with VM.

BenMcr77 · 08-05-2009, 16:37

No - VM have confirmed to staff today that ACS have a court order for customers records

In fact the court orders have been published here

http://www.acs-law.org.uk/index.php?...d=51&Itemid=60

Cruachan · 08-05-2009, 17:30

I have to admit to being somewhat confused.

A normally reliable source says the letters are genuine, yet people report that after contacting VM they have been told to ignore them.

Is the company ACS Law to which VM has had to provide details the same one which is ACS:Law?

Presumably the court orders are in the public domain and someone could use copies as a way of trying to trick people into believing they are acting for the aggrieved parties.

BenMcr77 · 08-05-2009, 17:33

Again - Virgin staff got briefed today to say the letters are genuine

Cruachan · 08-05-2009, 17:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr77

Again - Virgin staff got briefed today to say the letters are genuine

Thanks for the confirmation, Ben - well I presume that your name is Ben

BenMcr77 · 08-05-2009, 17:40

It is indeed

Sananda Maitreya · 08-05-2009, 17:52

ACS Law is a bona fide law firm.

davethorp · 08-05-2009, 17:57

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/...tening_le.html

Tuffnutz2008 · 08-05-2009, 18:00

So ACS:Law = scam?

ACS Law = legit?

BenMcr77 · 08-05-2009, 18:12

Seems to be yes

Sananda Maitreya · 08-05-2009, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuffnutz2008

So ACS:Law = scam?

ACS Law = legit?

Same firm. They are registered with the Law Society as "ACS Law" and that firm's website has the style "ACS: Law".

onephat · 08-05-2009, 18:52

Quorn, just down the road from me. Shall i on knock on their door?

07-05-2009, 22:06	#1
Dave 909 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 148	Been sent a threatening letter from ACS:Law I gather these get sent out every now and then?. Today been sent a letter demanding £635 for a game they are claiming wedownloaded july 08. And that they had gone to the hight court to get an order to get contact information off what it names as Cable Internet Ltd. Neither do they name the propper ISP of provide a copy of any court papers. VM has told us tonight that there is nothing on our account to say that any such action or cour papers has been received by them and that they have handed over no contact information. The company ACS:Law sounds similar to another genuine company ACS Law but not the same. VM told us it's a fake letter and to ignore it. Anyone else get this letter recently to know if we should respond or ignore as VM suggested due to it being fake?.

07-05-2009, 22:25	#2
Sananda Maitreya Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,693	Did you download the game?

07-05-2009, 22:41	#3
kiellliam Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Services: V+HD -Virgin TV XL, Virgin 50Mbps BB, Mac OSX 10.6. iPhone 3G (3.1..) Posts: 687	Same here not me though http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...2-acs-law.html It's a scam http://www.p2pfreak.com/forum/torren...wo-worlds.html Do what Virgin Media says

08-05-2009, 08:14	#4
bluesnow Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kent Services: V+, Blueyonder 10mb. Wii, xbox, Xbox 360 (GT: bluesnowuk), DS, EEEPC. Posts: 440	I received my letter from acs:law yesterday also. haven't contacted Virgin yet but i will be in the next few hours. my says i uploaded on 30th Jan 08... Was it for Call of Juarez

08-05-2009, 08:45	#5
OathBreaker Posts: n/a	Get in touch with trading standards its the only way to stop these people. It reeks of yet another scam to make money and they know how much worry this would cause people. my bet is if it is a scam and trading standards start sniffing around they will soon shut up shop.

08-05-2009, 09:31	#6
GKP Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: South Wales Services: Virgin media Posts: 74	While I agree that trading standards is the way to go, I am somewhat concerned that confidential customer information held by VM has escaped into the wild and maybe that should be investigated by Virgin (Or better) someone competent. If that is the case, a lot more scams are being thought up to send to more of us. Lucky it's not your ID card details that ACS:Law has!!!

08-05-2009, 09:42	#7
sduffield Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 89	It's a scam. The website http://www.acs-law.co.uk returns a blank page. Doing a WHOIS on the domain name returns the acs-law.co.uk address as an individual based in Beckenham, Kent.

08-05-2009, 09:45	#8
bluesnow Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kent Services: V+, Blueyonder 10mb. Wii, xbox, Xbox 360 (GT: bluesnowuk), DS, EEEPC. Posts: 440	tech support have told me they have had loads of calls over the last 24hrs about this and advise to forward all info to there special team at email abusefollowed by the blueyonder addy. they believe it to be a scam because they haven't given out any detail. they don't know how or where acs law got the info. best to ring virgin CS and ask to speak to tech support. CS didn't know anything about it but when i spoke to tech they already knew the game and acs from prevous calls they had had.

08-05-2009, 11:17	#11
ak001 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,977	If anyone has/or receives these letters..then report it to the police (not 999) & report it to the OFT & trading standards as well. Its a scam that has been exposed. Sites like The Consumer Action Group are onto it now.

08-05-2009, 14:26	#12
bluesnow Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kent Services: V+, Blueyonder 10mb. Wii, xbox, Xbox 360 (GT: bluesnowuk), DS, EEEPC. Posts: 440	Lawdit hopefully some extra info soon

08-05-2009, 14:33	#13
BenMcr77 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Manchester Services: Sky HD Virgin National LLU Posts: 4,360	Do NOT ignore the letters ACS Law are associated with Davenport Solicitors Virgin have released details of customers after being forced to by a court order. There has been no breach of DPA nor have any details 'got into the wild'

08-05-2009, 16:37	#15
BenMcr77 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Manchester Services: Sky HD Virgin National LLU Posts: 4,360	No - VM have confirmed to staff today that ACS have a court order for customers records In fact the court orders have been published here http://www.acs-law.org.uk/index.php?...d=51&Itemid=60

08-05-2009, 17:30	#16
Cruachan Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Shropshire - it's in England Services: VM 10Mb B'band, phone & free TV; Freeview from The Wrekin & Winter Hill Posts: 2,652	I have to admit to being somewhat confused. A normally reliable source says the letters are genuine, yet people report that after contacting VM they have been told to ignore them. Is the company ACS Law to which VM has had to provide details the same one which is ACS:Law? Presumably the court orders are in the public domain and someone could use copies as a way of trying to trick people into believing they are acting for the aggrieved parties.

08-05-2009, 17:33	#17
BenMcr77 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Manchester Services: Sky HD Virgin National LLU Posts: 4,360	Again - Virgin staff got briefed today to say the letters are genuine

08-05-2009, 17:40	#19
BenMcr77 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Manchester Services: Sky HD Virgin National LLU Posts: 4,360	It is indeed

08-05-2009, 17:52	#20
Sananda Maitreya Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,693	ACS Law is a bona fide law firm.

08-05-2009, 17:57	#21
davethorp Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire Services: BT: Anytime Sky: Sky World with Sky+HD, Sky+ & multiroom O2: Broadband Posts: 2,842	http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/...tening_le.html

08-05-2009, 18:00	#22
Tuffnutz2008 Inactive Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,801	So ACS:Law = scam? ACS Law = legit?

08-05-2009, 18:12	#23
BenMcr77 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Manchester Services: Sky HD Virgin National LLU Posts: 4,360	Seems to be yes

08-05-2009, 18:52	#25
onephat Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Leicestershire Services: V+ TVXL / 10MB Virgin BB Posts: 288	Quorn, just down the road from me. Shall i on knock on their door?