Complaint Review: Hoffman Portillo & Associates - New York New York

       My desired result in filing this information with your agent is to request that an official complaint filed regarding a series of phone calls received unsolicited by me in an attempted effort to obtain $1,000 from me.  In the beginning I felt this was a valid Sweepstakes winnings. 

As I explained to the caller, I did not recall entering said sweepstakes, though my wife passed away approximately 16 months ago, I felt that she may have entered one on my behalf.  Given the call was from a reported attorney from New York City and the other Government agency’s he spoke of and provided me with names of individuals to speak with, I felt that he was valid in his words.

      As the hours and number of calls involved, slowly I began to question the validity of this entire event.  Following multiple web searches on the names, phone numbers, Government agencies and addresses given me, I had serious concerns.

      As previously mentioned, my wife unexpectedly passed away 16 months, I am on Social Security Disability due to having Multiple Sclerosis.  So the idea of her having entered a Sweepstakes was special to me. Should you have further questions or advice, please contact me.  My telephone number is (765) 212-5334.  My email [email protected].

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Mark R Jones

 

Notes of calls, conversations & actions related to Daniel Portillo, attorney & Agent Daniel Keifer

Wednesday morning 02/05/2020 at 08:17 and we talked for 9 min 14 sec.  I received a call from a female saying she was Hoffman, Portillo & Associates law firm in New York.  The callers telephone number displayed was (212) 519-7914. She explained I would be transferred to a Mr Daniel Portillo, attorney handling my winnings for the sweepstakes (917) 963-8838.  

Mr Portillo he was the attorney retained by HSBC bank, an international banking with locations throughout the world.  I told him that I do not recall entering such a sweepstakes.  Then I thought perhaps my late wife who unexpectedly passed away 10/28/2018, may have entered it when she was alive.  Mr Portillo to officially receive the winnings from Consumer Clearinghouse Sweepstakes I would need to obtain:  

• Documentary Stamp of $1,000 to “prove legitimate winner as a deposit to   HSBC bank,
• Need a Government issued photo I’d,
• Use claim number GR15113-1
• That the money would be delivered by “ICE” ( International Courier Express). (202) 866-7091.

Mr Portillo told me the normal tax rate for this sum of money would be 43%, but he was, as a tax attorney, able arrange for me to be liable for a 13.1% rate(60,000) if I follow this procedure.  He stated was to be delivered to me at my home Friday 02/07/2020 between 9am-11am.  Continued in saying would need Document Stamp to allow winnings to clear US Customs.  That I would then be given a 60 day grace period to pay taxes.

Next Mr Portillo me I was then to call the “National Gaming Board at (202) 770-0306”  I called the number provided me. I spoke with an “Agent Keifer”  He told me right off if at any point something does not appear right to me throughout this process to call back and tell them “it is a code 1 situation” and they would take care of it. 

He then gave me an “authorization code number of 0132426 to give to Daniel Portillo to verify my conversation with him.  He stressed that I “give no personal information, ie: bank account info nor social security number.”  He then stressed I would be given 60 days to pay $65,000.  He confirmed to me that Hoffman, Portillo & Associates  “is a legal tax firm.

      I called Mr Portillo and gave him the authorization code #0132426 Agent Keifer requested I do.  At this time Portillo said my next step was to verify my commitment to the Financial Officer of HSBC by making a $1,000 Western Union Money Transfer to HSBC Headquarters. Was to be sent to-Recipient: Mark Derain M Vasquez.  Location: Philippines. Said if Wester Union asked if I knew the person to answer “Yes I know him.

The money is for medical bills.”  Told me I was “to send $1,000 and tell Western Union to take their fee out of the $1000.  Mr Portillo again told me once done that funds would be delivered to me at my home on Friday between 9 & 11 and I was to have

1-valid US Government issued photo I’d; 

2- Western Union receipt showing tracking number provided by Western Union. 

Said per order of silence signed by a Federal Judge would be lifted and I was free to tell anyone I wanted about this after 48 hours. Said until that time I was bound by a Federal Court judge to remain silent on the winnings and transactions.  Mr Portillo told me on Friday that an official representative, Victoria Woods arrive at my home accompanied be the ICE driver, Donald Jenn and assistant, Todd Turnbull.  At I asked Mr Portillo for Hoffman & Associates address in New York.

He provided me with: 101 Park Avenue, 18th floor, New York  10178. He asked why I wanted the address, I couldn’t find him on the internet he requested 3 years ago that information pertaining to him and his law firm not to be available on the internet due to the danger to he and his firm. Said “this is not going work if I’m negative about it.”     At 11:19am I called Mr Hoffman, Portillo & Associates at (917) 683-8838 and spoke 1 min 42 sec and left a message on voicemail that I was on my way to Western Union. 

He called me back at 11:33am and spoke for 6 min 30 sec which he wanted to verify what transpired.  He asked for the details of tracking number and name sent to and verify spelling I provided. I had spelt the name as Markdervin M Vasquez. He told spelling must be correct and that I must return to Western Union to correct spelling to Mark Derain M Vasquez. I called Western Union regarding the correction I needed to make and was told that I would have to show in person with transaction receipt to make any changes. 

Once there I was told money transfer had been sent already and I was given telephone number 1-800-325-6000 for Western Union where this action may attempted.  They told money had not yet been picked up. I requested the transaction be canceled and provided my initial transaction confirmation number. The transfer was successfully stopped and I provided with a refund number #9166333847 to provide to local Western Union along with my original transaction number.

At 13:35 the telephone number of (202) 326-2222 previously provided to me as the US Gaming Board called me. I did not answer the call due the building concern of the validity of the entire issue. This number called twice more. Once at 13:39 which I did not answer, again immediately at 13:39 which I pressed the reject call button.  Then at 13:40I called 1-888-861-4297, which automated voice answered as “National Gaming Control Board” and provided options to choose from.  I did not continue any further.  

At 14:39 a Sergeant from the Muncie Police Dept called for a wellness requested by Daniel Portillo.  I shared a brief synopsis of what has transpired between Mr Portillo, Agent Keifer and myself via telephone to that point.  The Sergeant took notes  and said he still had Mr Portillo on the other line. The call was ended and I was told he would call me back.  While waiting for the call back, I tried calling:

• National Gaming Control Board and only got a recorded message.  
• Muncie Police called back for 6 min 20 sec.  
• 18:57 called Clearinghouse number (212) 519-7914 and got no answer.
• 18:58 called US Gaming Board at (202)326-2222 and got no answer. 
• 19:00 called Daniel Portillo at (917)963-8838 and got no answer.  
• 19:01 called Clearing House at (202)519-7914, no answer.
• 19:02 called Hoffman & Associates iates  at (404) 255-7400, no answer. 
• 19:05 called (202) 866-7090 and call answered as “you are eligible for a

                free Medical Alert necklace.” 

• 19:08 called Daniel Portillo at (917) 963-8838 getting recording. 
• 19:10 called Clearinghouse at (212) 519-7914, no answer.
• 19:11 called US Gaming Board at (202) 326-2222, no answer.
• 19:14 called Clearinghouse at(212) 519-7914, no answer.

 

 Thursday 02/06/2020

 

• 08:29  Mr Portillo called and asked if this was Mark Jones, that he got a

                message that I had called at 8am.  When called I was asleep, so took

                me a moment and then I asked “this morning?”  He replied “about 

                30 minutes ago.” I told him I was still I asleep and had not called

                anybody today. He said “my mistake.” and ended the call.   After the

                call, I awoke enough to realize who called and verified it through caller

                I’d from phone number (212) 519-7914.

 

• 09:13 called Daniel Portillo at (202) 866-7090, Hoffman & Associates, I was

                 told he was not in New York office.

 

• 09:15 called Daniel Portillo at (917) 963-8838 and pressed #1 to leave a 

                message to call me back.

• 09:18  attempt to reach Portillo at Clearinghouse number (212) 519-7914,

                and got a fax tone.

• 09:18  attempt again at same number (212) 519-7914, no answer.
• 09:20  left message at (917) 963-8838, left voicemail for Mr Portillo to call

                me.

• 09:22 Mr Portillo called back. He stated he thought that I cancelled my

                desire to pursue a desire to obtain the winnings. I replied that I was

                still interested. I reminded him yesterday he said that there were two 

                options available to send the $1000 he indicated I needed to send.

                Mr Portillo said I could send from a Walmart store to the 

                recipient and the same location as used for Western Union. Next I

                to call Donald Keifer, Claims Officer at the Federal Gaming

                Board at number (202) 866-7090. I asked Mr Portillo if Claims Officer

                Donald Keifer was the same Agent Keifer he asked me to call

                yesterday and he replied “yes.”

 

• 09:31 called (202) 866-7090 Mr Portillo provided for Donald Keifer at Federal

               Gaming Commission. The person answering told me “Congratulations

               You qualify for a  free Medical Alert...” as before.

• 09:31 then pressed recall on my phone (202) 866-7090, Federal Trade

               Commission. Agent Keifer asked why I was calling because he was

               informed that I had changed my mind not to receive the winnings.

               I told him that “I had questions in my mind regarding the credibility

               of this entire thing. Like the saying goes, if it sounds too good to be

               true..” he cut me off mid sentence, telling me that “I not appreciate my

               credibility being questioned.” and he immediately ended the call.

• 09:39 called (877) 382-4357. The call was answered with “Welcome to the

                 Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Response Center.”

• 09:43 called (202) 326-2222, recoding stated “Due to high call volume we are

                not able to answer calls at this time.”

• 09:44 called (877) 382-4357, recorded message, “Your call can not be

               completed as dialed, 21H.”  Again, I was using auto dial from the

               numbers (202) 326-2222 previously stored in my phone during this

               ordeal.

• 09:45  called, “leave message and agent will call you
• 09:46 thru 13:34 made 6 calls to including (202) 326-2222, (202) 770-0306,

                and (202) 866-7090 with leave a message, you cannot complete

                 call as dialed, or Congratulations, you are eligible...  Each time

                I attempted these calls the stored numbers in my phone were used

                Varying answers many times.

• 14:22 called Mr Portillo to share results of my attempts to reach the Gaming   Board as he suggested. Was only able to leave a voicemail asking for me

                 to return my call.

• 15:05 called 1-800-861-4297. Automated voice answered “thank you for

                calling the National Gaming Board...” and I hung up.

• 15:36 Mr Portillo called back from (212) 519-7914. I shared my concerns

                regarding the validity of all this. I requested he send me proof of the

                validity to my email address he requested from me yesterday. He told

                me that was impossible, that I should already receive mail verification

                from the sweepstakes. I told him had never received, nor heard

                anything about the sweepstakes until he called me on 02/05/2020.  He

                said that I have until Friday to decide what I’m going to do, or the

                money will be given to the next person on the list. Again telling me

                that he was no longer involved with this case, it has all been turned        

                over the Gaming Board    At some point Thursday afternoon I called

                1-800-861-4297, same automated recording, so I left a message so I

                said: “this is Mark Jones, this message is for Agent Donald Keifer. He

                has my number and I need to speak with him as soon as possible.”  

    

      Today, Friday 02-07-2020 I successfully obtained the refund of $1000 from Western Union without any issues.

 

Additional Points Recall, Not Sure which Call Transpired On

 

• Agent Keifer asked where closest airport was to my house
• Stated Victoria, driver & assistant would accompany to my bank to deposit.             Not even ask where my bank was or if  I even had a bank
• Said had to send funds to Philippines in order to reach HSBC headquarters.   There are near 100 HSBC bank branches in greater New York City3 branches on Park Ave, 1 branch in same block as Portillo’s office address he.
• Many HSBC branches in NY perform money transfers.
• Several telephone numbers provided to me by both Mr Portillo &Agent Keifer are answered at night as different businesses. 
• All telephone numbers provided are answered by automated messages,
• NONE are answered by humans. ONLY humans spoken with are
• Portillo and Keifer.
• When names of agencies and businesses give are attempted to be looked
• up, they have differing names or telephone numbers.

 

   Effort was given in making a comprehensive report of the details which transpired from 02-05-2020 thru 02-07-2020.

 

Thank you very much

Mark R Jones

[email protected]