Oologah Man: ISIS Used OSBI Number To Threaten, Recruit

Friday, September 11th 2015, 11:14 pm

By: Tess Maune

Chilling phone calls have an Oologah man worried ISIS might be trying to recruit college kids to join their terrorist group.

The phone calls appeared to be coming from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation; now the agency, along with the FBI, is investigating.

The number is still in Jonathan Haley’s cell phone - a phone that proudly displays the OSU junior’s patriotism with a Folds of Honor sticker for all to see.

“I love my country, and I don't want this to happen. I don't want terrorism in our backyard or anywhere in the United States, let alone anywhere in the world,” Haley said.

He said he feels the threat is closer to home than ever before after the three phone calls he got Thursday morning.

The first came from an unknown number.

“It was a Middle Eastern man, and the first thing he said was, 'Is this Roy Haley,'” he said. “That raised suspicion to me at first.”

Roy is Haley's dad, a Vietnam vet who passed away almost two years ago. But the caller also knew Jonathan's name and told him he was coming to arrest him.

Haley thought it was a joke.

“He said, ‘Why are you laughing?’ And I said, ‘Because this is a joke.’ And he used some very vulgar language toward me and he said, ‘This is not a joke,’” Haley said.

That’s when Haley hung up. Then, seconds later, a call came in from an Oklahoma City number. Haley answered and it was the same man, this time the caller was yelling and had a chilling message.

“A totally different mentality; he read me my address, my home address, to me and threatened to kill my whole family,” Haley said. “That was probably one of the scariest things that's ever happened to me.”

Haley hung up, again, and the man called back a third time.

“He asked me if I knew who ISIS was and the Taliban, I said, ‘yes’ and he said, 'We want to recruit you. I have $20,000 to give to you,' which was weird to me because, the phone call before, he threatened me and my entire family,” Haley said.

After hanging up a final time, Haley called the OKC number back and an OSBI agent answered.

“He used OSBI's number to mask his,” Haley said.

OSBI said it has received several similar reports, but the FBI Cyber Crimes told OSBI it's very difficult, if not impossible, to track down the callers.

Haley said he doesn't know if he was targeted because he's the son of an army vet, or if it’s that he's a 20-year-old college student, but he said he feels certain a terrorist was on the other end of the line and every American need be aware.

“College students here, and everybody needs to be aware. This could, potentially, be a real thing, and it is a real thing. ISIS is real and they are killing people,” Haley said.

In a statement, OSBI said:

“The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has recently received numerous telephone calls, from multiple Oklahoma citizens, stating they received a call from a number identified as the OSBI’s main telephone number -- 405-848-6724. On three occasions, victims reported the caller solicited money. “At least one victim stated the caller had a foreign accent, advised a warrant for tax fraud had been filed against them. The caller asked to settle the warrant by accepting payment over the phone. Another person received a “system” type message pop-up on their iPhone, which said the federal government had knowledge they had child pornography and they must pay a $600 fine. “The OSBI does not collect money via telephone or email, nor does the Bureau settle warrants over the phone by accepting payment. If you receive a similar or suspicious call, please call the OSBI at 405-848-6724 or your local law enforcement.”

If you receive a similar or suspicious call, you should contact the OSBI at 405-848-6724.