Did you know that physicians are scam targets? If you are an orthopedist or other physician, you should be on high alert.
Especially if you live in Ohio.
The Cleveland Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a warning to residents of the community to be alert for scams demanding money.
The FBI recently received a call from a physician reporting a scam that cost him $188,000. The physician “received a call stating that the Department of Justice was suspending his medical license as numerous prescriptions were discovered with his name on them as the prescribing physician.”
The scam did not stop at the phone call. The scammers went a step further and sent the physician faxes. The faxes reportedly included Department of Justice logos entitled “Federal Bond and Protocol Agreement.” The physician reported that these documents informed him that “his bank accounts were comprised by drug traffickers.”
Unfortunately, the physician submitted to the demands of the scammers. He reportedly paid the “fine” and “provided a total of approximately $188,000.”
Similarly, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a warning about scammers impersonating DEA agents. The warning was targeted to both the public and the DEA registrant community. According to the warning, scammers use the fraud scheme to obtain personal identifiable information or extort money.
If you are part of the DEA registrant community, you should be extra vigilant. Remember that the DEA will never contact medical practitioners to “demand money or any other form of payment, will never request personal or sensitive information, and will only notify people of a legitimate investigation or legal action in person or by official letter.”
Have you received a fraudulent call or email targeting you because you are a physician? You can file a complaint with the FBI. You can also leave your story in the comments below.
