Tag: Scams
Beware of Phony TMB, DEA Agents
The Texas Medical Board (TMB) continues warning physicians to be on alert for scammers involving criminals who pose as officials from TMB or other state and federal agencies.
“In some instances callers may claim to be employees with the Texas Medical Board, DEA, FBI or other law enforcement entity and may even attempt to spoof agency phone numbers or send documents on official-looking letterhead demanding money,” TMB said in its alert. “Please know the TMB would never call and make such requests for sensitive information over the phone or send demand letters for money to reinstate licenses or threaten the arrest of licensees. The TMB does not suspend licenses at the direction of the DEA, FBI or other federal entity. Additionally, the TMB has no authority to issue, cancel, or influence arrest warrants as some scams have indicated.”
According to the DEA notice, the criminals mask their telephone number on caller ID by displaying the DEA Registration Support 800 number. A real DEA employee would not contact a registrant and demand money, or threaten to suspend someone’s registration over the phone, the DEA says. FBI has issued similar fraud alerts.
If you receive such a call from someone claiming to be either a DEA or TMB official, report it using the DEA’s online extortion scam reporting form here.
Beware: Scammers are Everywhere
Scammers continue to target everyone, regardless of age, gender, education or income level. Whether you are a physician or funeral director. I think this is truly the only profession that totally does not discriminate. They do not care if you draw a minimal social security check or if you are among the rich and famous.
Another of our local physicians received a call just this morning. The deceiver claimed to be from the Drug Enforcement Administration (D.E.A.). They were investigating misuse of the physicians D.E.A. number.
This is not the first time this has happened to local physicians.
POET advised the office to call the D.E.A., which they did. Later reporting back, that the D.E.A. office had advised the physician office to file a written complaint with all the details at www.ic3.gov. D.E.A. personal also stated that the D.E.A. will not call you. If you are being investigated you will either receive a registered letter or they will show up on your door step. Do not give these charlatans any of your time.
ALERT – Scam Targeting DEA Registrants & Other Health Professionals
From Texas Medical Board – February 5, 2020
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports that
health professionals have been targeted by criminals posing as DEA agents.
In some instances callers may claim to be employees with the
Texas Medical Board, DEA, FBI or other law enforcement entity and may even
attempt to spoof agency phone numbers or send documents on official-looking
letterhead demanding money.
Please know the TMB would never call and make such requests for
sensitive information over the phone or send demand letters for money to
reinstate licenses or threaten the arrest of licensees. The TMB does not
suspend licenses at the direction of the DEA, FBI or other federal entity.
Additionally, the TMB has no authority to issue, cancel, or influence arrest
warrants, as some scams have indicated.
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