Don’t be fooled by licensing board fraud schemes
The office of North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein recently released a fraud alert warning licensed medical professionals about sophisticated fraud schemes that make it appear that the professional’s regulatory board is contacting them about an urgent and sensitive matter.
A common ploy is to inform the licensed individual that his or her information is being used for criminal activities that are under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) or other law enforcement agencies. Often, the scammer demands payment in order to prevent suspension of the individual’s professional license. Frequently, the scammers “spoof” the appropriate licensing board’s telephone number so that the call may appear legitimate to the medical professional.
If you receive any communication, via telephone or letter, that demands immediate payment, NCMB’s advises you NOT to provide any personal or financial information to the individual or individuals requesting it.
• If you are speaking with the caller, HANG UP;
• If you receive a letter that provides a telephone number, DO NOT CALL IT. Scammers may use technology that makes it appear you have dialed the actual North Carolina Medical Board when, in fact, you are speaking with a con artist.
You may wish to contact NCMB at 919-326-1100 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to report the communication received and confirm the current status of your license. You may check the status of your license online by entering your last name and first name in NCMB’s “Look up a doctor or PA” tool. The Office of the Attorney General also recommends that scams be reported to its Consumer Protection Division by calling 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.
If you have provided personal or financial information to an individual you think may be a scammer, find information on steps you can take to protect yourself below.
What if I gave out my credit card number?
If you provided your credit card number or other financial information to someone you believe may be a scammer, you should immediately notify the credit card issuer and report it as lost/stolen. In addition, you can put a temporary credit freeze on yourself with the three credit bureaus to prevent scammers from opening new accounts in your name. Be aware that you will be unable to obtain instant credit, obtain a loan or request a credit report until you notify the credit bureau to lift the freeze.
Experian
TransUnion
I believe my identity may have been stolen
Find information on how to report identity theft at the Federal Trade Commission’s website.
