January 10, 2025

Alert: Beware of Scams Targeting Physicians

According to the Washington Medical Commission, an ongoing fraud ring has been preying on physicians and health care practitioners. As noted in a December release: "The fraudulent behavior includes using the Washington Medical Commission phone number, email, and web URL; pretending to be Drug Enforcement Administration agents; posing as a Department of Health officials in order to make [physicians] think they are in trouble with regulators or the law and may be in danger of discipline or loss of license. The scam involves using personal information to exploit you for money or information to execute scams on others."

For an example of the sophisticated approach the scammers are using, click here to view a version of the fraudulent letter that physicians have received in the mail.

The commission stresses that they will not:

• Ask for money over the phone.
• Ask you to fax or wire money.
• Accept or ask you to use cryptocurrency.
• Demand a response in less than 20 days.
• Advise against speaking with a lawyer.
• Request personal details, passwords, or social security numbers.
• Threaten to take your license or suspend you if you don’t pay immediately.
• Threaten to restrict your prescription privileges or “turn you in to the FDA or DEA” for not paying.

You can read more about the scam in the recent commission newsletter. Please share this information among your medical staff. For future questions or concerns, contact the commission at 360.236.2750.