Warning: Beware of Doctor SCAM with DEA Posers
The Drug Enforcement Administration is warning the public about criminals posing as DEA Special Agents or other law enforcement personnel as part of an international extortion scheme.
The criminals call the victims and identify themselves as DEA agents or law enforcement officials from other agencies. The impersonators inform their victims that purchasing drugs over the internet or by telephone is illegal, and that enforcement action will be taken against them unless they pay a fine. In most cases, the impersonators instruct their victims to pay the "fine" via wire transfer to a designated location, usually overseas. If victims refuse to send money, the impersonators often threaten to arrest them or search their property. Some victims who purchased their drugs using a credit card also reported fraudulent use of their credit cards.
Impersonating a federal agent is a violation of federal law. The public should be aware that no DEA agent will ever contact members of the public by telephone to demand money or any other form of payment.
THE SCAM
A phone call made to you, perhaps to your mobile phone, with a call back number from a DEA agent officer Gavin McWhite or Kevin Casey who leave a voicemail regarding “a serious matter to discuss” and “to step out of work and into a private place.” A woman answers who transfers the call. They read you your Medical License number and NPI number to verify it is you. They then proceed to state that “a crime was committed under your name with 2 million dollars of smuggled opioids narcotics other drugs across the Mexican border. There were casualties as well leading to a major criminal investigation with you as the prime suspect.” They included a few other statements to ensure you understood the seriousness of the crime and your role in it.
The entire pitch whittled down to the all too common phrase of “Go to your bank and wire money directly to an account and routing number I will give you.” The bay area scam that we are aware of included a request for $14,679 to First Trade Inc. with a NY address as receiver.
Words of advice:
· DEA would never call about this by phone
· DEA would never use a field officer in NY for Sunnyvale, instead from SF
· Always ask badge number and field office
· Always hang up and call back if you must or not at all
· Be wary of serious business being conducted on a telephone
· When they say don't talk or tell anyone this is a confidential investigation--hang up!
· They never say "don't tell anyone"!
However, anyone receiving a telephone call from a person purporting to be a DEA special agent or other law enforcement official seeking money should refuse the demand and report the threat using the online form below. Please include all fields, including, most importantly, a call back number so that a DEA investigator can contact you for additional information. Online reporting will greatly assist DEA in investigating and stopping this criminal activity.
Extortion Scam Online Reporting: Report Incident
REFERENCES:
https://www.consumer-action.org/alerts/articles/dea_calling_no_its_a_scam_hitting_doctors_and_consumers
https://www.scam-detector.com/article/dea-call
https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-11-2011/buying-prescription-drugs-online-scam-alert.html