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Telephone calls from scammers falsely claiming to represent the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) are increasing again. The caller ID shows 360.236.4946 which IS the main telephone extension to DOH Pharmacy. However, the number is being spoofed and is not the DOH.
These calls are an attempt to intimidate and defraud licensed health care professionals to obtain personal and financial information. The scammers will repeatedly call a licensee and leave messages/threats. The Department of Health will not ask for financial information over the phone nor threaten providers/licensees with legal action or jail. Do not send money or offer financial information without being certain of the recipient’s identity.
These scam attempts have gone on at least since autumn of 2020. In a recent example, two men falsely identified themselves as DOH employees. The pair told the pharmacist that her license was about to be suspended in connection with illegal drug activity, (which was untrue), threatened legal action and immediate incarceration, and tried to obtain her banking information. The pharmacist hung up and reported the call to the Department of Health. You may also call Pharmacy directly at 360.236.4946 to speak to our administrative assistant if you have any doubt about the validity of a call.
Please remember, DOH will never ask providers for money or financial information to save a license. If issues do arise potentially affecting a health care professional’s Washington license, the licensee will receive written communication by mail and/or by email from an investigator at a verifiable DOH email address and will provide a DOH phone number.
The Washington State Attorney General’s Office offers this advice:
- If you or a family member receives one of these calls, hang up immediately.
- Don’t trust callers who use threats to bully or frighten you. Legitimate investigators will not demand payment over the phone, text, or email.
- Any demand that you pay in gift cards, via an online payment app, to UPS stores, in parking lots, or other non-traditional means signals a scam.
- Please help spread the word about this scam by sharing this information with your friends, family, and colleagues.
You may also file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office or contact your local police or sheriff’s department.
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