BEWARE of Scam Phone Calls

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Licensees continue to report being victimized by scam callers claiming to represent the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission (commission) or another government agency.

Techniques used by these individuals include:

• A caller claims a licensee is under investigation by the commission, the Department of Health, the DEA, the FBI, or another government agency. In some cases, the caller also warns of discipline unless the licensee pays a “fine.”
• A caller warns a licensee not to report the call to anyone “or else you will jeopardize the investigation.”
• A caller requests a licensee’s cell phone number.
• A caller gives a fake call-back number.
• A caller spoofs the commission’s phone number. This happens when your caller ID screen falsely shows an incoming call is from the commission.

These calls are scams! In many cases, callers are attempting to extort money or elicit sensitive information – e.g., license numbers, DEA registration numbers, etc. – from licensees.

What can you do to protect yourself?

Licensee security is important to the commission. Be aware of these tips:

• If you have any doubts or questions about someone claiming – by phone or in person – to represent the commission, telephone the commission at 360.236.4946.
• If a scam caller claims to represent the DEA or the FBI, report the call to the DEA's Extortion Scam reporting program or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• If a scam caller’s phone number appears to be a commission phone number, report the scam using the Federal Communications Commission’s consumer complaint form.

SAFETY.

QUALITY.

INNOVATION.