Protecting Licensed Professionals: Beware of Ongoing Scams Targeting Health Providers
Washington State’s Department of Health (DOH) continues to receive reports of scams targeting licensed health care providers. Scammers often pose as Department staff, using real employee names and email addresses that closely resemble official Department of Health addresses.
What to know
Messages may request payment, personal information, or documents related to licensing issues, investigations, or disciplinary action.
Emails may appear legitimate and include Department logos, formatting, and staff names.
Some providers report receiving phone calls or letters that also appear to come from the Department.
What to watch for
Email addresses that closely resemble, but do not exactly match, official DOH addresses.
Official addresses include a period between the first and last names and end in @doh.wa.gov. Example: jane.smith@doh.wa.gov
Unsolicited requests for payment or banking information.
Threats of immediate disciplinary action, poor grammar, formatting errors, or suspicious attachments or links.
What to do
Do not respond to suspicious messages.
Do not click on links or open attachments.
Verify communications by contacting the Office of Health Professions at (360) 236-4700 or emailing podiatric@doh.wa.gov.
Common scam tactics
Scammers may:
Claim a licensee is under investigation by a board, commission, the Department of Health, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Demand payment to avoid discipline.
Tell licensees not to report the call.
Request personal phone numbers.
Provide fake callback numbers.
Spoof official phone numbers.
These communications are scams intended to obtain money or sensitive information.
How to protect yourself
If you question whether a call or message is legitimate, contact OHP.
Report DEA or FBI impersonation scams by contacting the DEA's Extortion Scam Reporting Program or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Report spoofed phone numbers to the Federal Communications Commission.
The Department of Health continues to monitor and respond to scam activity. Thank you for staying alert and helping protect Washington’s licensed professionals.