State warns public to beware of scam phone calls targeting medical professionals

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) is warning the public about phone scammers impersonating state officials and government agencies to target medical professionals.

Officials said these scammers make false threats of investigations in an attempt to obtain sensitive personal information.

Reports have surfaced of individuals pretending to be government officials contacting licensees, falsely claiming an investigation is being conducted into their professional license.

Scammers have been impersonating state and federal officials, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Hawaii Medical Board, and respective states’ Departments of Health and Human Services.

Recent incidents have involved dental and medical doctor licensees. Other medical professionals, including nurses, pharmacists, and others, have and may continue to be targeted.

The scammers may request various personal information and, in some cases, even use Caller ID spoofing to make it appear as though the call is coming from a legitimate government agency, to increase the credibility of the scam.

Within the state of Hawaiʻi, the DCCA Regulated Industries Complaints Office (RICO) is the authority to conduct independent investigations into licensees. RICO’s official communications are sent on letterhead and include contact information for RICO offices.

RICO does not ask for sensitive personal information over the phone or attempt to solicit wire transfers, and RICO cannot take action against a licensee.

Only the 52 licensing boards, commissions, and programs that are affiliated with the Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL) division of the DCCA can discipline the licensee, after appropriate notification and investigation.

The 52 boards, commissions, and programs do not, however, conduct investigations.

Additionally, states’ Departments of Health and Human Services do not have the authority to suspend or revoke professional or vocational licenses, nor initiate an investigation into a Hawaiʻi professional’s license.

Here are some tips from the State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to consider when determining whether calls and texts may be scams:

• Be wary and vigilant of callers posing as law enforcement or government agencies, who specifically ask you to pay by gift card, money sharing app, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. 
• The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, law enforcement and other government agencies will not call to solicit money or threaten arrest.
• Never give out personal identifying information such as account numbers, social security numbers, or birthdates in response to unexpected calls/if you did not initiate the call/place the order.
• If you suspect fraudulent activity, immediately hang up and call the phone number on your account statement, government agency website, or vendor to verify the authenticity.

If you have received any calls similar to what has been described above or are seeking to verify contact from DCCA, please call the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division at 1-844-808-3222 (DCCA).

Click here for a list of programs and contact information.

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