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You get an urgent telephone call at work, where you are seeing patients, from someone who identifies themselves as a DEA agent or, perhaps, an investigator with the North Carolina Medical Board. Your license is in jeopardy, the caller says, and the only way to avoid losing it is to immediately pay a substantial fine. Before you know it, you are initiating a bank transfer for thousands of dollars to protect your livelihood.

NCMB first learned about scammers targeting licensed medical professionals to extort money a few years ago and, unfortunately, has continued to receive reports that this scam is active. Scams typically share the following characteristics:

1. The caller identifies themselves as law enforcement, DEA, medical board or another agency with oversight of medical professionals. Scammers use technology to make it appear as if the telephone call originates from whatever agency they claim to be part of.

2. The caller states that the medical professional is in danger of losing their license due to drug trafficking or some other criminal misconduct. The scammer may have details such as your NPI or medical license number, making the threat seem more plausible. It is not difficult for scammers to find this information, as it is public and readily available to anyone with a smartphone or Internet connection.

3. There is an urgent request or demand made. Scammers may state that the medical professional's license will be suspended if a payment is not made immediately. In some situations, the caller may indicate that law enforcement is on their way to arrest the medical professional if they fail to pay a fine or penalty.

4. Often, licensees are directed to go to a UPS store or similar to send or receive a fax related to the supposed issue with their license. This is an attempt to obtain additional identifying information, such as your driver’s license.

NCMB's Chief Investigative Officer Pat Berckmiller advises never to give in to anyone asking you to make an immediate payment. Legitimate medical board investigators NEVER demand money from a licensee.

"Tell them you need to call them back and hang up," Berckmiller said. "If they say police are on their way to arrest you, tell them to come. No one is going to show up."

For peace of mind, licensees who are targeted by a scammer may call NCMB at 919-326-1100 or 800-253-9653 within NC and ask to speak with someone in NCMB's Investigations Department. Berckmiller or a staff member will confirm the status of your license and answer any other questions you may have.

Scammers succeed when they can frighten their targets into acting without thinking. Protect yourself by treating any threatening, urgent request for money with immediate suspicion.