The Washington State Department of Health’s Office of Health Professions (OHP) recently learned of ongoing scams targeting licensed health professionals. These scams involve fraudulent communications that appear to come from OHP staff, often using names of real employees and e-mail addresses that closely resemble official DOH e-mail addresses.

What you need to know: 

  • These messages may request personal information, payment or sensitive documentation under the pretense of licensing issues, investigations or disciplinary action. 
  • The emails may appear legitimate, using logos, formatting and staff names to impersonate official communications from the Department of Health. 
  • In some cases, professionals have received phone calls or letters that also appear to be from DOH or OHP. 

What to watch for: 

  • Email addresses that are similar, but not identical to official DOH e-mail addresses (e.g., extra characters or slight misspellings). Our e-mail addresses will have a period between the first and last name and will end in @doh.wa.gov. Here is an example: jane.smith@doh.wa.gov 
  • Unsolicited requests for banking information or payment of license fees. 
    Threats of disciplinary action or license suspension unless immediate action is taken. 
  • Poor grammar, formatting errors or suspicious attachments and links. 

What you should do: 

  • Do not respond to suspicious messages. 
  • Do not click on any links or open attachments from unknown or questionable senders. 
  • Verify any communication by contacting the Office of Health Professions directly at the OHP customer service line: 360-236-4700. 

Scammers continue to target licensees: 

Licensees report being victimized by scam callers claiming to represent the Pharmacy commission or another government agency. 

Techniques used by these individuals: 

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. 

The Department of Health takes these matters seriously and is actively working to monitor and respond to scam activity. (Remy Kerr)