Another scam, another GOOD reason to know your pharmacist.
Angel
FDA News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2008
Media Inquiries:
Christopher Kelly, 301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries:
888-INFO-FDA
FDA Warns Public of Extortion Scam by FDA Impersonators
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers about a fraudulent scheme to extort money from consumers by callers who falsely identify themselves as "FDA special agents" or other FDA officials.
Several instances have been reported to the FDA of calls enticing consumers to purchase discounted prescription drugs by wiring funds to one of several locations in the Dominican Republic. No medications are ever delivered. A subsequent call is received from a fraudulent "FDA special agent" informing the consumer that a fine of several thousand dollars is required to be sent to an address in the Dominican Republic to prevent incarceration or other legal action.
"Impersonating an FDA official is a violation of federal law," said Michael Chappell, the FDA's acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. "The public should note that no FDA official will ever contact a consumer by phone demanding money or any other form of payment. FDA officials always present identification in person when conducting official business."
Consumers should note that the fraudulent calls appear to be from telephone numbers located within the United States, but are in fact from either ported voice-over-the-Internet-protocol numbers (calls made directly from a computer and moved or "ported" to other computers to avoid detection) or cellular phones. Reports to FDA describe the callers as having Hispanic accents.
The scheme most likely began with the theft of personal information from consumers who previously purchased drugs via the Internet or telephone or who were victims of credit card fraud.
The FDA is investigating and complaints or information regarding this scheme should be reported to the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations at (800) 521-5783.
The FDA reminds consumers to purchase prescription drugs only from licensed pharmacies located in the United States. Information about the proper purchase of on-line medicine can be found at:
http://www.fda.gov/consumer/features/drugsonline0707.html.
******End of Alert******
Date: November 12, 2008
David N. Kirkman
Assistant Attorney General
Task Force Alerts Chair
Consumer Protection Division
Office of Attorney General Roy Cooper
9001 Mail Processing Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001
Tel. 919-716-6000
(Copies of Earlier NCSFTF Trade Practice Alerts and Senior Fraud Alerts Are Available on the NC Division of Aging’s Website,
www.dhhs.state.nc.us/aging/fraud/cfalert.htm )
Notice: If you receive these Alerts from the Task Force Alerts Chair directly and desire not to receive them in the future, please send a Reply to the Alerts Chair only, with the word "Un-subscribe" typed in the Subject line. Thank you.
