Scammers continue to mail, email, fax, and call physicians, claiming to be medical board investigators, FBI, DEA, even US Customs and Border Protection, and telling licensees they are under investigation or having some other issue with their agency. Sometimes they will tell you a fine is due or that you must pick up a package at an express delivery store. They will say your license is in jeopardy unless you take a certain action. They can easily "spoof" legitimate telephone IDs and names of agents. 

Do not give these individuals any information and hang up immediately.  If you do provide information, especially credit card or bank information, you should contact local law enforcement or the Attorney General and your credit card company/bank.   

Be aware that Alabama Board of Medical Examiners investigators do not notify physicians of investigations by any means other than in person except in rare cases.  When we receive a valid complaint, it is most often personally served on the physician, and the physician signs an acknowledgment of investigation while in the presence of the investigator.  If you receive a contact purporting to be from the Board that seems suspicious, you can ask for their direct line and say you would like to call them back. Chances are they will hang up or provide a number that does not go to our agency.  

If you are a doctor who has been scammed out of money by someone posing as a government agent, here are the steps you should take:

1.         Cease All Contact: Immediately stop all communication with the scammer. Do not respond to any further calls, messages, or emails from them.

2.         Notify Financial Institutions: Contact your bank and other financial institutions to inform them of the scam. Safeguard your accounts by changing passwords and monitoring for any suspicious activity.

3.         File a Police Report: Report the incident to your local law enforcement agency. Provide them with all details of the scam, including any communication records and transaction details.

4.         Report to the FBI: File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov. This helps the FBI track and investigate such scams.

5.         Preserve Evidence: Keep all records related to the scam, including emails, text messages, phone call logs, and any financial transaction information. This evidence will be crucial for any investigation.

6.         Educate Yourself and Others: Learn about common scam tactics to protect yourself in the future. Share your experience with colleagues and friends to raise awareness and prevent others from falling victim to similar scams.

Legitimate law enforcement or government officials will never contact individuals by phone to demand payment or request sensitive information. Any legitimate investigation or legal action will be conducted in person or through official correspondence.