AG Warns Of Scammers Targeting Medical Providers

OLYMPIA, WA - Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is sounding the alarms over a new scam that has con artists posing as members of the Washington Medical Commission, and telling medical workers that their licenses have been suspended.

According to the AG, his office has heard several reports of Washington health care providers receiving calls from these scammers. The scammers use technology to make it appear as if they are calling from the Washington Medical Commission's (WMC) number. They then claim that the victim's medical license has been suspended — and in an effort to seem more convincing, they even read the victim their actual medical license number.

From there, they try to rope their intended victim into visiting a nearby business to receive a fax notifying them of a "suspension" and then demand payment to see the issue resolved.

The attorney general says, the WMC never issues suspensions over the phone.

“Do not fall victim to this Medical Commission scam,” Ferguson said. “If you receive a call from somebody claiming to be from the Medical Commission notifying you of a suspended license, hang up, contact the Commission directly, and file a complaint with my office.”

Any medical practitioner legitimately facing suspension will receive a letter from the WMC, accompanied by several legal documents.

To avoid scams like these going forward, the attorney general's office is offering up a few scam tips:

• If you suspect a scam, hang up immediately.
• Don't listen to callers who try to bully or scare you.
• Real investigators do not demand money over the phone.
• Callers asking for payment in gift cards, over an app, at a UPS store or in a parking lot are scammers.