Feds Warn of Scammers Impersonating DEA Agents
/By Pat Anson, PNN Editor
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is once again warning doctors, pharmacists and the public about criminals posing as DEA agents or other law enforcement officers and attempting to extort money from them.
The scammers call the victims, often using caller ID to appear as a legitimate DEA phone number, and threaten arrest and prosecution for violations of federal drug laws unless the victim pays a “fine” over the phone or by wire transfer. Doctors and pharmacists are usually threatened with revocation of their DEA registrations, which allow them to prescribe or dispense opioids and other controlled substances.
A DEA spokesperson told PNN the scam has been going on for years, but the agency has recently seen an uptick in complaints, sometimes hundreds per week.
“We at headquarters have gotten to the point where we are just inundated with reports of scam calls,” said DEA spokesperson Katherine Pfaff. "And scammers calling us.”
The scammers are now also targeting the general public, according to Pfaff, sometimes claiming that a vehicle intercepted at the border with illegal drugs had been traced back to them.
“No DEA agent would ever contact someone directly like that and insist on payment over the phone or use scare tactics like that. That’s not how we operate,” Pfaff said. “Unfortunately, we have received many reports of people who have actually paid these scammers and lost a lot of money to them.”
The scam tactics continually change, but often share many of the same characteristics. Callers typically use an urgent and aggressive tone, and refuse to speak to anyone other than the intended victim. They demand thousands of dollars via wire transfer or in the form of untraceable gift cards taken over the phone.
Scammers ‘Well Informed’ of DEA Tactics
When calls are made to doctors or pharmacists, the scammers will reference their DEA registration numbers and state license numbers. They also might claim that patients have made accusations against them.
The scammers appear to be aware that many practitioners are already under scrutiny by the DEA for their opioid prescribing practices. In recent years, the DEA has raided and prosecuted hundreds of doctors for alleged infractions. The cases often end with doctors paying a fine rather than face hefty legal bills defending themselves in court.
“The scammers are well enough informed of the tactics DEA is employing against controlled-medication prescribers to be able to replicate them,” says attorney Michael Barnes, who has called for an end to “indiscriminate raids” on doctors.
“Like the DEA, the impersonators are claiming to have evidence of wrongdoing against licensed health care providers, threatening to revoke DEA registrations, and demanding enormous settlements to make the nightmare go away. The only thing that is missing is the office raid.”
Impersonating a federal agent is a violation of federal law. The DEA urges anyone receiving a call from a scammer claiming to be with the DEA to report it online to the agency’s Diversion Control Division or by calling 877-792-2873.
