Let’s set the scene: You’re finishing up clinic, maybe finally stealing a minute for lunch, when your phone rings. It’s the medical board—or so it seems. The caller knows your license number, your full name, and insists your credentials have been used in a drug trafficking scheme in another state. They sound serious. You’re a responsible provider and a little spooked, so you listen.
You’ve just been targeted in a medical scam.
Sound far-fetched? It’s not. Medical scams targeting healthcare professionals, especially APPs and physicians, are on the rise, and they’re more sophisticated than ever.
Why You Should Care (Even If You Think You’d Never Fall for It)
Medical scams don’t discriminate. They target trainees and seasoned clinicians alike. And they’re more than a nuisance; they can damage your finances, your license, and your mental health. Scammers impersonate law enforcement, DEA agents, and even state medical board officials, creating scenarios that spark fear while luring professionals.
Dr. Victoria Boggiano, a family medicine physician, knows this firsthand. She was finishing a fellowship when she got a call from someone claiming to be from the North Carolina Medical Board. They told her that her license had been linked to illegal narcotics purchased in Texas. The scare tactics were textbook: a sense of urgency, isolation, and insistence on secrecy. Only after independently contacting the real medical board did she realize she had nearly become a victim to a medical scam. To hear more about this story, check out my conversation with her, along with Matt Zeitler, on the Primary Care Reviews and Perspectives podcast episode, "How to Spot and Stop Medical Scams."
The Playbook: How These Medical Scams Work
Scammers thrive on pressure and control. Here are red flags to watch for:
▪️Isolation: They tell you not to speak with anyone else.
▪️Urgency: You must act now or face immediate consequences.
▪️Authority impersonation: They claim to be from the medical board, the FBI, or local police.
▪️Too much information: They know your license number, NPI, and may spoof real phone numbers or email addresses.
▪️Requests for money or personal data: Think payments via cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or gift cards.
Your Script: What to Say When You Suspect a Phone Scam
Practice saying: “I’m going to hang up and call the agency directly to verify.” Then actually do it.
Don’t worry about being rude. Scammers rely on your instinct to be polite and deferential, especially to perceived authority. Protecting yourself is not unprofessional.
What To Do If You’ve Been Scammed (Or Think You Might Have Been)
First, take a breath. You are not alone.
Then take action:
1. Contact your state medical board to report the incident.
2. Notify the police and FBI, especially if you provided personal information or funds.
3. Freeze your credit with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
4. Monitor accounts and consider identity theft protection.
It may feel embarrassing, but reporting helps others avoid the same fate. Scammers count on silence.
Other Safety Tips for Healthcare Providers
▪️Legitimate investigators will not ask for personal data or payment over the phone.
▪️Don’t share your Social Security number, license number, or financial info via email or phone.
▪️Use secure, verified channels when renewing your license or communicating with boards.
▪️Discuss scams with colleagues—shared awareness is shared protection!
The Emotional Fallout: Yes, It Matters
Falling for a scam can be traumatic. You might question your judgment or feel shame. But remember: scammers are experts at manipulating emotion and fear. This doesn’t reflect your intelligence or professionalism.
In medicine, we’re trained to respond quickly and to take threats seriously. Scammers exploit those exact instincts.
Don’t Let Them Win
1. Stay vigilant: Medical scams targeting clinicians are real and increasing.
2. Trust your gut: Pressure and secrecy are hallmarks of fraud.
3. Take back control: Hang up. Verify independently. Report.
Let’s keep talking about this. The more we share, the less power scammers hold over our profession.