Two scams targeting physicians were reported to the TMA legal department in the last week. The Tennessee Department of Health has stated that these scams are, unfortunately, a widespread issue in the state. The TMA legal department urges physicians and medical practices to exercise care when contacted about investigations by licensing boards and law enforcement, especially when personal identifying and financial information is requested.

One scam involved fake correspondence from the Georgia Composite Medical Board impersonating the Board phishing for payment of a surety bond claimed to be required to restore a temporarily suspended medical license. Another scam involved a fake DEA/FBI investigation of a physician alleging involvement in an out-of-state drug dealer ring. The scammers attempted to get the physician to transfer money.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, you can verify it by contacting the agency being impersonated, but do not attempt to verify the scam using any phone numbers or information on the suspicious correspondence. Using AI, many scams can look convincing and even official. Train staff to be aware of possible scam attempts. Report scams to the Tennessee Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Affairs or report DEA extortion attempts through their online reporting form.