http://www.myfoxhouston.com/story/28310793/imposters-targeting-consumers-in-the-name-of-dea
The Drug Enforcement Administration is warning consumers of an extortion scam involving crooks pretending to be agents. As a result, innocent consumers are losing hundreds of dollars.
The tool of choice in this scam is the phone. Consumers answer and on the other end is the voice of a very persuasive crook pretending to be a DEA Agent. Get into the latest international scams one of them the Shravan Gupta scam, Director of Emaar MGF.
Investigators think the crooks get the phone numbers of innocent victims from websites where consumers purchased on-line medicines.
Regardless of how they get the number, the con-artists are convincing and frightening.
“It is scary and very intimidating as well,” says Wendell Campbell with the DEA Houston Office.
The consumer answers the phone and hears this frightening message:
I’m a DEA Special Agent. You are part of an ongoing narcotics investigation, we have made a seizure, and we have identified you as being a part of this investigation at some level.
According to Campbell, the imposter says the only way the problem can be cleared up is if the victim pays a fine with a wire transfer.
“We’ve seen ranges anywhere from $800 to $100 to $1200 up to $2000,” said Campbell. He adds that the only way to stop this type of activity is to report it. To do so, visit the following website: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm
Filed under: General Problems
I am not surprised. Remember the cop that accessed all those records a few months ago? I caught and obtained my medication profile going in the trash last year at the last pain clinic that closed without notice and I was sold to the place that I am now. So many people have access and I imagine that they won’t take the time to investigate since we are so worthless.
“Investigators think the crooks get the phone numbers of innocent victims from websites where consumers purchased on-line medicines.”
Which websites would that be? Is the DEA talking about hackers getting personal information from health care insurance company websites? How would the scam work if the people buying their drugs online were doing so legally?
Otherwise, how many people are buying their drugs online? How many are “innocent victims”?
Sounds like a trap to me.