State: Beware of scam phone calls targeting medical professionals

Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs warns the public about phone scammers impersonating state officials and government agencies to target medical professionals.

These scammers make false threats of investigations in an attempt to obtain sensitive personal information.

Reports of individuals pretending to be government officials contacting licensees — falsely claiming an investigation is being conducted into their professional license — have surfaced in the state.

Scammers are impersonating state and federal officials to include the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Hawaiʻi Medical Board and Hawaiʻi Departments of Health and Human Services.

Recent incidents involved dental and medical doctor licensees. Other medical professionals — including nurses, pharmacists and others — have often and may continue to be targeted.

The scammers might request various personal information and, in some cases, even use Caller ID spoofing to make it appear as though the call is coming from a legitimate government agency, to increase the illusion of credibility for the scam.

Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Regulated Industries Complaints Office is the authority to conduct independent investigations into licensees.

The office’s official communications are sent on letterhead and include contact information for Regulated Industries Complaints Office offices.

The office does not ask for sensitive personal information via the phone or attempt to solicit wire transfers — and Regulated Industries Complaints Office cannot take action against a licensee.

Only the 52 licensing boards, commissions and programs affiliated with Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional and Vocational Licensing Division can discipline the licensee — after appropriate notification and investigation.

They do not, however, conduct investigations.

The state Health and Human Services Departments also do not have the authority to suspend or revoke professional or vocational licenses, nor initiate an investigation into a Hawaiʻi professional’s license.

Tips to consider when determining whether calls and texts might be scams

• BE WARY AND VIGILANT of callers posing as law enforcement or government agencies, who specifically ask you to pay by gift card, money sharing app, wire transfer or cryptocurrency. Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, law enforcement and other government agencies will not call to solicit money or threaten arrest.
• NEVER GIVE OUT PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION such as account numbers, Social Security numbers or birthdates in response to unexpected calls, if you did not initiate the call or you did not place the order.
• IF YOU SUSPECT FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY, immediately hang up and call the phone number on your account statement or government agency website or vendor to verify the authenticity.

Call the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division at 1-844-808-3222 if you received any calls similar to those described above or are seeking to verify contact from Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

A list of programs and contact information is available online.