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Most
health care providers are honest and are providing the best care
they can, but the small number who aren't find ways to steal billions
of dollars from the health care system each year. Even more is lost
to errors in billing that are never found. Below you will find current
scams that are happening right here in Iowa.
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 2009 H1N1 (Swine) Flu Scams
Don’t think you’ve read everything possible about the flu yet! The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting the public to avoid fraud that may be committed in connection with the new flu that emerged in April. We have all heard the cautions to avoid becoming overly alarmed about the flu and the reminders to practice good hygiene. Here are two new pieces of advice:
1. Be wary of Internet sites selling products that claim to prevent, treat or cure the H1N1 flu virus. Only the FDA can develop and produce a vaccine to help prevent persons from being infected. Some companies are trying to sell items they say can diagnose, prevent or cure the flu. You should rely on information and advice only from your doctor and pharmacist or the FDA. For more information see http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/H1N1Flu/#fraud or call the FDA at 1-888-463-6332.
2. Watch out for e-mail “phishing” scams asking you to click on a link which may cause computer viruses or malfunctions. The Department of Homeland Security’s Computer Emergency Readiness Team (called US-CERT) is aware these types of e-mails are being sent with the subject listed as the swine flu.
Please rely on information from your local media news, the FDA and your county health department.
Posted: 05/12/2009
SMP Issues Joint Press Release Warning with Iowa Attorney General
Please see the “Press Release” section of our website to view this urgent warning. As of Dec. 31, 2008, thirteen different areas across Iowa have reported con artists making phone calls, posing as a grandchild in dire need of emergency funds to be wired by the grandparent. Worse yet, there have been at least four victims who’ve lost thousands of dollars due to such a call. The caller may even pose as someone else, for example, an insurance adjuster who is assisting the grandchild due to a car accident. For tips on how to deal with these calls, see our “Protect Yourself” section.
Posted: 12/31/2008
Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Warns of Scam Phone Calls about Prescriptions
There is a new round of scam calls from persons pretending to be from the federal government, this time from the FDA. The callers tell you the government is offering discounted prescription drugs which you can obtain if you wire money out of the country – to the Dominican Republic. If you send money you don’t receive any drugs AND to make things worse, you get another call from the scammers, saying they are “special agents” for the FDA and now you must pay a fine to the Dominican Republic or face jail time!
If you rely on “caller ID” on your phone, to decide if the caller is legitimate – be careful! Scam artists have ways of hiding their true number – which may be from out of the country or from a cell phone. They can rig the number that is displayed, so it looks like a safe number to you.
The best thing for you to do is avoid responding to ANY calls about drug discounts. Scammers call asking for one-time payments of $299 or $399 for a lifetime of “free” drugs. Once they get your checking account or credit card number, they charge you over and over for these “free” drugs.
Posted: 11/17/2008
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