The Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA) received reports that a person pretending to be from the State Board of Podiatry (Board) is calling licensees about the status of their license.  The scammer asks for credit card information.  Persons who give their credit card information may not only lose their money, but also can become a victim of identity theft.

Licensees are urged to avoid becoming a victim of credit card fraud or identity theft:

• BPOA and/or Board will NOT call licensees asking for payment over the phone.

• If you get a text message or call asking for your credit card information, hang up.

• Do NOT give your personal or financial information over the phone.

• If you feel that you are a victim of any type of scam, you should immediately notify your local or state police.

***New Scam Alert—Health Care Provider Offices Targeted***

It has come to the attention of the State Board of Podiatry that a health care provider received facsimile requests for patient records from a source posing as another health care provider.  The facsimiles contained the names and dates of birth of actual patients of the receiving provider; however, the following red flags were identified and may be indicative of a scam:

• The record requests did not comply with the HIPAA core elements of a valid authorization including: a meaningful description of the information to be disclosed, the name or other identification of the recipient of the information, an expiration date or an expiration event that relates to the individual, and the signature of the individual or their personal representative and the date.
• The return fax number is not the actual fax number of the provider on the letterhead.
• The fax cover sheet did not provide any to/from information or the address and phone number of the requestor. 
• The patients never requested records to be sent somewhere else.

The Board reminds all licensees to be cautious when responding to communications that seek health, personal, financial or other sensitive information.