The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Trade Commission have issued warnings regarding two ongoing scams being perpetrated against Veterans. They are:
The Prescription Scam
The Prescription Scam occurs over the telephone and on line. Veterans have received calls from someone identifying themselves as “Patient Care Group.” They tell the veterans that the VA recently changed procedures for dispensing prescriptions and ask for the veteran’s credit card number.
The VA issued a statement to veterans that the VA has not changed its processes for dispensing prescription medicines. This scam is currently centered in the Midwest but can easily spread elsewhere.
Another form of the Prescription Scam takes place either online or by phone call. Someone posing as an employee of “Medical Matrix”, a medical claims clearinghouse, has been calling and/or e-mailing CHAMPVA beneficiaries to ask veterans to verify their private information. If you are contacted, please notify the VA Health Administration Center and the local authorities as soon as possible.
E-mail Scams
E-mail scams are occurring with increasing frequency. According to the Federal Trade Commission, in the wake of the recent data security breach, it is possible that new e-mail scams against veterans may increase. The FTC warns veterans and their families to be on the alert for scammers. The FTC advises:
• Do not give out your personal information over the phone, in the mail, or over the internet unless you initiated the contact and know or can verify who you are dealing with.
• Never click on links sent in unsolicited e-mails. Instead, type in a Web address you know to be accurate.
The VA, other government agencies, and legitimate businesses do not contact people by e-mail or telephone either to ask them for or to confirm Social Security numbers or other personal information.