Media contact(s):
Mary Louise Madigan: (216) 698-2521; mlmadigan@cuyahogacounty.us

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH - The Cuyahoga County Department of Consumer Affairs is alerting doctors who live and work in Cuyahoga County about two separate phone scams currently targeting medical professionals.

In one scam, someone purporting to be a DEA agent claims the doctor’s DEA number was used to traffic drugs.

In another scam, someone purporting to be a deputy claims the doctor is about to be arrested for failing to appear in court to provide expert testimony.

Both calls try to shake doctors down for payments.

Consumer Affairs is warning all medical professionals:

• DEA agents and police officers never call people to tell them they’re suspects.
• Courts and police don’t make calls about missed court appearances.
• Real officers never call people to demand payments, nor would they ever claim that a quick payment can make a problem with the law go away.

“DEA scammers may recite a doctor’s DEA number to create an air of legitimacy, but those credentials are easy for anyone to look up,” said Sheryl Harris, director of Consumer Affairs for Cuyahoga County. “If you receive any surprise call that requests your banking information or Social Security number, hang up. It’s a scam.”

  Doctors should report scam calls to the Cuyahoga County Scam Squad at 216-443-SCAM (7226) or through the Scam Squad website at cuyahogacounty.us/scamsquad.