Stay Vigilant When It Comes to Scam Phone Calls

Our hospitals and outpatient clinics are reporting an increased number of scam phone calls, often using caller ID spoofing to make calls look real. Protect your information, your colleagues' information and our patients' information by being aware of these common scam tactics:

• Caller ID spoofing: Technology that makes the incoming call display the hospital's or doctor's name and number, which can make it seem like a legitimate call.
• Impersonation: Callers who claim to be from a Carilion colleague or leader, another department within our organization or a government agency such as the Drug Enforcement Administration.
• Data theft: Scammers who use stolen or publicly available information to appear credible and then try to get you to provide more personal details like credit card numbers, Social Security numbers or insurance information.
• Fake offers: Scammers who try to sell you unnecessary medications or medical equipment or offer “free" genetic testing that requires you to provide personal information.
• Urgency and intimidation: Calls may create a false sense of urgency or use threats of legal action to pressure you into acting quickly without thinking. 

Protect yourself with these tips:

• Do not give out personal information: Never give out information, including your credit card number, Social Security number or insurance details to an unsolicited caller.
• Verify legitimacy: If you are unsure if a call is real, hang up immediately and call the business back using the main phone number from their official website or a bill.
• Be suspicious of unsolicited calls: A legitimate business will not call you out of the blue to sell you medication or ask for payment for a "new" Medicare card.
• Report it: If you suspect patient data has been compromised, report it to the Privacy Team at privacy@carilionclinic.org.
  • If you believe you have been targeted by a scam that resulted in losing money or personal information, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • For scams that did not steal money or personal information, report it at DoNotCall.gov.

For more information scams and how to avoid falling for them, visit https://consumer.ftc.gov/scams. 

For internal resources on scams and cybersecurity tips, visit the Information Security Hub on Inside Carilion.