Beware phony FDA agents

Beware phony FDA agents

Impersonating an FDA official is a violation of federal law.

You’d think it would also be embarrassing.

Nevertheless, FDA officials (real ones, apparently) recently warned the public to be on guard against an extortion scam in which unsuspecting marks are contacted on the phone by con men posing as FDA representatives.

The scam goes like this: A telemarketer offers dirt cheap discount prices on drugs and instructs the mark to wire payment to the Dominican Republic. After payment clears, an FDA “special agent” calls to inform the mark that he’s broken the law, but jail time can be avoided by paying a fine of several thousand dollars. The mark is instructed to wire payment to the Dominican Republic.

Why does this scam work? Two reasons: 1) It’s transparently stupid (as any good con should be), and 2) There are plenty of people out there who actually still believe the FDA is functional and effective.

Source:
“FDA Warns Public of Extortion Scam by FDA Impersonators” FDA News, 11/12/08, fda.gov