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Extortion scam targeting DEA registrants

23 Jun 2019

Alert: Criminals calling as DEA employees



By: Kelly Aebi, medical staff office manager

Please note this alert from the Drug Enforcement Administration:

DEA is aware that registrants are receiving telephone calls and emails by criminals identifying themselves as DEA employees or other law enforcement personnel. In an attempt to create the illusion that these criminals are DEA employees, they have masked their telephone number on caller id with a phone number for a legitimate DEA office.  For example, these criminals have used the phone numbers for DEA’s Office of Congressional and Public Affairs and DEA’s 800 number, which is used to provide direct support to DEA registrants.

Impersonating a federal agent is a violation of federal law. Registrants should be aware that no DEA agent will ever contact members of the public by telephone to demand money or any other form of payment or threaten to suspend a registrant's DEA registration.

If you are contacted by a person purporting to work for DEA and seeking money or threatening to suspend your DEA registration, submit the information through the Extortion Scam Online Reporting posted on the DEA Diversion Control Division’s website, www.DEADiversion.usdoj.gov. Read more about the warning here.