Scam Alert
If you get a call from Sonja (or any other name) at Pharmacy Network – or the number 1-888-938-05487 shows up on your phone…..run.
This is a cold calling phishing scam with a very different twist, and a hook that gets you unawares.
Especially if you use an online pharmacy.
In a world where millions of dollars are promised as an inheritance from long lost family in Nigeria, or the IRS has started proceedings against you for delinquent payments, or you need to turn over vast amounts of bitcoin to ensure your entire contact list doesn’t see your internet pornography habit there is a new scam to be aware of.
This one is different and alarming.
Unlike the others this is incredibly subtle, drawing on information about you that is available on the internet and linked with subtle, suggestive and leading guesswork and you can be unwittingly taken in.
Who
- They are Pharmacy Network – claiming to be calling on behalf of the pharmacy section of your health plan.
- This is no recorded call but a live caller who will give their name and position – benefits specialist.
- They will also give you the name of the doctor you can speak to if there is a problem and other more specific information.
How
- Identifying themselves they claim to be sorting out your health information so that drugs, medications, vitamins, bandages, dressings that you need and have on prescription can be fulfilled.
- With a series of simple questions presented in a way that is familiar they proceed to attempt to tease information from you.
- They know your name, date of birth, where you live and various other pieces of information (thank you internet).
- By conversing with slight probing questions they attempt to get your health insurance information, general health questions to build a profile of what they can do you for.
- Questions such as do you have arthritis / exzema / blood thinners / cholesterol and more. Questions that appear suited for mature or senior citizens. Nothing out of the ordinary. Things that 95% of adults would have.
- A series of statements are read to you that require you to acknowledge – answering yes. They start general and vague, get more specific and are presented in a roundabout confusing way. Thankfully. That is when your alarm bells should be ringing.
Why
Pharmacy Network appears to dispense general medications, vitamins and other medical related items. Once you have answered all the questions it appears they will send you items. Except you will be billed at at least 3 times the correct rate.
Or if you have unfortunatley given them your health insurance information they instead will be billed. At a highly inflated rate.
Here is the catch – you cannot get out of this as you have given them authority – through all the questions they asked and you agreed to (and they no doubt recorded) – and they will hold you to it. How long this ‘relationship’ would last is unknown. But if you have a health plan that provides you with what you need and it is fully covered you will be paying. Twice.
Additional Information
If you google Pharmacy Network you cannot find them. If you google their number you can find several websites where reviews and comments about them is available. Early comments indicate there was no website, however now there is one.
Move your mouse around. Get anywhere? No?…..there is nothing to click. Beautiful page but no content.
Pharmacy Network is a scam. A very sophisticated scam. Relying on easily available personal information, persuasive questioning and harassed people answering their phones this cold calling phissing scam has the potential to be a nightmare. And expensive.
Don’t be caught.
Alert your elderly friends and family. They are going to be the most vulnerable with this.
*** If you do receive a call from them and the number is different please comment with the number so it can be added ***