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The CAMFT legal team has heard from members again this month stating that therapists are still being targeted by a scam in which someone pretending to be a sheriff or police officer calls to claim that the therapist failed to appear in criminal court after being served with a subpoena, and a bench warrant is out for the therapist’s arrest. The scammer claims that the therapist can only avoid being arrested by ‘paying a fine’ or ‘posting bail.’ The fraudulent caller also tells the therapist that they cannot talk about the call with anyone, because there is a ‘suppression order’ or gag order regarding the ‘case.
CAMFT members have reported that these types of scams continue to evolve, with fraudulent callers pretending to be law enforcement directing members to a webpage to complete an Online Payment via a fraudulent website or asking for immediate payment in various ways. This new development means that more therapists may be scammed out of thousands of dollars.
If you get a call that seems suspicious, even if the call is from a number that looks like a police department, it is best to hang up (you will not be immediately arrested!), find the number of the Police station or Sheriff’s office that was supposedly calling, and call the station using the phone number you know is legitimate.
If you believe you have been a victim of a scam, report the incident to your local police station, and report to the FTC by calling 1-877-382-4357 or by clicking here.
For updates on scams targeting licensed professionals, you can also visit DCA's Scam Alert page.
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