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FRAUD ALERT: Scammers Diverting Drug Shipments from Distributors, Pharmacies

 June 27, 2022
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      Austin Lee
SkillsPlus International Inc. Logo

Here is the full text of an email alert sent by the California State Board of Pharmacy:

“Pharmacies, hospitals, and distributors are being warned about scammers using sophisticated techniques to obtain account numbers and other sensitive information and unlawfully divert quantities of pharmaceutical goods in transit. In some cases, scammers pretended to represent the state’s board of pharmacy or employees for a particular distributor or pharmacy.

The callers requested and obtained each pharmacy’s DEA number and account purchasing information for their principal distributor. The scammers then called each distributor – pretending to be the pharmacy – and ordered between $100,000 and $300,000 worth of products. Common products ordered included a variety of HIV medications (Descovy, Triumeq, Odefsey) and Xarelto, Otezla, and Eliquis.

Once the products were delivered, the scammers called the pharmacy – pretending to be the distributor – and advised the pharmacy the order was made in error. The scammers then arranged for a courier to pick up the diverted product.

The Healthcare Distribution Alliance Pharmaceutical Cargo Security Coalition (HDAPCSC) has released a report about this problem: “Fraud Alert: Distributor/Customer Product Ordering Scheme,” Version 2 (Updated June 2022). The report discusses methods being used to divert drug shipments and tips for protecting distributors and pharmacies.

The California State Board of Pharmacy urges drug distributors and pharmacists to read the report and learn how to spot fraudulent activity and prevent drug diversion.”

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Source:

FRAUD ALERT: Scammers Diverting Drug Shipments from Distributors, Pharmacies (an email alert sent by the California State Board of Pharmacy on June 24, 2022)

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