DEA Warns Public of Extortion Scam by DEA Special Agent Impersonators

Fake DEA Agents Extortion Scam

Scam artists posing as U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents are calling physicians and consumers as part of an international extortion scheme. The scammers target victims who have previously purchased prescriptions by telephone or the internet and identify themselves as DEA agents or other law enforcement. They tell their victims that purchasing drugs over the internet or telephone is illegal and that enforcement action will be taken against them if they don’t pay a fine, usually thousands of dollars.

No DEA agent will ever contact physicians or members of the public by telephone to demand money or any other form of payment. If you receive a call such as the one described, refuse the demand for payment and immediately report the threat using the DEA’s online form located here: https://apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/esor/

For more information, the DEA’s news release is available here: https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm