Fraudulent Scheme to Entice Consumers to Purchase Discounted Drugs

By Law Office of Ivan O.B. Morse  May. 16, 2011 9:29a

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a warning to consumers to be aware of a fraudulent scheme to deceive them into purchasing prescription drugs at a discount. People have been receiving phone calls claiming to be from the FDA (special agents) or other FDA officials, trying to get them to purchase prescription drugs by wiring money to several different locations in the Dominican Republic. The drugs are never delivered. A  subsequent phone call is then received, again, stating that it is an FDA Special Agent, this time informing the consumer that a fine of several thousand dollars is now required to keep them from  being imprisoned or having some other legal action taken against them.

According to FDA's acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs, Michael Chappell, the public should note that FDA officials do not contact consumers by phone demanding money or payments. He stated that impersonating an FDA official is a federal offense. The fraudulent phone calls appear to have been made within the U.S. but are being made from computers and moved to other computers in order to avoid detection or they are from cell phones with most of the voices being Hispanic. The FDA thinks the scheme may have started with identity theft from consumers who have previously purchased drugs over the internet or phone or who may have been victims of credit card fraud.

If You Have Been Charged with Extortion

Extortion is considered a  white collar crime and is punishable by law. If you are in the Dublin area of Northern California and have been accused of extortion, you need to contact a Dublin criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Due to the increase of white collar crimes over the past few years, the state and federal governments have expanded their white collar crime units in efforts to find and convict those committing crimes.

At the Law Office of Ivan O.B. Morse, we can help. Attorney Morse has years of experience in defending many different types of white collar crimes and is a skilled trial lawyer. He will investigate your case thoroughly and determine if there are any violations of your rights or correct procedures that can be used in your defense. Situations do occur as well where one can be set up to appear to be the source of a crime when he is in fact, an unwitting pawn. Don't wait until it's too late.  

Contact a Dublin white collar crime lawyer in our office for a free consultation and we will go over the details of your case.