Scammers are targeting Chinese speakers with fraudulent phone calls, often posing as employees managing insurance claims for healthcare providers. These scammers inquire if the potential victim has recently traveled to China for surgery and, upon receiving a negative response, claim a false insurance claim has been filed using the victim’s personal information. This strategy is used to instill panic in the targeted individuals.
In an attempt to extract further personal information, scammers often pretend to transfer the call to a law enforcement officer, who is actually another scammer. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has also received reports of impersonators claiming to be FCC officials to steal money over the phone.
The Department of Justice advises the Chinese-speaking community in North Carolina to be vigilant against such scams. Steps to avoid these scams include being aware that the FCC will not call consumers in any language to demand payment. Scammers may use fake phone numbers and real information from online sources to appear legitimate. They often demand payment through non-traditional methods such as wire transfers or gift cards.
Consumers are urged not to share personal or financial information with strangers over the phone or online. If approached by someone claiming to be a government or healthcare official, hang up immediately and verify the authenticity using official contact information from the relevant organization’s website.
More information on avoiding consumer scams is available at the North Carolina Department of Justice website. Victims or those suspecting scam attempts may file a complaint with the FCC or NCDOJ through their respective websites.
