Utah Professionals Targeted by License Revocation Scam
Utah Professionals Targeted in New Licensing Scams
SALT LAKE CITY – Scammers are employing elegant new tactics to defraud licensed professionals in Utah, impersonating officials from the state Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) and threatening license revocation unless victims comply with demands frequently enough resulting in meaningful financial losses.
DOPL, which issues licenses to professionals across 60 industries, from healthcare and construction to hunting guides, has seen a surge in these scams in recent weeks.
Dr. jae Cho, a Utah dentist, narrowly avoided becoming a victim just before Thanksgiving. He received a call from scammers posing as DOPL officials, claiming his license was facing imminent suspension.
“He gave me his badge number, and it sounded legitimate,” Cho said, explaining that he initially answered the call as the caller ID displayed the DOPL number.
Although suspicious, Cho hesitated to hang up, as the scammer possessed detailed information about his practice, leading him to believe the call might be from a legitimate state investigator.
The scammer spun a tale of Cho’s identity being stolen for money laundering and drug trafficking across the Texas-mexico border. He instructed Cho not to hang up or put the call on hold, threatening to forfeit his chance to defend himself.
The scammer then directed cho to a UPS store to await further instructions via fax.
“My guess is his end goal was to get my money,” Cho said.
Thinking quickly, Cho put the scammer on hold and contacted DOPL from a separate phone. He then allowed a real DOPL agent to speak to the scammer through speakerphone.
“He called him out and said, ‘You’re a scammer,'” Cho recounted. “He got really upset, told me my license would be suspended, and hung up.”
Mark Steinagel, DOPL director, expressed deep concern over these scams, noting that scammers often employ high-pressure tactics and even fabricate documents to intimidate victims.
“Even if someone is under a legitimate investigation, no government agency will make immediate or unusual demands,” Steinagel emphasized.
He stressed that pressure to act immediatly is a major red flag, indicating a scam. Government agencies are obligated to provide due process and ample time for individuals to respond during investigations.
“You’ll have time to verify the information and contact us directly,” Steinagel reassured.Along with phone calls, scammers have also been sending fraudulent letters to licensed professionals, threatening license suspension unless they respond.
Steinagel explained that while DOPL has long provided online access to information about licensed professionals, allowing consumers to verify legitimacy and history, scammers are now exploiting this data for malicious purposes.
He urged everyone to approach calls demanding information or money with extreme caution and skepticism.
Utah Professionals Targeted in New Licensing Scams: An Interview with DOPL Director Mark Steinagel
Newsdirectory3.com: Recently, there has been a surge in scams targeting licensed professionals in Utah, with scammers impersonating officials from the division of Professional Licensing (DOPL). Can you tell us more about these scams and how they work?
Mark Steinagel: Absolutely. We’ve seen a troubling increase in these scams in recent weeks. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using high-pressure tactics and even fake documents to intimidate victims. They typically pose as DOPL officials, threatening license revocation unless victims comply with their demands, which often involve immediate payment or providing personal information.
Newsdirectory3.com: What are some of the warning signs that a professional should be aware of?
Mark Steinagel: Be extremely wary of unsolicited calls or letters demanding immediate action or payment. No government agency will make these kinds of threats.Remember, you always have the right to verify the information and contact us directly at DOPL.
Newsdirectory3.com: What steps should a licensed professional take if they believe they are being targeted by one of these scams?
Mark Steinagel: First and foremost, don’t panic. Take your time and carefully evaluate the situation. Never provide any personal information or make any payments over the phone or through email without verifying the caller’s identity. If you have any doubts, contact DOPL directly using our official phone number and website.
Newsdirectory3.com: How can professionals protect themselves from these scams in the future?
Mark Steinagel: stay vigilant and informed. DOPL regularly updates its website with information about scams and consumer alerts. We encourage professionals to be familiar with our processes and procedures. Remember,we will never pressure you to take immediate action or demand payment without proper documentation.
Newsdirectory3.com: Thank you for sharing this critically important information with us,Director Steinagel. We hope this will help raise awareness and protect licensed professionals from falling victim to these harmful scams.