Author Archives: virginiasmp

Beware: ‘Card declined’ message for online purchase could be sign of a scam

Rob Gilbert recently thought he was buying some items online for himself and some gifts for his mom’s upcoming birthday after clicking on an ad for a major retailer. But when Gilbert went to check out, he got a “card declined” message. He didn’t think much of it. It was a new card and he had forgottenContinue reading “Beware: ‘Card declined’ message for online purchase could be sign of a scam”

Selling on the internet? Beware of sneaky tactics scammers use to trick you

Selling stuff online can be tempting. You don’t have to go out and hunt for buyers. Instead, you can just post an ad on platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace and wait for people to reach out to you. But along with the ease of online selling comes the risk of getting scammed. (Read More)

Woman loses life savings of almost $10,000 to bank scam

A call that showed up as her bank ended up draining a woman’s savings.Scammers are getting more sophisticated than ever before, and will now use your bank’s name in an email or text message to try to get your attention. But they may also use a spoofed number to get you on the phone. A callContinue reading “Woman loses life savings of almost $10,000 to bank scam”

U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against 18 Defendants In Scheme To Manufacture And Distribute Millions Of Deadly Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals Through Fake Online Pharmacies

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Katrina W. Berger, the Executive Associate Director of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”); Anne Milgram, the Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”); William S. Walker, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of HSI; Frank A. Tarentino III,Continue reading “U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against 18 Defendants In Scheme To Manufacture And Distribute Millions Of Deadly Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals Through Fake Online Pharmacies”

Walgreens Agrees to Pay $106.8M to Resolve Allegations It Billed the Government for Prescriptions Never Dispensed

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. and Walgreen Co. (together, Walgreens) have agreed to pay $106.8 million to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act and state statutes for billing government health care programs for prescriptions never dispensed. Walgreens, headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, operates one of the largest retail pharmacy chains in the country. (Read More)

Oak Street Health Agrees to Pay $60M to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act Liability for Paying Kickbacks to Insurance Agents in Medicare Advantage Patient Recruitment Scheme

Oak Street Health, headquartered in Chicago and a wholly-owned subsidiary of CVS Health since 2023, has agreed to pay $60 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks to third-party insurance agents in exchange for recruiting seniors to Oak Street Health’s primary care clinics. (Read More)

How to Avoid Medicare Fraud

How to spot Medicare scams and protect yourself, especially during enrollment. Last year, Jean Bound received a package with COVID tests that she hadn’t ordered. She called the company whose name was on the packing list to say she hadn’t ordered them. In response, she was told not to worry, because Medicare had been billed and wouldContinue reading “How to Avoid Medicare Fraud”

United States Files Suit Against Pain Institute of Nashville, Michael Cox, Debbie Cox, and Related Entities

NASHVILLE – The United States today filed a complaint in intervention alleging violations of the False Claims Act by Clarksville Pain Institute, LLC, Pain Institute of Nashville, PLC, Michael Cox, and Debbie Cox, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski for the Middle District of Tennessee. The complaint also includes the common law claims of unjustContinue reading “United States Files Suit Against Pain Institute of Nashville, Michael Cox, Debbie Cox, and Related Entities”