Attorney General Morrisey Alerts Consumers Regarding Solicitations From Out-Of-State Pharmacies
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on August 28, 2015 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Attorney General Patrick Morrisey today alerted consumers to be on the lookout for out-of-state pharmacies sending unsolicited order forms, medical supplies or medications to insurance customers without their consent.
The Office’s Consumer Protection Division has received several reports of local consumers receiving what appear to be order forms for medical supplies and prescriptions from out-of-state pharmacies. Consumers and medical providers are also receiving supplies and prescriptions from these pharmacies, even though they have not placed orders from these companies.
Many of these reports are from residents who are diabetic and frequently fill prescriptions for diabetes medications and testing supplies. The supposed order forms falsely claim that the Public Employees Insurance Agency and other insurance companies require the use of out-of-state pharmacies for these medications and supplies.
The Consumer Protection Division is currently looking into whether these solicitations and shipments are the result of a possible data breach or theft of customer prescription information.
“Consumers should always be wary of any unsolicited requests, especially when it concerns their personal medical situation,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “This situation is particularly disturbing because it involves people who have legitimate medical needs. We urge anyone who receives one of these requests or deliveries to contact their medical provider and our Office immediately.”
If a consumer receives one of these unsolicited order forms or medical supplies, they should immediately contact their doctor and insurance provider to let them know what they have received. They should also contact their own pharmacy to check the status of their prescriptions.
If you have received one of these unsolicited pharmacy requests, call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 800-368-8808 or the Eastern Panhandle Consumer Protection Office in Martinsburg at 304-267-0239. To file a report online, visit www.wvago.gov.
Consumers can stay up to date with the latest scams by signing up for email alerts from our Office at: http://www.ago.wv.gov/Pages/Scam%20Alerts.aspx.
The Office’s Consumer Protection Division has received several reports of local consumers receiving what appear to be order forms for medical supplies and prescriptions from out-of-state pharmacies. Consumers and medical providers are also receiving supplies and prescriptions from these pharmacies, even though they have not placed orders from these companies.
Many of these reports are from residents who are diabetic and frequently fill prescriptions for diabetes medications and testing supplies. The supposed order forms falsely claim that the Public Employees Insurance Agency and other insurance companies require the use of out-of-state pharmacies for these medications and supplies.
The Consumer Protection Division is currently looking into whether these solicitations and shipments are the result of a possible data breach or theft of customer prescription information.
“Consumers should always be wary of any unsolicited requests, especially when it concerns their personal medical situation,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “This situation is particularly disturbing because it involves people who have legitimate medical needs. We urge anyone who receives one of these requests or deliveries to contact their medical provider and our Office immediately.”
If a consumer receives one of these unsolicited order forms or medical supplies, they should immediately contact their doctor and insurance provider to let them know what they have received. They should also contact their own pharmacy to check the status of their prescriptions.
If you have received one of these unsolicited pharmacy requests, call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 800-368-8808 or the Eastern Panhandle Consumer Protection Office in Martinsburg at 304-267-0239. To file a report online, visit www.wvago.gov.
Consumers can stay up to date with the latest scams by signing up for email alerts from our Office at: http://www.ago.wv.gov/Pages/Scam%20Alerts.aspx.
