Security alert: Phone calls pretending to be healthcare providers

The WVU Medicine Privacy and Security team has been notified that several people have received phone calls or texts from phone numbers that are being “spoofed” to look like WVU Medicine providers. Below are some helpful links and information regarding “phone call spoofing” and how to protect yourself.

Watch this short video that explains caller ID spoofing.

During the past two years, there have been over 1 billion patient records stolen by bad actors including various data from healthcare providers, hospitals, insurance companies and other businesses. Personal healthcare data is out in the world to be purchased by the highest bidder today.

The attackers buy the stolen information online and then use “phone call spoofing” software to impersonate your healthcare provider and use your information to try and scam you. The caller ID will show you the exact number that is real, because the bad actor fakes the number.

Visit ftc.gov/calls for more information about how to avoid phone scams.

Visit PCMag for information about call blocking applications.