By Nan Gallagher, JD, Esq.
Multiple podiatry offices have reported today (July 14, 2021) that they have been contacted by an individual named David Carter supposedly from the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners asking to speak with the physician about prescribing practices. Mr. Carter advised all of these doctors not to involve counsel or to report any details of his communications to a third party, including to counsel. Mr. Carter refused to provide a letter or his credentials to these doctors at their offices. In one instance, however, he did speak to a podiatrist alleging that her prescription pad must have been stolen and that fraudulent prescriptions have been written which has directly influenced the drug trafficking crisis in the United States. In this instance, Mr. Carter looped another individual, D. Christopher Evans from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), into the call to threaten the doctor. These individuals have threatened to suspend this doctor’s license unless a $48,700 bond is paid immediately, and they sent the doctor confirming letters to this effect. Noteworthy too is that they would not fax the letters to the physician’s office but insisted that she cancel office hours and drive to a local UPS store to receive the faxes there. Anyone wishing to see redacted forms of these letters can please contact our office. Mr. Carter provided a cell phone number to two of your fellow podiatrists of (804) 298-9075. He has sent texts to them from this number but will not answer the phone. His originating phone calls to the physicians’ offices comes up listed as emanating from the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners, and we believe the number has been spoofed.
Please do not acquiesce to such modalities of extortion, and do not speak with any agency investigators without the advice and presence of counsel. As you can see, this is a very well-orchestrated scheme down to phone numbers and letterheads. Frankly, we would have suspected this was potentially not fraudulent but for the multiple offices contacted in this scheme and the $48,700 ransom. We have reported this fraudulent activity to the Board of Medical Examiners and to the DEA. You should not be engaging with any representative of any agency without verification of credentials and the advice of counsel. This can be done swiftly to be in accordance with your duty to cooperate with agencies. Anyone with knowledge about these matters is urged to contact our office at Info@DocAdvocates.com.
Be vigilant.
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