Changeflow GovPing Government General BHPL Warns of Fraudulent Communications Targeti...
Routine Notice Added Final

BHPL Warns of Fraudulent Communications Targeting Licensed Professionals

Favicon for www.mass.gov MA Optometry Board
Published
Detected
Email

Summary

The Bureau of Health Professions Licensure (BHPL) in Massachusetts is warning licensed healthcare professionals about an ongoing extortion scheme where scammers impersonate BHPL investigators, DEA agents, FBI investigators, and other law enforcement. Licensees have reported receiving fraudulent phone calls, text messages, and letters falsely claiming their license is under investigation or suspended, and requesting personal information including NPI numbers and DEA registration. BHPL states it will never contact licensees by email, text, or phone to demand money or request confidential personal information.

Published by BHPL on mass.gov . Detected, standardized, and enriched by GovPing. Review our methodology and editorial standards .

What changed

BHPL is warning licensed professionals about an ongoing fraud scheme where individuals impersonate BHPL investigators and law enforcement. Scammers send fraudulent calls, texts, and letters claiming the licensee is under investigation and requesting personal information including NPI numbers and DEA registration.

Healthcare providers across multiple licensed professions including nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, and mental health should verify suspicious communications by calling BHPL directly at 617-973-0800. Licensees receiving scam calls should contact the FBI Boston Field Office at 857-386-2000 or report online at ic3.gov.

Archived snapshot

Apr 18, 2026

GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.

News

BHPL warns of increase in fraudulent communications


6/06/2024
- Massachusetts Controlled Substances Registration
- Board of Registration in Dentistry
- Board of Registration in Pharmacy
- Board of Registration of Nursing Home Administrators
- Board of Registration in Naturopathy
- Board of Registration of Perfusionists
- Board of Registration of Genetic Counselors
- Board of Respiratory Care
- Board of Registration of Physician Assistants
- Board of Certification of Community Health Workers
- Board of Registration of Social Workers
- Board of Registration of Psychologists
- Board of Allied Health Professions
- Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions
- Board of Registration of Hearing Instrument Specialists
- Board of Registration of Dietitians and Nutritionists
- Board of Registration of Chiropractors
- Board of Registration for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
- Board of Registration in Podiatry
- Board of Registration in Optometry
- Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians
- Bureau of Health Professions Licensure

The Bureau of Health Professions Licensure (BHPL) is warning all licensed professionals about an ongoing extortion scheme perpetrated by individuals impersonating Massachusetts BHPL investigators, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, DEA investigators, Massachusetts Drug Control Unit investigators, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigators, and other law enforcement personnel.

Licensees have reported receiving fraudulent phone calls, text messages, and letters.  The communication will falsely state that the licensee is under investigation and that their license is in jeopardy or has been suspended.  Furthermore, licensees have been asked for additional information including NPI, DEA registration number, and financial information, with the caller indicating that the conversation is being recorded on a secure line.  The scam calls may also show up as your licensing board’s main number.  If you receive a communication, please consider the following:

No employee of the Bureau of Health Professions Licensure will ever contact you by email, text or phone and demand money.

No employee of the Bureau of Health Professions Licensure will ever contact you by email, text or phone and request confidential personal information, account information and force you to respond immediately.

If you receive a communication from an individual claiming to be from the Bureau of Health Professions Licensure, you may call our office at 617-973-0800 to confirm that a member of the BHPL team is attempting to contact you.

If you receive a call such as the one described above, please contact the FBI’s Boston Field Office at 857-386-2000. You may also report the threat to the FBI online at Internet Crime Complaint Center or to the DEA.

Massachusetts Controlled Substances Registration

We register those who manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess, prescribe, or administer controlled substances. In Massachusetts, "controlled substances" includes all prescription drug products.

Board of Registration in Dentistry

Learn about our Board and the work we do to provide you with the best dental services.

Board of Registration in Pharmacy

We promote, preserve, and protect the public health, safety, and welfare by fostering the provision of quality pharmaceutical care to the citizens of Massachusetts through the regulation of the practice of pharmacy, the operation of pharmacies, and the distribution of prescription drugs in the public interest.

Board of Registration of Nursing Home Administrators

We work to protect the health and safety of nursing home residents. We ensure that nursing home administrators are competent and perform their responsibilities properly.

Board of Registration in Naturopathy

We evaluate the qualifications of applicants for naturopathy licensure, and grant licenses to those who qualify. We also establish rules and regulations to ensure the integrity and competence of licensees.

Board of Registration of Perfusionists

We evaluate the qualifications of applicants for perfusionist licensure, and grant licenses to those who qualify. We also establish rules and regulations to ensure the integrity and competence of licensees.

Board of Registration of Genetic Counselors

We evaluate the qualifications of applicants for genetic counselor licensure, and grant licenses to those who qualify. We also establish rules and regulations to ensure the integrity and competence of licensees.

Board of Respiratory Care

We evaluate the qualifications of applicants for respiratory care, and grant licenses to those who qualify. We also establish rules and regulations to ensure the integrity and competence of licensees.

Board of Registration of Physician Assistants

We evaluate the qualifications of applicants for physician assistant licensure, and grant licenses to those who qualify. We also establish rules and regulations to ensure the integrity and competence of licensees.

Board of Certification of Community Health Workers

We help integrate community health workers into the health care and public health systems. We work to promote health equity, cost containment, quality improvement, and management and prevention of chronic disease.

Board of Registration of Social Workers

The Board of Registration of Social Workers licenses and oversees the social work profession.

Board of Registration of Psychologists

The Board of Registration of Psychologists licenses qualified individuals to practice psychology.

Board of Allied Health Professions

We check the backgrounds of those seeking licensure in various health professions. These include occupational therapists and assistants, athletic trainers, and physical therapists and assistants.

Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions

Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions encompass the fields of Behavioral Analysis, Educational Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, Mental Health Counseling, and Rehabilitation Counseling.

The Board of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions licenses candidates who meet the requirements developed for these professions. They administer and enforce regulations related to the education guidelines for licensing and contract with test vendors to provide the licensing examinations. The Board also protects consumers by disciplining those who violate licensing regulations.

Board of Registration of Hearing Instrument Specialists

The Board of Registration of Hearing Instrument Specialists protects the public through regulation of the practice and the title of Hearing Instrument Specialist in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in accordance with the statutes.

Board of Registration of Dietitians and Nutritionists

Dietetics/nutrition is the study of the relationship between foods and human health. The focus is on nutrients in food, their actions/interactions and the balance of health, disease, socioeconomic, cultural, and psychological factors. The board oversees the standards and licensing dietitians and nutritionists in Massachusetts.

Board of Registration of Chiropractors

The Board of Registration of Chiropractors regulates the practice of chiropractic in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Board of Registration for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

We license people who would like to work in speech therapy. Our job is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

Board of Registration in Podiatry

The Board of Registration in Podiatry licenses qualified applicants and establishes rules and regulations to ensure the competence of licensed podiatrists.

Board of Registration in Optometry

The Board of Registration of Optometrists licenses optometrists. It establishes rules and regulations to ensure the integrity and competence of licensed optometrists.

Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians

Dispensing opticians fit and dispense prescription ophthalmic eyewear including eyeglasses and contact lenses. Members of this profession measure and duplicate existing ophthalmic prescriptions and fabricate eyeglasses.

The Board of Registration of Dispensing Opticians protects the public through regulation of the practice by testing candidates and licensing those who are qualified, insuring compliance with state statutes and the Board's rules and regulations, and conducting hearings and facilitating resolutions to consumer complaints.

Bureau of Health Professions Licensure

BHPL oversees the licensing of health care professionals in the state of Massachusetts.


Related

Massachusetts Controlled Substances Registration


Help Us Improve Mass.gov

Did you find what you were looking for on this webpage? Yes No

Get daily alerts for MA Optometry Board

Daily digest delivered to your inbox.

Free. Unsubscribe anytime.

About this page

What is GovPing?

Every important government, regulator, and court update from around the world. One place. Real-time. Free. Our mission

What's from the agency?

Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from BHPL.

What's AI-generated?

The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.

Last updated

Classification

Agency
BHPL
Published
June 6th, 2024
Instrument
Notice
Legal weight
Non-binding
Stage
Final
Change scope
Minor

Who this affects

Applies to
Healthcare providers Medical device makers Pharmaceutical companies
Industry sector
9211 Government & Public Administration
Activity scope
Fraud alert Licensee advisory
Geographic scope
Massachusetts US-MA

Taxonomy

Primary area
Consumer Protection
Operational domain
Compliance
Topics
Criminal Justice Healthcare Public Health

Get alerts for this source

We'll email you when MA Optometry Board publishes new changes.

Free. Unsubscribe anytime.

You're subscribed!