Physicians, Watch Out for Phony Invoices
[Posted 02/17/05]

CMA has learned of a possible scam targeting physicians. Physicians report receiving unsolicited invoices at their offices, charging them $180 for a listing in an online cosmetic surgical directory. The mailing purports to come from PlasticSurgeons.com, a New Jersey-based company. The sender apparently hopes that these legitimate-looking invoices will be paid by unsuspecting office staff. CMA urges physicians to alert their office staff about this practice and to be wary of suspicious bills for Internet use, subscription, telephone listings, and other services.

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons has reported this false invoicing to the New Jersey Attorney General’s office and the U.S. Postal Service. The postal service is investigating and asks that physicians who receive suspicious invoices referring to PlasticSurgeons.com mail the entire communication (including the envelope, invoice received, and any other attachments) to: Ms. Patricia Mathews, Postal Inspector, P.O. Box 509, Newark, NJ 07101-0509 (phone: 973/693-5449; fax: 973/693-5459).

Physicians who receive other suspicious bills for services or products they never ordered should contact the U.S. Postal Inspector by phone (800/372-8347) or via the U.S. Postal Service website.

Contact: CMA’s legal information line, 415/882-5144 or legalinfo@cmanet.org.