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Scammers are manipulating the caller ID function on phones to make it appear that FirstHealth is calling, and then asking for personal information that the hospital would not request over the phone.
ROCKINGHAM — FirstHealth of the Carolinas has reported an ongoing phone scam targeting its clients across the region which seeks to trick them into giving up their personal information.
The scam uses a method called “caller ID spoofing,” which means that the caller ID says that the call is from FirstHealth, but when answered, an automated recording from another entity plays and asks for information that FirstHealth would not ask for over the phone, according to Emily Sloan, director of Public Relations for the hospital chain.
Sloan said that in some instances the scammers have made calls posing as FirstHealth in the caller ID and then asked for student loan payment information, which FirstHealth does not deal with. The hospital has received a “handful” of reports of these scam calls over the last few weeks, according to Sloan, and felt it was prudent to warn clients about the risk due to the usual increase in scams around the holiday season.
“If you receive a phone call like this, hang up immediately, and do not share any personal information over the phone,” Sloan said in a statement. “Because the call did not actually come from FirstHealth, it’s not necessary to call the number back.”
She added that anyone who has provided personal information to these scammers should contact their bank or credit card company, and those who believe they are the victim of identity theft should contact local law enforcement.
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein’s office has set up a hotline for those who believe they are the victim of a scam, and a way to file a complaint online. The hotline can be reached at 919-716-6000 and the link to file a complaint online is https://ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint/.
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Reach Gavin Stone at 910-817-2673 or gstone@www.yourdailyjournal.com.