Fraud Alert: Protect Your Professional License from Scams

At Howell, Buchan & Strong, we remain committed to protecting the rights and professional standing of Florida’s licensed health care practitioners. Recently, a wave of fraudulent activity targeting licensees has prompted the Florida Department of Health and the Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) to issue an urgent warning.

Here’s what you need to know—and what you must do—to protect your license.

Fraud and Scam Tactics We’re Seeing

Fraudsters are impersonating state agencies like the Florida Department of Health or MQA, using convincing tactics to gain access to your personal, professional, or financial information. These scammers are exploiting the complexity of the licensure and enforcement process to instill fear and urgency.

Common red flags include:

• Phishing Emails or Texts directing you to malicious file shares or fake login pages.

• Imposter Messages from “MQA Online Services” asking you to verify or update sensitive information.

• Spoofed Domains and Look-Alike Emails, such as flheallth.gov or fl-health.org.

• Phone Calls from Fake Investigators, offering badge numbers or case IDs, and demanding immediate compliance.

• Threats of License Suspension to provoke fear-based reactions.

• Payment Demands are requested via gift cards, Venmo, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.

• Malware Attachments disguised as official forms or legal documents.

How to Protect Yourself

Your vigilance is your first line of defense. Follow these best practices to avoid falling victim to fraud or scams:

• Be Skeptical of Unknown Links or File Shares—especially those asking for login credentials.

• Check for Red Flags like poor grammar, missing contact details, or inconsistent capitalization.

• Confirm the Email Source: Official state emails will come from an @flhealth.gov address.

• Hang Up on Suspicious Calls. Never share personal or financial information over the phone. Call MQA directly to verify.

• Ignore Urgent Threats of suspension by email or phone. MQA does not notify licensees this way.

• Inspect Email Addresses and Domains Carefully—fraudsters often change just one letter.

• Avoid Untraceable Payments. MQA will never ask for payment via unconventional or unsecure methods.

If You Think You’ve Been Targeted

If you believe you’ve been contacted by a scammer or mistakenly entered credentials on a suspicious website, take these steps immediately:

1. Change your passwords.

2. Document the incident, including:

   • How and when the scam occurred.

   • Screenshots of suspicious messages or calls.

   • Copies of emails, documents, or envelopes.

   • Any financial records or bank charges, if applicable.

3. Report the incident to MQA by:

   • Calling the MQA Customer Contact Center at 850-488-0595

   • Emailing MedicalQualityAssurance@flhealth.gov

Best Practices from Howell, Buchan & Strong

As a firm deeply engaged in Florida health law, we urge all licensed practitioners to remain vigilant. Fraudulent activity not only risks your financial well-being but can also compromise your professional licensure and reputation. If you receive any questionable communication—or worse, if you’ve been impacted—don’t navigate it alone.

Contact our legal team for guidance and representation.

At Howell, Buchan & Strong, we’re here to defend your license and your livelihood.