Scammers then show the recipient fraudulent invoices via video communication software and demand payment. When the victim says that they never filed such a claim, they get transferred to someone posing as Chinese law enforcement.

The accomplice may tell the victim to download video communication software and stay connected so they can be monitored around the clock.

“The law enforcement impersonator then asks for personal identifying information, threatens the individual with extradition or foreign prosecution, and demands a large payment for bail,” the FBI explains.

The FBI advises how to stay safe

The FBI reminds people of a few straightforward steps to help better protect themselves amid the crime surge.

Citizens are urged to contact their health insurance provider directly to independently verify their health insurance claim records rather than rely on suspicious callers.

Additionally, you should avoid sharing any personal information, including health insurance website login information, with an unsolicited caller, and never wire any money. Stay away from requests to gain control of your computer or maintain connectivity for video surveillance.

Finally: report it. If you or anyone you know has fallen victim to this scam, file a complaint with the IC3 at www.ic3.gov.

An ongoing issue

The FBI issued a similar warning in June, alerting people about crooks sending out emails and text messages to patients and health care providers posing as health care authorities.

“The messages are designed to pressure victims into disclosing protected health information, medical records, personal financial details, or providing reimbursements for alleged service overpayments or non-covered services,” the FBI warned in a public service announcement at the time.

People are advised to never click on links that are included in suspicious and/or unsolicited emails and use strong passwords, as well as multi-factor authentication on all accounts.

Despite all the best attempts, reports suggest that this year's fraud losses are on track to exceed 2024's record-setting totals.

Scammers are actively leveraging trusted avenues to deceive people, and healthcare has historically been one of them. According to researchers at a cybersecurity firm, Check Point, cybercriminals now also use AI and deepfake technology to create convincing fakes, often persuading victims to purchase unapproved or potentially dangerous substances marketed as legitimate prescriptions.

Fraudulent pages advertising counterfeit medication are being created on an industrial scale, with one of the two outcomes: people who purchase fake pharmaceuticals either receive no product at all (which, arguably, is not the worst outcome of the two) or get unlabeled or mislabeled pills and liquids of unknown composition and safety.