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Weekly Scam Alert: Watch Out for Fake Health Screenings Targeting Student Athletes
By Gabriel O. Rodriguez Cruz MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
The fraudsters try to push fake heart tests on parents and then bill insurers for unnecessary services.
Free health screenings for your kid might sound like a no-brainer, but that’s exactly what fraudsters are counting on. A consumer alert from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is warning about scammers who use fears about sudden cardiac arrest to push fake tests and bill insurers for unnecessary services.
The agency says these schemes typically target parents, caregivers, athletic programs and students. Fraudsters offer “free” or low-cost heart screenings, including electrocardiograms and echocardiograms, often in schools, athletic events, community programs or other settings that feel trustworthy.
In one recent case, federal prosecutors charged people allegedly involved in an health care fraud scheme tied to cardiovascular testing performed on college campuses that resulted in $89 million in fraudulent charges. According to authorities, the tests were marketed to student athletes even though they were not medically necessary.
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This doesn’t mean every student heart screening is suspicious. In fact, many school districts do host free physicals for student athletes. That’s exactly what makes the scam convincing: The fake events are designed to look like the real thing.
Parents should be wary of any provider that pressures them to act quickly. The same goes for providers who ask for insurance information before explaining a test’s medical need or offers incentives like cash, gift cards and other freebies. A legitimate screening should provide clear information about who is performing the test, why it’s being recommended and how results will be reviewed by a licensed medical professional.
Before agreeing to any test, ask whether a doctor ordered it. Verify whether it’s covered by your insurance and whether the provider is in your network. If an offer comes through your child’s school or athletic program, confirm directly with the institution and your family doctor before handing over insurance details. And don’t forget to report suspected health care fraud to the HHS-OIG Hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS or TIPS.HHS.GOV.
Other current scams to watch out for
Preying on pet panic
Scammers are exploiting how much people love their furry friends to make fake emergencies feel real. A warning from the FTC says fraudsters are stealing and manipulating pet photos and videos — even using AI-generated deepfakes — to trick animal lovers into sending money or sharing personal information.
These scams can take several forms. Someone might claim to have found your missing pet but demand a fee before returning it. A fake animal rescue may ask for donations after posting emotional videos. Or a bogus shelter might say an animal needs urgent medical care and pressure you to pay right away.
The safest move is always to slow down before sending money to anyone. If someone claims to have your pet, ask for specific proof, such as a live video call or a photo showing the animal next to an object you choose.
If you’re donating to an animal charity, search for the organization independently instead of clicking a link in a post, text or message. Be especially cautious if the person asks for payment by gift card, wire transfer, crypto or peer-to-peer payment app.
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World Cup job phishing
A recent FBI public service announcement explains how fraudsters are impersonating FIFA through email to tell people they’re ideal candidates for World Cup-related jobs. The emails ask recipients to click a link to schedule an interview. Once there, they are prompted to enter personal information, turning what looks like a hiring opportunity into a phishing attempt.
Hype around the World Cup was already being exploited by malicious actors months in advance. The FBI has warned consumers that cybercriminals are creating lookalike domains to steal personal and financial information from them. These sites advertise fake tickets, hospitality packages and merchandise, all while borrowing FIFA branding to appear legitimate.
If you’re looking for World Cup work, tickets or travel packages, don’t rely on unsolicited emails, texts or sponsored search results. Go directly to official FIFA or host-city websites by typing in the address yourself. Remember to check the domain carefully before entering any personal or payment information. A real employer also won’t ask for sensitive details like your Social Security number or banking information before you’ve gone through a formal hiring process.
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The most common types of scam you should know
Scammers are constantly upping their game, coming up with new and exciting ways (for them) of fooling their targets. AI-powered scams are one example of this; the technology is being used to reach a larger number of people with increasingly more convincing schemes
But some tricks never run out of style. Most scams fall into a handful of familiar patterns, and many long-standing schemes are still a threat today. They’ve just evolved to better fit today’s digital landscape
- Imposter scams: Scammers often pose as trusted figures such as government agencies, banks, employers and even friends or family to pressure victims into sending money or sharing personal information
- Phishing and spoofing scams: These scams use emails, texts or phone calls that look like they’re from legitimate organizations. The goal is to trick you into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware or handing over sensitive information
- Online shopping scams: Fraudsters can create fake online stores or listings with hard-to-find items at unusually low prices. After you pay for an article, what you end up getting might be counterfeit — or it may never arrive in the first place
- Investment scams: This type of scam often arrives with promises of high returns from crypto, forex or other “exclusive” opportunities. Many involve long-term grooming tactics in which victims are encouraged to invest more over time before losing everything
- Romance scams: Some scammers try to get into your pocket through the heart. They build a relationship with you on dating apps or social media, then convince you to give up money and assets by fabricating emergencies or investment opportunities
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What to do if you’re the target — or victim — of a scam
No one is immune to scams or fraud, but a few consistent habits can reduce their danger and the damage they cause
For starters, be skeptical of unsolicited messages, especially those creating fear or urgency. This might look like an email from your bank threatening to close an account, a text from an online marketplace saying you’ll lose a discount or a call from the IRS claiming they’ll report you to the authorities unless you “act now.”
Scammers love to use this sort of language because it puts you on the spot, which they expect will move you to action
Always verify any requests from an organization by cross-checking with its official phone numbers, email or website. And don’t click any links, download attachments or respond to messages you suspect may be fraudulent. A legitimate organization will not pressure you for instant action or secrecy
Now, if you’ve already sent financial information or money to someone you suspect is a scammer, you’ll need to take a few steps to protect your data and possibly get your money reimbursed. Contact your bank, credit card issuer or payment platform immediately and attempt to stop or reverse the transactions. Make sure to change any relevant passwords and enable multi-factor authentication to safeguard your accounts, too.
Reporting a scam might also help protect others. You can file a report with the Federal Trade Commission and with local authorities at your nearby police department or sheriff’s office. Identity theft victims should also consider temporarily freezing their credit
Lastly, review your financial statements and credit reports regularly, keep your software updated and limit how much personal information you share online. Scammers often rely on publicly available details to make their schemes more convincing
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Gabriel Rodríguez is an editor at Money who specializes in crypto and tech and has over 5 years of experience in the industry. An enthusiastic techie from a young age, Gabriel aims to guide consumers in the right direction when it comes to software and hardware solutions, helping them sort through the swaths of inefficient and gimmicky applications out there. The main tech topics he oversees at Money are antivirus software, identity theft protection services and virtual private networks (VPNs). This passion for emerging technologies led to a growing interest in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, which he now has intimate knowledge of having written about the topic for the past three years. Gabriel has consulted with leading experts in blockchain, the underlying technology behind crypto, regarding its potential for innovation in various fields, including supply chains, financial services and governance and is responsible for keeping Money’s crypto content timely and up-to-date. Gabriel received his BA in Comparative Literature, his MA in Translation from German to Spanish from the University of Puerto Rico and speaks four languages fluently. His background in these fields has provided him the tools to quickly and efficiently research a wide variety of topics, which has proved essential for reviewing different services and products.\