Any test strip scams anyone know off?

[Doctor M]

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I wanted to know if anyone knew of any test strips scams where a caller claims to be deaf and orders a large amount of test strips via relay calling. They then ask if we take discover and say if we have any question to fax her cause she is deaf.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Our RM sent every store in the region an email describing this scam. From what I understand, the cards are usually stolen. The aftermarket on test strips is apparently rather good. I drive around town in Philly and see signs all over that read "We buy used test strips. Call 215-XXX-XXXX."

But its interesting that you are seeing this in Florida, too.

 

[owlegrad]

I wanted to know if anyone knew of any test strips scams where a caller claims to be deaf and orders a large amount of test strips via relay calling. They then ask if we take discover and say if we have any question to fax her cause she is deaf.

Is the card stolen? What is the scam?

 

[SomeGuy]

So there are these services for the deaf that work over the internet where a person from a service provider calls on your behalf and says what you type, and transcribes what people say on the other end.

The operators are usually under strict orders to not tell either side that they think this may be a scam, nor are they allowed to d/c the call for most any reason, it's supposed to be as if they aren't even there other than some statement at the beginning that this is a relay call.

It's some type of federally mandated service, and apparently the telecoms get paid pretty well for providing it, so they made the services very accessible and easy to use over the internet.

And of course, a bunch of Nigerian scammers caught on to this, being able to now make relatively legitimate sounding calls to American companies trying to buy stuff with stolen credit card information and getting it shipped to them or a drop point in the USA.

It has a 0% chance of legitimacy.

Test strips are a good product to move because they're high value for their size, have good demand, are OTC, and easily sold on places like Ebay with impunity.

WVU: Are you sure they're buying used test strips???

 

[Doctor M]

Is the card stolen? What is the scam?

The card may be stolen. If it is, it would be a $5000 transaction. To high of a transaction.

 

[museabuse]

That scam has been around for the 7 years I have been in pharmacy. I got a call once asking me to order 50 boxes of test strips. I asked why, then the relay conversation was taking too long so I just said I can't order that until you come in and pay for it. I never even got to the credit card number part of the scam. I thought maybe it was just a Roche representive trying to get pharmacies to order a bunch to increase their sales or something. I've seen many corporate warnings over the years about this scam.

 

[jkong]

Our hospital pharmacies have gotten that scam a few months ago where someone wanted to bulk purchase test strips and wanted to pay via credit card over the phone.

We kept telling them to contact our purchasing dept but i think they're too afraid.

Didn't know that this was a popular type of scam that's affecting other states!

 

[Old Timer]

This is a a scam. Deaf people can come into the store to pay. They are deaf, not quadriplegic.

 

[PharmDstudent]

Deaf people can come into the store to pay. They are deaf, not quadriplegic.

It depends... 😛

 

[jfm5958]

We got one of these calls about a month ago, but the pharmacist knew what is was. Apparently they got a call like that awhile back.

 

[MountainPharmD]

I wanted to know if anyone knew of any test strips scams where a caller claims to be deaf and orders a large amount of test strips via relay calling. They then ask if we take discover and say if we have any question to fax her cause she is deaf.

Wow, I didn't realize this was a national scam. I was called twice while in Colorado and I have heard of it here in Texas. I tell my techs if someone calls TDD and wants to buy test strips hang up.

 

[PharmaTope]

I wanted to know if anyone knew of any test strips scams where a caller claims to be deaf and orders a large amount of test strips via relay calling. They then ask if we take discover and say if we have any question to fax her cause she is deaf.

the biggest test strip scam is the one they pull over patients charging so much for the damn things

 

[MountainPharmD]

the biggest test strip scam is the one they pull over patients charging so much for the damn things

But you get a free meter!!!!

 

[owlegrad]

But you get a free meter!!!!

😆

 

[Old Timer]

the biggest test strip scam is the one they pull over patients charging so much for the damn things

Ok, How much should they cost? If it's so easy to do, why don't you market Pharmatope Test strips & sell them for 1/2 the price and make a fortune?

 

[type b pharmD]

Ok, How much should they cost? If it's so easy to do, why don't you market Pharmatope Test strips & sell them for 1/2 the price and make a fortune?

 

[kirson01]

I have seen this scam before. The caller wanted 50 boxes of one touch ultra test strips in 100's and wanted to know the price. I gave him the price and told him that they would have to be ordered. He asked me how long it would take to get them and I told him that I would only order them if he came in and gave me a 50% cash deposit, the balance payable in cash only. He asked if he could use a credit card over the phone. I said this is a cash only transaction no credit cards over the phone.( Did I mention that he said he was deaf and that this entire conversation was through an operator?)
The pharmacy I worked at did not allow credit cards over the phone under any circumstances. Needless to say I lost a big sale that day🙂

Regards,
Kirson

 

[drgnldy]

I had someone try this scam last week. They claimed to be deaf and ask my tech to communicate with them via email. They gave her a credit card number and sent a FEDEX shipping label for mailing the package. The strips were ordered by someone named Encart, using the email address of someone named Peters, for someone named Williams, being shipped to someone named Smith to an address in Texas belonging to someone named Matthews, with a contact phone number belonging to someone named Whitehead. Talk about convoluted. And of course, we're in Florida. Interesting how no pharmacies in Texas carry test strips. Be thankful your company has a no phone credit card policy. You would have been scammed out the money and test strips.

 

[rph3664]

Hadn't heard about this! I did hear recently about some people who were driving down the Interstate that runs through our town, and were hitting all the pharmacies with the intent of stealing strips.

Ebay, flea markets, etc. yes there's a huge market for them, although I doubt if they're used. 😳