This arrived to my private e mail address today. I felt it was important enough to share with our national membership.
"ALERT ISSUED BY: Ken Franklin - Executive Director, FOA March 7, 2003
The FOA office received a notice from the AOA offices in St. Louis that a group of individuals are conducting a nationwide 'dirty tricks campaign' across many states. The scam works something like this:
An individual will either 'walk-in' or make an appointment with an O.D. The person (male or female) will undergo a complete eye examination. Following the exam, the person will then request that the O.D. sell them some contact lens for 'their mom, dad, or other family members' who have 'lost, misplaced' their routine eye prescription---often with stories like: the luggage was lost during their vacation, or the family members are moving and was lost during the shipment, or some story to suggest these events.
To date the reported names being used are: Ms. Cathy O'Kelly; Ms. Clarabell Alvarez; and Mr. Pat Bird. [NOTE: Other names may be used by these individuals, but the scam particulars will be the same.]
These persons will often offer the name of their family's O.D. as Dr. David Stuart or Dr. Dave Stewart...and provide a FAX Number: 866-728-4845... all of which are false & do not exist.
WHY WOULD ANYONE CONDUCT SUCH A 'DIRTY TRICKS CAMPAIGN'???
Simple. Contact lens are medical devices and thus require a prescription, whether requested in person, by mail-order, or internet. Verification is critical to assure proper prescription and authorized release of a patient's confidential records.
If any Florida member should encounter any patient visit such as the one noted above, please contact the AOA [Steve Wasserman] at 800-365-2219, extension 212 and also notify the FOA office via Email [Ken@floridaeyes.org], or 800-399-2334."
Let us know at www.seniordoc.org as well. Cooperation and a Proactive Organization benefit all of us.
"ALERT ISSUED BY: Ken Franklin - Executive Director, FOA March 7, 2003
The FOA office received a notice from the AOA offices in St. Louis that a group of individuals are conducting a nationwide 'dirty tricks campaign' across many states. The scam works something like this:
An individual will either 'walk-in' or make an appointment with an O.D. The person (male or female) will undergo a complete eye examination. Following the exam, the person will then request that the O.D. sell them some contact lens for 'their mom, dad, or other family members' who have 'lost, misplaced' their routine eye prescription---often with stories like: the luggage was lost during their vacation, or the family members are moving and was lost during the shipment, or some story to suggest these events.
To date the reported names being used are: Ms. Cathy O'Kelly; Ms. Clarabell Alvarez; and Mr. Pat Bird. [NOTE: Other names may be used by these individuals, but the scam particulars will be the same.]
These persons will often offer the name of their family's O.D. as Dr. David Stuart or Dr. Dave Stewart...and provide a FAX Number: 866-728-4845... all of which are false & do not exist.
WHY WOULD ANYONE CONDUCT SUCH A 'DIRTY TRICKS CAMPAIGN'???
Simple. Contact lens are medical devices and thus require a prescription, whether requested in person, by mail-order, or internet. Verification is critical to assure proper prescription and authorized release of a patient's confidential records.
If any Florida member should encounter any patient visit such as the one noted above, please contact the AOA [Steve Wasserman] at 800-365-2219, extension 212 and also notify the FOA office via Email [Ken@floridaeyes.org], or 800-399-2334."
Let us know at www.seniordoc.org as well. Cooperation and a Proactive Organization benefit all of us.
