Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Director Orlene Hawks alerted professionals licensed by the State of Michigan to beware of an elaborate, sophisticated scam that ultimately cost one physical therapist and her family their entire savings. The scheme — reported to Nessel’s consumer protection team — took place over the course of several days and involved three different men who posed as an investigator from LARA, a chief investigator from LARA, and an FBI agent, respectively. The men convinced the physical therapist that her license to practice was in danger of “immediate temporary suspension” and directed her to the nearest UPS store to receive notification in writing. According to the woman, the document the men provided her appeared to be on official LARA letterhead and even included her license number. The man posing as the “chief investigator” told the physical therapist that he was investigating a drug trafficking case involving her license and that her name and license were associated with 15 different bank accounts laundering 2.4 million dollars. At one point, all three men got on the call with her, giving her the option of obtaining a lawyer and being stuck in jail without bail for at least six months, or cooperating with their “investigation” by signing a federal bond agreement with the Department of Justice.
Convinced that the scam was legitimate, the woman followed their instructions, telling no one — including her husband — and made a wire transfer for her so-called bond. She was then provided with an “application” to allegedly reinstate her license. Once her husband discovered the wire transfer, the police were called and confirmed the scam. The couple was unable to recoup any of their financial losses.
