Wisconsin Safety and Professional Services Warns of Renewed Scam

Madison, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) is reminding professional license holders of an older scam that is resurfacing.

Wisconsin’s safety agency was contacted by several license holders this week saying they got a call from a man who claimed to be a DSPS investigator. The scammer claims there is a problem with the target’s license due to being a suspect in illegal activity.

These scams can be very convincing at first. The Caller ID mimics the DSPS phone number, and the caller may provide a phony case number or badge number (DSPS investigators do not have badges or badge numbers).

So, it is important to remember DSPS and state regulatory boards will never contact credential holders requesting payment to clear or restore licenses. If you receive a call, email, fax, letter, text, or other communication indicating that there are problems with your license/credential that can be resolved with immediate payment or by clicking a link or providing your email and/or password, be wary.

Some good tips to remember in these cases:

• Do not provide money or personal information, even if you feel pressured, threatened, or scared.
• Hang up or ignore it.
• Report suspicious calls, texts, or emails that mention DSPS or any regulating or
  credentialing board. You may file a complaint online at the FBI Internet Crime Complaint
  Center or by calling 202-324-3000.

Wisconsin license holders can also check the status of their license at any time by logging in to their LicensE account or by using the public License Look-Up tool on the DSPS website to
verify their license is in “active” status.

You can find more information about how to identify fraudulent communications at the Scam and Fraud Tips page on the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection website, as well as the Federal Trade Commission website.

About DSPS: DSPS issues more than 240 unique licenses, administers dozens of boards and councils that regulate professions, enforces state building codes, and maintains the Wisconsin Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which is a key tool in the multi-faceted public health campaign to stem excessive opioid prescribing. A fee-based agency, DSPS is self-sustaining and receives no general fund tax dollars for its day-to-day operations. With 250 employees throughout Wisconsin, DSPS collaborates with constituents and stakeholders across a wide range of industries to promote safety and advance the economy.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.