A new form of fraud is making its way to independent pharmacies via fax and email with phony recall notices. Pharmacies and health care entities are receiving fraudulent recall notices regarding Oxycodone Hydrochloride. The NDC 0406853001 (Specgx Llc, 100 count bottle) may be listed in communications, however, no manufacturer recall exists for this product at this time for any lot. Emails/faxes being sent include a letter, spoofed as being from a legitimate pharma distributor, indicating the following:
(Distributor) is updating all direct account Wholesalers, Distributors and pharmacies that have received the impacted NDC below. We are initiating a recall of lots distributed to date on a precautionary basis. This recall is being conducted at the Retail Level. Please note all lots are being recalled. Thank you.
So far, no fraudulent attempts have been successful.
Law enforcement authorities investigating these incidents ask that all companies and industry associations make their employees/members aware of this new tactic. If one of your employees/members were to receive any communication which references ANY type of a recall, they should document as much about the interaction as possible. That should be followed with a call to a known contact of your distributor partner to determine if the request is legitimate. If it isn’t, report the occurrence to the PCSC at [email protected] or call 401-623-1344 as soon as reasonably possible. All attempts, successful or not, need to be documented to further the overall investigation.
