Fraudulent invoices target doctors in the Karviná region, loss exceeds 31,000 CZK
Police officers from Karviná and Těrlicko have been investigating a series of fraudulent invoices sent to doctors by email since September. Perpetrators are exploiting the names of real software companies and demanding over 31,000 CZK.
False invoices for medical software: case from the Karviná region
Police officers from the district stations Karviná 7 and Těrlicko have been dealing with a series of fraudulent emails sent to doctors since September, according to policie.gov.cz. The scheme was identical each time: perpetrators distributed requests for immediate payment of the attached invoice, claiming that the payment deadline had already expired.
The subject of the false invoices were software licences and user support for programmes that doctors commonly use for paperless practice management and financial summaries. The attached documents appeared credible and the demanded amount exceeded 31,000 crowns.
In several cases, doctors actually paid the invoices. One of the injured doctors learned of the fraud from an email from the real company whose name the fraudsters had exploited — the company informed her that false payment requests were being circulated. The woman verified everything directly with her software provider, who confirmed the misuse of the company name. Another doctor discovered the fraud herself during a subsequent check of the received post.
Police have initiated criminal proceedings on suspicion of the crime of fraud. If caught, the perpetrator faces imprisonment of up to two years.
Police are appealing especially to doctors to carefully examine incoming emails with attached invoices. Before sending payment, they recommend verifying the invoice by telephone directly with the relevant company.
Source: Google News CZ — Crime (cs)