National HIV care provider Vivent Health has issued a warning regarding scammers falsely claiming to be recruiters for the company, according to Vivent.

 

The nonprofit offers comprehensive health care and social services, such as HIV prevention, testing, education, mental health support, nutrition counseling and housing support.

 

According to Vivent, scammers are contacting potential “candidates” with job offer letters and requesting personal data, such as banking information. Vivent Health urges individuals not to fall for job scams, explaining, “Vivent Health will never make an offer to a candidate without first going through an interviewing process, which includes live interviews with our HR and hiring teams at Vivent Health.”

 

The general public should always be alert to potential frauds and schemes. Online scammers use several methods to coerce money or information from people, often pretending to be from an organization you know, pressuring you to act immediately to fix an urgent problem or even threatening to arrest you. Scammers may also insist you pay them using specific methods, including gift cards, bank wires or mobile payment apps, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

 

To avoid a scam, block all unwanted calls, text messages and emails immediately. Do not share personal or financial information in response to a request you did not expect.  Do not feel pressured to act right away, no matter how urgent scammers may make the matter seem. Finally, before making any decisions, ask someone you trust for advice. Talking things over with a friend, neighbor or family member could help you identify a scam.

 

Unfortunately, health fraud scams occur often and can be committed by medical providers, patients and other people who intentionally deceive the health care system to receive illegal benefits or payments.

 

In 2022, a Miami businessman was arrested and charged with allegedly distributing over $230 million in “adulterated and misbranded” prescription HIV meds. Prosecutors claimed the scheme took place between 2019 and 2021 and that the culprit laundered hundreds of millions of dollars through various Miami businesses.

If you were scammed or are aware of a scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you already paid a scammer or gave a scammer access to your personal information, computer or phone, click here.

In related news, Vivent Health has been expanding and opening new clinics; it now operates locations spanning six states. Last year, the organization merged with UNIFIED, a Detroit-based HIV service provider. In 2023, Vivent merged with Chicago-based Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN), a nationally recognized leader working to end the HIV epidemic.

To lower rates of HIV and offer treatment to HIV-positive Chicagoans, Vivent and TPAN partnered with Northwestern Medicine to provide HIV and primary care, behavioral and mental health services and more all in one new Chicago location.