Texas State Board of Pharmacy warns pharmacies of scammers seeking distribution accounts

The Texas State Board of Pharmacy issued an alert during the meeting warning that scammers have been using pharmacy information in attempts to obtain distribution accounts and urging pharmacies to protect payment and personal sensitive information.

The alert said suppliers are responsible for due diligence in identifying fraud but said pharmacies can assist by remaining responsive to supplier contacts while taking care not to disclose payment or other sensitive information. "Some drug suppliers have identified scammers who fraudulently use pharmacy information in attempts to obtain distribution accounts," the board said. "While it is the due diligence of suppliers to identify such fraud, a pharmacy can assist in preventing scams by remaining responsive to any contact or identity from the supplier, while remembering to always protect payment and personal sensitive information, especially over the phone."

No specific incidents, affected pharmacy names, or instances of financial loss were provided in the announcement. The board did not announce any regulatory action or a vote related to the alert during the meeting. The notice focused on practical prevention steps: maintain communication channels with suppliers to verify identities, and avoid sharing payment or other sensitive data in unverified phone contacts.

The alert did not specify whether the board will follow up with additional guidance or investigations. Pharmacy managers and staff were advised to review their internal procedures for verifying supplier identities and handling payment information, particularly for phone-based requests.