DOJ charges 10 individuals for allegedly spoofing emails, defrauding healthcare payers, hospitals

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued charges against 10 individuals who allegedly fraudulently diverted patient payments intended for hospitals. The defendants posed as business partners and deceived healthcare payers into making payments to them instead of to the hospitals. The investigation found over $4.7 million in losses to Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurers. The defendants could face maximum penalties ranging from 20-30 years in prison. Spoofing and other business email compromise (BEC) tactics have been on the rise in healthcare organizations in recent years.