The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has issued a warning to healthcare providers and the public about a rise in fraudulent activities involving individuals posing as PHC officials to extort money and obtain sensitive information.
PHC Advisory on Fraudulent Activities
In a public advisory, the commission said scammers are making phone calls and sending messages while falsely claiming to be PHC inspectors or representatives. The fraudsters reportedly offer to resolve matters related to inspections, registrations, licensing penalties, and complaint cases in exchange for payments.
Methods Used by Scammers
According to the PHC, the suspects are using fake letterheads, forged documents, counterfeit stamps, challans, and WhatsApp profiles to make their demands appear authentic and deceive healthcare providers. The commission clarified that it does not authorize any person or organization to collect fees, donations, or service charges on its behalf.
Official Payment Channels
It further emphasized that PHC never requests payments through personal bank accounts, mobile wallets, or WhatsApp numbers. “All official payments are made only through designated banking channels into accounts titled ‘Punjab Healthcare Commission’ and against digitally generated challans,” the commission stated.
Public Advisory
The PHC urged healthcare establishments and members of the public to remain vigilant and refrain from transferring money or sharing personal information in response to suspicious calls, messages, or documents. It also advised anyone approached by fraudsters using the commission’s name to immediately report the matter to law enforcement agencies.
The commission warned that individuals who make payments to personal or unverified accounts do so at their own risk and that the PHC cannot be held responsible for any financial losses resulting from dealings with scammers. The advisory comes amid growing concerns over the misuse of official identities and forged documents to target healthcare providers across Punjab.
