I get a call on my personal cell phone around 9 am on a Wednesday, and the caller ID says “DEPT OF HEALTH.” A very pleasant gentleman asks if he is speaking with Dr. Malik, and then asks me to hold as he transfers my call. A soft-spoken gentleman with a very thick Indian accent comes on the phone and introduces himself as Carlos Rivero. Red-flag #1. He explains that he is a special investigation agent working with the Florida Board of Medicine. He then asks me to get a pen, so I can write down his badge number. He informs me that there has been some maleficence involving my medical license, and he is calling to help me. He reads my license number to me, and he asks me to write down what sounded like a very official case number. At this point, I’m convinced that this is a legitimate phone call. Yes, it was odd that this dude had an Indian accent with a Hispanic name, but he was spitting a really good game. This whole call was scripted, he had everything prepared to keep me engaged and oblivious.
This low-life then explained that an abandoned rental car was found near the Texas-Mexican border and contained around 24 pounds of Fentanyl and around 50 pounds of Oxycodone. My name and medical license number were implicated. At this point I’m slightly shook, and highly concerned. I deny everything; I definitely am not involved in any illegal activities. Carlos then tells me he believes me, and that he has been researching my case for the past 4 weeks. He believes I was involved in identity theft. He asks me a series of questions about my history of car rentals, and it turns out I did rent a car in Mexico when I visited Tulum in 2023. Even though this was a complete coincidence, he used that little bit of info to convince me further that my identity was stolen. Wait it gets worse, lol.
Okay, so I’m a victim of identity theft. So what? Hasn’t been the first time. This has happened to me several times. I already have locks on my credit reports, and other safeguards in place. I tell this jerk that I have to go because I have patients waiting. This is where he really scared the heck out of me. He says something to the effect of, “Sir, unfortunately your medical license is suspended pending further investigation. I remind you that you are being informed about this suspension by an investigation agent from the Florida Board of Medicine and this is a recorded line. If you see patients today, it would be considered practicing medicine without a license.” I nearly fainted. I believed him; I’m such a sucker. I didn’t hang up and call the Board to verify this, I didn’t use an online license verification tool, I just believed him (because I’m an idiot, lol.)
