sections of local newspapers and "giveaway" shopper's guides. In the "Help-Wanted" classified
sections, the ads may appear next to legitimate ads for hospital medical claims processors,
leading consumers who respond to think they're applying for a job, not buying a business
opportunity.
The ads lure consumers with promises of substantial income working from home full- or
part-time - "no experience required." They direct consumers to call a toll-free number for more
information.
If you call, a sales representative will entice you to sign up by telling you that the processing of
medical claims is a lucrative business, that doctors are eager for help with electronic claims
processing, and that you - even without any experience - can do this work from the comfort of
your home.
Medical billing scammers charge a fee of $300 to $500. In exchange, they claim to provide
everything you supposedly need to launch your medical billing business: the software program
to process the claims and a list of potential clients.
But the reality is that few consumers who pay for medical billing opportunities find clients or
make any money, let alone earn the promised substantial income. Competition in the medical
billing market is fierce, especially for those who are new to it. Many doctors' offices process
their own medical claims. Doctors who contract out their medical billing often use established
firms, not individuals working from home.
Promoters of fraudulent medical billing opportunities are not interested in helping consumers,
either. They only want their money. Many times, the client lists they provide are based on
out-of-date databases of doctors who haven't asked for medical billing services. The software
they send may not work or may not have been properly authorized and so is useless. And the
money-back "guarantees" often prove worthless. Even after making repeated calls to the
promoter or complaining to their credit card companies, government agencies or consumer
groups, only a few people actually get refunds.
