Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center advises community about possible scam

Earlier this week, Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center received notification from community members they had been contacted by a would-be scammer offering a lower interest rate from a 703-670 prefix with caller ID displaying “Potomac Hospital,” according to a news release from Susan Bahorich, Sentara spokesman in Woodbridge.

She said that the caller reportedly told the recipients a lower interest rate was available if personal information, like a credit card or social security number, was provided.

In the course of the investigation, it was determined the caller had used old exchanges from when Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center operated as Potomac Hospital.

Bahorich stated, “Sentara values our patients’ trust and are troubled that thieves would use our good name to commit fraud. Sentara does not call patients, or former patients, and ask for personal information. If you get such a call, hang up, never give personal information over the phone and contact your service provider - Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, etc.- with the time of the call and the number that called you.”