The agency is warning consumers about a fraudulent scheme to extort money by callers who falsely identify themselves as “FDA special agents” or other FDA officials, the agency says in a statement.

Several instances have been reported to the FDA of calls enticing consumers to purchase discounted prescription drugs by wiring funds to one of several locations in the Dominican Republic. No medications are ever delivered. A subsequent call is received from a fraudulent “FDA special agent” informing the consumer that a fine of several thousand dollars is required to be sent to an address in the Dominican Republic to prevent incarceration or other legal action, according to the FDA statement.

Consumers should note that the fraudulent calls appear to be from telephone numbers located within the US, but are in fact from either ported voice-over-the-Internet-protocol numbers or cell phones. The schem most likely began with the theft of personal information from consumers who previously purchased drugs via the Internet or telephone or who were victims of credit card fraud.