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Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby is a licensed psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, board-certified coach, AAMFT clinical supervisor, host of the Love, Happiness, and Success Podcast and founder of Growing Self.
Did you know that there are specific scams targeting therapists and mental health professionals? Neither did I—until I started seeing these scams firsthand in my own practice and with colleagues.
Today, I’m sharing my personal experiences, real-life stories, and essential tips to help you avoid falling victim to these scams targeting therapists. Trust me, knowing about these can save you from unnecessary stress, financial losses, and maybe even your professional license.
Scams Targeting Therapists: What You Need to Know
In my recent episode of Love, Happiness, and Success for Therapists, I shared the most common scams targeting therapists. From fake subpoenas to false credentials, scammers know that private practice therapists can be vulnerable. Let’s dive in so you can stay one step ahead and protect your practice along with your therapy clients’data.
1. The Fake Police Officer Subpoena Scam
This one is downright scary. Imagine this: you’re in session, and you get a call from a supposed police officer telling you there’s a warrant out for your arrest because you missed a court date. To fix it, you need to come down to the station—or pay a fine over the phone to avoid jail time.
One of my colleagues was absolutely panicked and, unfortunately, followed the scammer’s instructions, even withdrawing cash as directed. Thankfully, she realized something was off before handing it over at the station. These scams rely on fear and urgency, making conscientious professionals question their judgment.
The lesson here? Real police won’t ask for money over the phone! Always double-check with your licensing board or legal representative if you receive any scary calls like this.
2. The Fake Client Scam
The fake client scam is another common tactic. You get a call or email from someone wanting therapy for several family members, usually requesting multiple sessions upfront and insisting on paying in advance. Sounds great, right? But here’s the catch—they’ll need your bank account info to make that payment.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers know that a large family client promising numerous sessions sounds like a dream client to a busy therapist, but don’t fall for it. Stick to your practice’s usual payment policies and never share sensitive information to accommodate payment requests.
3. The Phony Insurance Rep Scam
We’ve all received legitimate calls from insurance reps needing to verify claims, benefits, or patient details. But did you know scammers are mimicking these requests? They may ask for Social Security numbers, birth dates, or health record numbers under the guise of processing claims, putting you and your clients at risk of identity theft.
If you’re unsure, end the call and contact the insurance provider directly using their official contact information to confirm that the request is legitimate. The HIPAA Journal has an excellent resource for keeping up with privacy guidelines, and it’s worth reviewing.
How to Protect Your Practice, Step By Step.
Therapists, these scams are real — every single one has happened to me. I’ve taken steps to harden my practice, and you should too.
The goal here is action: That’s why I have created a series of 8 daily emails, each with examples, and very specific recommendations for how to protect your practice.
Get all the details about each of these diabolical scams and get my personal practice protection playbook.
4. The Fake Technology Support Scam
Operating in private practice means we rely heavily on technology—from EHR systems to telehealth platforms. Scammers are exploiting this by pretending to be tech support for popular systems and requesting access to “troubleshoot” issues with your account.
Protect yourself by setting up two-factor authentication on your platforms and contacting tech support directly if you get an unexpected “support call” or request for login information. Improving cybersecurity for your therapy practice can protect you big time in the long run.
5. The “Let’s Collaborate!” Scam
Have you received an invitation to collaborate on a conference, podcast, or online event that seems a little too good to be true? These scams play on therapists’ desire to build a professional profile. They usually involve some kind of payment for “exposure” or access to “industry leaders.”
Before agreeing to anything, do your research! Scammers know that social proof can be enticing, but it’s rarely worth paying for. Connect with colleagues or look up reviews on trusted sites like Psychology Today to verify legitimacy.
6. Training Scams
Picture this: you’re offered a fancy-looking conference or training opportunity, but after you pay the high registration fee, it’s a total flop—or worse, it vanishes. These fake events often come from slick websites and sales reps, making them hard to spot.
Always verify training providers and trust only reputable, well-known sources. This way, you’re not just protecting your time and money—you’re safeguarding the quality and credibility of your practice.
7. Credentialing Scams
As professionals, we know the importance of maintaining our credentials. Scammers prey on this by offering “credentialing assistance” services that request sensitive information like Social Security numbers and licensing details. The end goal? Identity theft and data misuse.
To avoid falling victim, work only with well-known credentialing organizations. The American Psychological Association and National Board for Certified Counselors offer accredited resources and can guide you through legitimate credentialing processes.
8. Simple Practice and EHR Scams
Electronic Health Record (EHR) management is essential to our practice, but some systems come with unexpected caveats. Simple Practice, for instance, updated their terms, and now, if you’re not careful, they could potentially advertise other providers on your website or follow up with your clients to promote third-party services.
If you’re currently using Simple Practice, I suggest reading their terms of service carefully. Consider other secure and privacy-respecting options if you’re uncomfortable with these terms. Always prioritize tools that allow you complete control over your practice’s data and your clients’ information.
For those interested in securely managing client data, check out my past episode, Is Your Mental Health EHR System Sabotaging Your Practice?
Preventing Scams in Your Practice
Staying scam-free in therapy private practice requires a network. I avoided many of these scams because of my support network—other therapists who shared their experiences with me. I urge you to do the same: join a consultation group, attend workshops, or connect with other professionals who will share their “lessons learned.”
Building connections and staying informed is truly the best defense. Remember: you are not alone! Together, we can help each other protect what we’ve worked so hard to build.
Additional Resources for Staying Safe
I didn’t have time to go into ALL the details during the podcast but I would love to share more about my personal experiences with each of these so you know exactly what to be on guard for.
I’ll also make sure that you have my exact playbook and processes that I’ve implemented in my private practice to safeguard our clients and our clinicians. Click here and I’ll tell you EVERYTHING.
Whenever anything crazy happens, Linkedin is the FIRST place I share it. If you want the full scoop and to keep track of all the latest things that you need to know about, connect with me there!
Xoxo,
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
PS: Know another therapist who could benefit from these insights? Please share this article with your colleagues and community—it might just save them from a costly mistake. Let’s keep each other safe!
Resources:
Jenkins, P. (2020). Client confidentiality and data protection. In The Handbook of Professional Ethical and Research Practice for Psychologists, Counsellors, Psychotherapists and Psychiatrists (pp. 53-64). Routledge.
Rowe, P. (2013). Beware of Scams Targeting Private Therapy Providers. Leader Live.
Fouracres, A. (2022). Cybersecurity for Coaches and Therapists: A Practical Guide for Protecting Client Data (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003184805
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