Hospital warns of lookalike phone number scam

Northern Montana Hospital officials would like people to know that telemarketers who appear to be calling from the hospital do not represent Northern Montana Hospital.

Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator Julianne LaSmith said Havreites have told her that Northern Montana Hospital’s phone number is connected to a telemarketing scam.

“We don’t want people to think it’s us calling. Those phone calls are not coming from our premises,” she said.

LaSmith said the telemarketers have been able to get ahold of two of the hospital’s phone numbers to make it look like it’s coming from there when they make their calls. The hospital’s facilities director found that the telemarketers are able to get ahold of a large business’ phone number and manipulate it to look like it’s coming from there, Smith said.

“It shows up on caller ID as one of our numbers,” she said.

LaSmith said there are few reasons anyone from the hospital would call people.

“We do call people to remind them of appointments, we call people to give test results, we call people to discuss prescription,” she said