Omar Khalid
Medicare scam calls have been around for a while, but scammers are now using a new approach to target older adults. They call pretending to offer a new plastic Medicare card with a chip and ask the target to verify their Medicare insurance number. This is a scam designed to steal your Medicare insurance number and commit fraud. Medicare will first contact you through the mail if they need to reach you. Medicare will never ask for personal or private information before providing the new Medicare number and card. If you suspect Medicare fraud, immediately report it online or call 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of scam | Callers pretend to be Medicare, offering a new plastic card with a chip |
| Target | Older adults |
| Aim | To steal Medicare insurance/ID numbers |
| What to do | Hang up and report the scam |
| How to report | Call 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477) or 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227) |
| Medicare contact | Medicare will first contact you by mail |
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What You'll Learn
- Medicare scam calls are designed to get your Medicare number and commit fraud
- Scammers pretend to offer a plastic Medicare card to replace the paper one
- Scammers may ask for your personal information, such as height, weight, and address
- Medicare will not call unsolicited and will first contact you through mail
- If you suspect fraud, report it to Senior Medicare Patrol or your state consumer protection office
Medicare scam calls are designed to get your Medicare number and commit fraud
Medicare scam calls are a persistent issue, with scammers employing various tactics to deceive individuals. One prevalent scam involves callers claiming that you are receiving a new plastic Medicare card. This scam specifically targets older adults, aiming to steal their Medicare insurance numbers and commit fraud. It is important to recognize the techniques used in this scam to protect yourself and your personal information.
In the plastic card scam, callers may have access to your name, address, and even your date of birth. They will try to convince you that you need a new plastic Medicare card, sometimes mentioning a chip in the card. They may also pretend to confirm your personal information, such as your address and phone number, to gain your trust. However, their ultimate goal is to obtain your Medicare number. They might ask you to verify your Medicare ID or provide it to receive a new card. It is crucial to understand that Medicare will not call you unsolicited about your Medicare card or benefits. Medicare will first contact you through mail if they need to reach you.
Another variation of the scam involves callers informing you about your eligibility for a piece of medical equipment, such as a back brace or oxygen concentrator. They will tell you that to confirm the delivery, you need to provide your address and Medicare ID. This is another attempt to steal your Medicare number. Remember that if you haven't discussed these medical supplies with your doctor, there is no need to provide any information to the caller. Medicare scam calls can be very convincing, and the callers may even bring a "`supervisor"' on the line to add legitimacy to their request.
To protect yourself from Medicare scam calls, always be skeptical of unsolicited calls. Do not provide your Medicare number or any personal information to callers claiming to be from Medicare. If you feel you have received a scam call and shared your Medicare ID, immediately contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227) to report the incident and change your ID number. Additionally, you can report suspected Medicare fraud online or by calling 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). Remember, Medicare will never ask for personal or private information before providing your new Medicare number and card. Stay vigilant and safeguard your personal information to prevent becoming a victim of Medicare scam calls.
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Scammers pretend to offer a plastic Medicare card to replace the paper one
Scammers are taking advantage of the transition from paper to plastic Medicare cards, pretending to offer a replacement card to steal personal information and commit fraud. This scam has been targeting older adults, with callers claiming that the recipient needs a new plastic Medicare card to replace their paper one. The callers often already know personal information such as the target's name, address, phone number, and even their date of birth. They then ask for the target's Medicare ID number to "verify" their information. However, this is just a ploy to steal the victim's Medicare number and use it for fraudulent purposes, such as filing fake claims or selling the information on the dark web.
It's important to note that Medicare will not call individuals unsolicited. If you receive an unexpected call about your Medicare card, it is a scam. Medicare will first contact you through mail if they need to reach you. In addition, there is no charge for a new Medicare card, and you should not provide any personal or private information before receiving your new Medicare number and card. If you suspect fraud or believe your identity has been stolen, you should report it immediately by calling 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477) or contacting your state consumer protection office. You can also call the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Hotline at 877-438-4338.
To protect yourself from these scams, it's important to be skeptical of unsolicited contacts and never give out your Medicare ID number or other personal information to someone claiming to be from Medicare. Simply hang up and, if necessary, call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227) to confirm the legitimacy of the request. Remember, Medicare will never ask for personal or private information before providing your new Medicare number and card.
Additionally, be aware of other similar scams, such as callers claiming that you are eligible for a piece of medical equipment and needing to verify your address and Medicare ID. If you didn't discuss getting these supplies with your doctor, it's likely a scam. These callers can be very persistent, sometimes bringing a second person on the line to make you feel more comfortable with their request. Don't fall for their tactics and never give out your Medicare ID or other personal information.
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Scammers may ask for your personal information, such as height, weight, and address
Scammers are always devising new ways to target Medicare recipients, especially older adults, and steal their Medicare insurance numbers. One such scam involves callers claiming that they need to replace your paper card with a new plastic card or a card with a chip in it. They may ask for your personal information, such as your height, weight, and address, under the pretext of verifying your details before sending you the new card. They may also ask you to confirm your Medicare ID or provide your Medicare number to receive the new card. It is important to remember that these calls are scams, as Medicare will never call you unsolicited or ask for personal information over the phone.
The callers in this scam often have access to some of your personal information, such as your name, address, and even your date of birth. They may use this information to sound more credible and gain your trust. However, their ultimate goal is to steal your Medicare ID or Medicare number, which they can use to commit fraud. They may use your Medicare number to file fake claims, fill prescriptions, or sell your information on the dark web. Therefore, it is crucial that you do not provide any personal information to these callers and hang up immediately.
If you receive a call about a new plastic Medicare card or any other unsolicited call regarding your Medicare benefits, hang up immediately. Medicare will not call you to discuss your Medicare benefits unless you have initiated the contact by calling them first to report a problem or file a grievance. If you have already given out your Medicare ID or number, report it immediately by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). You can also report suspected fraud or identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Hotline at 877-438-4338.
To protect yourself from these scams, it is important to remain vigilant and skeptical of any unexpected or unsolicited calls regarding your Medicare card. Remember that Medicare will first contact you through mail if they need to reach you. Do not provide your Medicare ID or personal information to anyone who calls you, even if they seem to have some of your personal details. Always verify the legitimacy of the call by hanging up and calling the official Medicare number (1-800-MEDICARE) if you have any doubts.
Additionally, be cautious of similar scams that offer you medical equipment, such as a back brace or oxygen concentrator, in exchange for verifying your address and Medicare ID. These are also scams designed to steal your Medicare information. Always consult with your doctor before ordering any medical supplies, as there are usually steps and procedures in place before ordering such equipment. Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
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Medicare will not call unsolicited and will first contact you through mail
Medicare scam calls have been around for a while, but scammers are now using a different approach. They are calling older adults to replace paper cards with chip cards, with the intention to steal their Medicare insurance numbers. Scammers can be very convincing, sometimes knowing your name, address, phone number, and date of birth. They may even bring a second person on the line, pretending to be a supervisor, to make you feel more comfortable with their request. However, Medicare will not call unsolicited and will first contact you through mail.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will only call you if you have called them first to report a problem, file a grievance, or for a similar reason. CMS staff will not call an individual unsolicited. They will mail you information, like your Medicare Card, the Medicare & You handbook, and Medicare Summary Notices (MSN). You will get a quarterly bill from CMS for your Medicare Part B premium if you are not collecting Social Security benefits. But CMS will not call you to discuss your Medicare benefits. If you feel you have received one of these scam calls and gave out your Medicare ID number, call CMS at 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227). If your ID number is compromised, CMS can issue you a new number and send you a new card. Once your providers have this new information, they can begin billing Medicare-covered services with the new ID.
Remember, Medicare will first contact you through mail if they need to reach you. If you receive an unexpected call about your Medicare card, it is a scam. There is no new plastic Medicare card. There is no new Medicare+. These are scam calls designed to steal your Medicare number and commit fraud. They could use your number to get drugs or file claims for medical equipment and services. Do not give out your Medicare ID number over the phone. Simply hang up. If you suspect Medicare fraud, report it online or call 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). You may also wish to contact your state consumer protection office or the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Hotline (877-438-4338).
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If you suspect fraud, report it to Senior Medicare Patrol or your state consumer protection office
Medicare scam calls have been around for a while, but scammers are now using a different approach. They are calling older adults to replace their paper cards with new plastic Medicare cards with chips in them, with the intention of stealing their Medicare insurance numbers. This is a scam, as there are no new plastic Medicare cards. Medicare will first contact you through the mail if they need to reach you.
If you feel you have received one of these scam calls and gave out your Medicare ID number, please call CMS at 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227). If someone has called requesting information about Medicare numbers or other personal information, consumers should hang up and then make this call. One of the features of the new Medicare ID is that it can be changed. If your ID number is compromised, CMS can simply issue you a new number and send you a new card. Once your providers have the new information, they can begin billing Medicare-covered services with the new ID information.
It is important to be skeptical about unsolicited contacts. Scammers will often know a lot of information about you, such as your name, address, and sometimes your date of birth. They will try to get your Medicare ID number, and may bring a second person on the line, pretending to be a supervisor, to make you feel more comfortable with their request. They may also try to get your Medicare number by offering you a piece of medical equipment, such as a back brace or a walker, and telling you that you need to verify your address and Medicare ID to confirm delivery. Do not give your Medicare ID to these callers. Simply hang up.
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Frequently asked questions
No, it is a scam. Medicare will not call you unsolicited. If you feel you have received one of these calls and gave out your Medicare ID number, call CMS at 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227).
They want your Medicare ID number. They can use this to get drugs or file claims for medical equipment and services using your number.
Hang up. If you suspect Medicare fraud, report it online or call 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). You may also wish to contact your state consumer protection office.
