Omar Khalid
Scammers have targeted Medicare beneficiaries with a plastic card scam. Criminals are contacting older adults, claiming that their paper Medicare cards will be replaced with new plastic chip cards. This scam first emerged a few years ago when Medicare was updating its cards to protect against identity theft. The scammers have now renewed their efforts, aiming to steal Medicare insurance numbers and commit fraud. Medicare has confirmed that it is not replacing paper cards with plastic chip cards, and beneficiaries are advised to be cautious of unexpected calls and never to provide personal information to unsolicited callers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is Medicare replacing paper cards with plastic chip cards? | No |
| Aim of the scam | To get Medicare numbers and use them to commit fraud |
| What can scammers do with the Medicare number? | File fake claims, fill prescriptions, sell on the dark web, steal identity |
| What should you do if you receive such a call? | Hang up, ask them to send material in writing, never give out personal information |
| How do scammers operate? | They pretend to know your Medicare ID, bring a "supervisor" on the line, ask you to verify your address and Medicare ID |
| How to identify a scam call? | Unexpected calls about your Medicare card are always scams, Medicare will contact you through mail |
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What You'll Learn
- Medicare is not replacing paper cards with plastic cards
- Scammers target Medicare beneficiaries to steal their Medicare ID
- Scammers use phone calls to trick people into revealing their Medicare number
- Scammers may bring a supervisor on the line to make the call seem legitimate
- Scammers use personal information to make the call seem legitimate
Medicare is not replacing paper cards with plastic cards
In 2018, Medicare updated its cards to better protect against identity theft. The previous cards displayed Social Security numbers, which were replaced with a random combination of letters and numbers. This switch took almost a year and gave scammers an opportunity to defraud people.
Now, scammers are targeting Medicare beneficiaries by claiming that Medicare is switching from paper cards to plastic cards with chips. This is not true. The aim of this scam is to convince victims to reveal their Medicare number, which can lead to identity theft and insurance fraud. Criminals could use the information to get drugs or file claims for medical equipment and services.
If you receive an unexpected call about your Medicare card, it is a scam. Medicare will first contact you through the mail if they need to reach you. Do not give out any personal information or your Medicare ID number over the phone.
To reiterate, Medicare is not replacing paper cards with plastic cards. Always be cautious of unsolicited calls and remember that Medicare will not ask you to provide personal information over the phone.
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Scammers target Medicare beneficiaries to steal their Medicare ID
Scammers are targeting Medicare beneficiaries through phone calls, claiming that their paper Medicare cards will be replaced with new plastic chip cards. This is a scam aimed at stealing Medicare IDs and personal information from beneficiaries, which can lead to identity theft and insurance fraud.
In 2018, Medicare did update their cards to better protect against identity theft by removing Social Security numbers and replacing them with a random combination of letters and numbers, known as Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs). However, there are no plans to update the cards again, and Medicare is not transitioning to plastic chip cards. Scammers are taking advantage of this transition period to confuse beneficiaries and trick them into revealing their Medicare numbers.
These scam calls can be very convincing, with scammers knowing the names, addresses, and phone numbers of their targets. They may also bring a supposed “supervisor” on the line to make the call seem more legitimate. It is important to remember that Medicare will first contact beneficiaries through mail if they need to reach them and will not ask for personal information unsolicited.
If you receive an unexpected call about your Medicare card being replaced with a plastic card, hang up immediately. Do not provide any personal information, such as your Medicare ID, address, or any other details that could be used to steal your identity. Medicare will never call you out of the blue to discuss your coverage or request your Medicare number. Always be cautious and skeptical of unsolicited calls, and remember that you can hang up and directly contact Medicare through their official phone numbers if you have any doubts.
By raising awareness of this scam and educating Medicare beneficiaries about their rights and Medicare's communication procedures, we can help protect individuals from falling victim to these malicious schemes.
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Scammers use phone calls to trick people into revealing their Medicare number
Scammers have been targeting people on Medicare by making phone calls and pretending that Medicare is switching from paper cards to plastic chip cards. This is a scam aimed at tricking people into revealing their Medicare number, which can then be used for identity theft and insurance fraud. This scam first emerged a few years ago when Medicare was transitioning from Social Security numbers to a random combination of letters and numbers on their cards to better protect against identity theft. The switchover took almost a year, providing scammers with an opportunity to deceive people. Now, scammers have renewed their efforts, claiming that Medicare is now switching to plastic cards with chips. However, this is not true, and Medicare is not replacing paper cards with plastic ones.
People have reported receiving scam calls from individuals who know their name, address, and phone number. The scammers then ask for personal information, such as how their name is spelled on their Medicare card, in an attempt to steal their Medicare number. It is important to remember that Medicare will first contact beneficiaries through mail if they need to reach out. Unexpected calls about your Medicare card are always a scam.
Scammers may use various tactics to convince people to give up their Medicare number. They may bring a second person, claiming to be a supervisor, on the line to make the call seem more legitimate. They may also threaten to cancel health coverage if the individual does not share their new number. In some cases, scammers have asked beneficiaries to pay for a new card. It is crucial to never provide personal information, such as your Medicare ID number, over the phone. If you receive such a call, hang up and contact Medicare directly through their official phone numbers or website.
To protect yourself from Medicare scam calls, it is important to be vigilant and skeptical of unsolicited contacts. Remember that Medicare will not call you out of the blue, and they will not ask for your Medicare ID number over the phone. If you have any doubts, hang up and contact Medicare directly using their official contact information. Additionally, always consult with your doctor or trusted healthcare professional before providing any personal information. By staying informed and cautious, you can help protect yourself and your Medicare number from potential scams.
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Scammers may bring a supervisor on the line to make the call seem legitimate
Medicare scam calls have been around for a while, but scammers have recently renewed their pitch about plastic Medicare cards. They try to convince victims that Medicare is switching from paper cards to plastic cards with chips. This is a scam designed to trick people into revealing their Medicare number, which can lead to identity theft and insurance fraud. Scammers may call and pretend to be from Medicare, claiming that they need to verify your personal information, such as your name, address, and phone number, before sending you a new plastic card. They may even bring a "supervisor" on the line to make the call seem more legitimate and pressure you into providing your Medicare number.
It is important to remember that Medicare will first contact you through mail if they need to reach you about any changes to your card. Unexpected calls about your Medicare card are always a scam. If you receive such a call, hang up immediately and do not provide any personal information. Be vigilant and protect yourself from these scammers by never giving out your Medicare number or other sensitive information over the phone.
In addition to the plastic card scam, there are other common techniques used by scammers. One tactic is the Can You Hear Me? scam, where callers try to get you to say "yes" by asking questions like "Can you hear me?" or "Is this the lady of the house?". They may then use your recorded "yes" to authorize charges to your account. Scammers may also spoof their caller ID information to make it look like they are calling from a local number or a familiar company. These scam calls can be nuisance calls or part of more sinister identity theft or fraud attempts.
To protect yourself from Medicare scam calls and other phone scams, be cautious of unexpected calls and never give out personal information over the phone unless you can verify the caller's identity. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately and report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your local authorities. Stay informed about the latest scam tactics and be vigilant in protecting your personal information.
Remember, Medicare is not replacing paper cards with plastic chip cards. This is a common scam that has resurfaced, targeting vulnerable individuals. Spread awareness about this scam among your community, especially those who may be at a higher risk of falling victim to such deceptive tactics. By staying informed and vigilant, we can help prevent these scammers from succeeding and protect ourselves and our loved ones from financial harm.
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Scammers use personal information to make the call seem legitimate
Scammers use personal information, such as a person's name, address, and phone number, to make the call seem legitimate. They may also bring a second person on the line, posing as a "supervisor", to make the victim feel more comfortable. The scammers then ask for the victim's Medicare ID, claiming that they need to verify the information or that the victim is eligible for additional benefits or equipment. In reality, Medicare will first contact beneficiaries through mail and will not ask for personal information unsolicited.
Scammers target Medicare beneficiaries because the program has over 62 million recipients, providing a large pool of potential victims. Additionally, the transition from Social Security numbers to random alphanumeric identifiers on Medicare cards in 2018 caused confusion, which scammers exploited. They would call beneficiaries, pretending to offer a new plastic chip card to replace the old paper card. This scam has persisted, with scammers continuing to call older adults and claiming that their paper Medicare cards will be replaced with new chip cards.
It is important to remember that Medicare cards will not be replaced with plastic chip cards. Any unexpected calls about Medicare cards are scams. If you receive such a call, hang up and do not provide any personal information. Official channels of communication, such as mail, will be used by Medicare if they need to reach you.
To protect yourself from Medicare scams, it is recommended to be skeptical of unsolicited contacts and never provide personal information, such as your Medicare ID, over the phone. If you are unsure, hang up and call the official Medicare phone number to verify the information. Remember, Medicare will not call you out of the blue, and any requests for personal information should be treated with caution.
By following these precautions and staying vigilant, you can help protect yourself and your personal information from scammers targeting Medicare beneficiaries.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is a scam. Medicare is not replacing your paper card with a plastic chip card. Scammers have been using this con for a few years.
Scammers call older adults and try to convince them that Medicare is switching from paper cards to plastic cards with chips. They ask for the person's Medicare number, which can then be used for identity theft and insurance fraud.
Hang up the phone. Medicare will first contact you through the mail if they need to reach you. Do not give out any personal information or your Medicare ID number.
Contact Medicare immediately and report the incident. You may also need to take steps to protect your identity and monitor your credit report for any suspicious activity.
There are several other common Medicare scam calls. For example, scammers may tell you that you are eligible for a piece of medical equipment and ask you to verify your address and Medicare ID. They may also try to get you to pay for a new card or threaten to cancel your health coverage if you don't share your new number. Remember, Medicare will never call you out of the blue or ask for your Medicare ID number.
