But when she wanted him to provide his Medicare number, he luckily hung up [*]. Even worse, any treatment obtained by the scammer becomes part of your medical records. Just the Essentials Medicare fraud occurs when individuals - both health care providers and beneficiaries - knowingly attempt to access Medicare funds they are not eligible to receive. Reporting a Medicare Scam If someone has tried to scam you or if you have been scammed, use the phone numbers below to report the incident. But this is almost always a scam. Medical identity theft could cost you your life unless you know the warning signs to look for and how to recover. Connect with Barry Zalma and other members of Zalma on Insurance community Another trick is to claim theres been suspicious activity on your Medicare account, and you need to verify your identity to avoid losing your benefits. document.write('FCCFCC'); Medicare scammers may use different angles in attempts to steal your money or your identity: Some callers may request payment for the new Medicare card, according to a Detroit Free Press article. Act quickly to minimize the damage they can do. In the news: When a senior citizen from Pennsylvania received a supposed call from Medicare, the prospective victims suspicions paid off [*]. While law enforcement continues to do its best to crack down on Medicare scams, the best way to protect yourself is to be proactive. A person who steals your Medicare number or card and uses it to submit fraudulent claims in your name. Friendly or familial identity theft, Unemployment and government benefits identity theft, Account takeovers (social media, email, etc. Dohang up immediately if you get an unsolicited call from someone who claims to be from Medicare and asks for personal information. } Pushes for a payment online or over the phone without sending you a bill. The caller claimed that the persons Medicare number would no longer be valid, and the current Medicare number was needed for verification. Keep it random if you want. Show your Medicare card to your doctor, hospital, or other health care provider when you get services. Medicare wont ask beneficiaries for details such as their SSN to verify their identity. Find a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy. A customer service representative from 1-800-MEDICARE can call you if youve called and left a message or a representative said that someone would call you back. else if (languages === "Tagalog") { If you suspect that Medicare is being charged for an item or service you didn't get, or your Medicare card or number is stolen, use the contact information below to report suspected fraud or abuse. // Column 3 Header Many of these scam calls start off as robocalls or text message scams, meaning that scammers can target thousands of people every single day., Related: The 7 Latest Amazon Scam Calls (and How To Avoid Them) . The government doesnt need your old card back and recommends that you destroy it. You have Medicare Part A (listed as HOSPITAL), Part B (listed as MEDICAL), or both. Pressures you to sign the enrollment form before youre ready. The MBI has 11 characters. The fake Visa Card number in this website are purely for testing purposes. Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap), Your guide to navigating online safety with your kids is here. How to spot & prevent Medicare fraud & abuse If you think you've spotted fraud, you may want to call your provider's office to ask about it. Medicare recipients are advised to never divulge their private information to anyone but their "doctor, pharmacist, hospital, health insurer, or other trusted healthcare provider.". Q: Does Medicare Call About New Cards? According to the official Medicare website, there are only two reasons why you should ever receive a call from Medicare: If youve already given your information to a scammer, you could be at risk of identity theft or financial fraud. Scammers are selling fake and unauthorized at-home COVID-19 test kits to steal your personal or . Fraudsters use phone number spoofing to trick you into giving up your healthcare information., So, how can you be sure youre really talking to a Medicare representative and not an imposter out to scam you?. Full access to plan features depends on identity verification and credit eligibility. 12 Alarming Senior Citizen Scams: What You Need to Know. Guard your personal information. The agent who helped you join might also call you. If you have received a call from a government agency impersonator, help others avoid falling victim and report the details of the call to BBB.org/ScamTracker. The bottom line? During the rollout, scammers impersonating Medicare employees called many beneficiaries, telling them they needed to verify personal information or pay a processing fee to get their new card. //-->