Medicare Scam Calls: Types of Scams and Protecting Your Identity
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The phone rings, and often these days, the call is a telemarketing call. These calls are usually not from within the United States but from a foreign call center, blatantly ignoring the law.
These illegal calls are scams. These are fraudulent callers who masquerade as representatives of Medicare, Social Security, Medicare supplemental insurance companies, or other insurance agents. However, the goal is to deceive the elderly into exposing their private financial information. Identity theft could result from such information being disclosed.
They frequently trick your Caller ID into showing that they are calling from Medicare or a nearby phone number by using phone spoofing technologies. The initial part of the phone call may be a computer robot who can engage you in a very human way.
The robot's job is to get someone screened to speak with a live person. Once you get to the live person, the scam starts. They often tell you they will connect you to a "licensed agent" but must get your personal information first to verify your eligibility.
Those on Medicare receive numerous calls from Medicare scammers (often with foreign accents) who claim to represent Medicare, Social Security, or an insurance company. These callers claim that new Medicare benefits are now available at little or no cost and must verify their personal information.
The computer robots which started the call sound very legit, but you should be cautious as they get information from you so you can speak with the "licensed agent." There is no licensed agent there.
The scam artist wants to confirm your name, date of birth, zip code, credit card number, and Medicare number. Medicare will never call anyone to ask for or check Medicare numbers, nor ask for this sensitive information on an unsolicited call.
There isn’t just one type of scam, but many types. Below are some common types of Medicare scam calls and warning signs to look out for.
Types of Medicare Scams
There are a lot of different types of scams. The tactics are similar, and we’ll talk more about those later in this article. But the precise thing scammers will ask for can vary depending on the type of scam being run.
Here are some common or known scams related to Medicare calls:
#1: Medicare is Issuing You a New Card
The caller will tell you that your card is invalid, and that they need to confirm some information to send you a new one.
According to the FCC, Medicare will never call you out of the blue and ask for information. This advice applies to a lot of entries on this list, and this article in general, but it’s worth remembering.
#2 Medicare is Canceling Your Coverage
In order to keep your coverage and renew it, you’ll need to provide some information.
Nope, just another scam. If there are changes in your Medicare coverage, an unsolicited phone call is not how you’ll hear about it.
#3 You’re Entitled to a Specific Benefit
A lot of times this one will follow whatever’s popular in the news. During the pandemic, scam calls rose promising early access to vaccinations for COVID-19. Vaccination scams still exist, but there are similar ones that adapt with the times.
Here are some examples of items that will appear on these calls:
- Free medical supplies or medical equipment
- Prescription drugs and medicine
- Access to specific tests
- Trials of revolutionary meds
- A refund on a previous charge
- A discount on your existing Medicare plan
And more; the list goes on.
These calls will usually emphasize how this is all entirely free, and is a bonus of your existing coverage.
Occasionally this type of scam will be accompanied by a physical mailer, requesting that you send in information.
#4 Impersonating a Company
American Senior Benefits is an insurance company that does not engage in illegal activity. However, they’ve been a known target of scammers who impersonate them to try to get people to reveal their information.
This is a common example, but not the only one.
The best rule-of-thumb is that if they’re contacting you out of nowhere, hang up and don’t talk to them. Then, call a verified number for the company to see if a legitimate call was made.
#5 “Yes” Questions
This one is sneaky, so you have to be on your guard. Have you ever called a service line and been asked to verify some information by speaking “Yes” or “No” into the phone? Most of us have, not just older Americans.
Your voice’s “Yes” can be used as a sort of passcode to give scammers access to other information systems. So they’ll try to get you to answer a simple question with a “Yes” response.
Unless you’ve previously verified that this is a legitimate call, preferably by making it yourself, you shouldn’t answer these questions. Just hang up and block the number.
General Warning Signs of a Scam Call
Like we said earlier, the specific scams can differ, but hopefully you can see how a lot of them fall into similar categories and use similar tactics.
The following will be germane to nearly any scam call, or at least enough of them that they should represent red flags for you:
- Pressure to provide some information: the scammer needs you to provide info, so there will be some pressure toward this.
- Promise of some free benefit: they’ll try to entice you with a lot of different offers.
- You are being contacted without prior communication: Medicare can legitimately contact you, but it’s almost invariably after you’ve previously contacted them with a specific inquiry or request.
- Repeated calls from different numbers: 1-800-MEDICARE is legitimate line for Medicare, but if you’re receiving scam calls, it’s likely to be from a variety of unknown and disparate numbers, from all over the country or even international.
Will Medicare Ever Legitimately Call Me?
Yes, but it’s rare, and according to Medicare’s website, it generally is due to one of two reasons:
- You’ve contacted them recently and left a message. In this instance, a Medicare representative may reach out, but only once you've requested the communication.
- A plan provider may contact Medicare beneficiaries, but only if you’re already a member of that specific plan. Knowing the person personally (often it’s the representative who helped you acquire the plan) can assist in confirming the call’s legitimacy.
Caller Trying to Trick You Into Information
These scammers can sometimes be aggressive and rude in their attempt to "help" you get your new benefits. They may already have enough information about you to lure you into thinking the call is legitimate.
Some people are looking into changing Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription plans or changing their Medicare supplements. When a senior gets the call, they might have an interest, but unless a senior or a family member has requested information and they are returning the call, consider it fraudulent.
Protect yourself or a loved one from becoming a victim of identity theft or Medicare fraud by guarding your Medicare number — and other personal information.
Protecting Yourself From Medicare and Social Security Scams
Here are several tips to help avoid fraud. Share these with older family members as well:
- Never reveal your Medicare number or any other personal information to a caller who calls unexpectedly and asks you for it.
- Be wary of anyone who calls and says they can help you enroll in Medicare or get extra Medicare benefits but first must verify your Medicare number so they can provide you enrollment information.
- Do not rely on caller ID. Scammers employ technologies to conceal their actual phone numbers. They can make the caller ID display numbers that appear to be real.
- If you get an unsolicited call and they claim to be calling from Medicare or an official "Medicare agent," consider it a scam. Medicare never will call you without being contacted first.
- Register for the National Do Not Call registry. This won't protect you from all scam calls, but it will reduce the number you receive.
Actual "licensed insurance agents" are not allowed to call you without your advance permission under federal law. They can return your phone call, email, on online marketing requests.
Every licensed insurance agent will have a "National Producer Number" or "State Insurance License Number," which they will readily provide you with if you request it.
Don't respond to a telemarketing call relating to Medicare. Hang up on robocalls or other telemarketing calls pitching insurance plans.
Information to Protect You From Scam Calls
Medicare itself has information on reporting fraud and abuse from scam calls.
The FCC also has several reminders and guidelines, which they update periodically as new types of scams emerge. Currently, they even have audio from a sample scam call, so you can know what to listen for. Others, like text messages that are scams, may also be mentioned.
General awareness of scammer tactics is the best defense against scams. A scam can’t do anything to you unless you share information, so it’s important to share this information with friends and family who might be targeted with scams.
Sometimes, you can't rely on caller ID. Scammers employ technologies to conceal their actual phone numbers. They can make the caller ID display numbers that appear to be real. Instead, a reliable people finder free tool can be used to verify the caller's identity.
New Medicare Cards Eliminated Social Security Number
The Trump administration, several years ago, had the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) remove Social Security numbers from all Medicare cards. CMS completed this effort and mailed new Medicare cards without Social Security numbers to people with Medicare.
This was an effort to protect personal identity and reduce fraud and abuse. Yet, that Medicare number and personal information can still be valuable to a criminal.
If you are on Medicare and have not yet received the updated card, call 1-800-MEDICARE for assistance. They will verify your identity, check your address on record, and help you get your new card.
Scam Calls Keep Coming, and They’re Sneaky
Scam telemarketing is an unfortunate risk for seniors as it preys on their good intentions and unawareness of illegal foreign call centers attempting to obtain their private information. The number of these calls is increasing, and it is hard to avoid them unless you never answer the phone.
Older adults who become victims of these scams can quickly lose large sums of money, putting them in a precarious financial situation.
Unfortunately, seniors are more likely to be targeted by scammers. They may be more trusting of strangers, less likely to verify information, and less likely to realize they have been scammed.
Therefore, it is essential for family members, friends, and caregivers to be vigilant and look out for suspicious telemarketing calls. It is also vital to inform senior loved ones of common scam tactics so that they can better protect themselves.
Unsure If a Call Is a Scam? Hang-Up
When you get a Medicare-related telemarketing call, just hang up. Refuse robocalls and other telemarketing calls that try to sell you insurance. Remember that if you had requested the information, a "real human being" will call you. If you are unsure if they are legitimate, ask for their insurance license and phone number - then call them back.
Read Medicare.gov's Parts of Medicare and learn about what Medicare covers and the difference between Medicare, Medicare Supplement insurance (Medigap), a Medicare Advantage Plan, and Medicaid. If you need help with Medicare, call 800-MEDICARE or visit the Medicare website.
Elderly Scams and You: Protect Yourself and Loved Ones
Nobody thinks they’ll be the one to get scammed, but the fact that so many scams exist means that it continues to work on thousands of people every year.
The best way to defend yourself is to remain informed, vigilant, and skeptical of any call you receive that you did not request and aren’t expecting.
Unfortunately, scams prey on the goodwill of people who believe a caller is there to help them. Medicare and its representatives really are able to assist you in some amazing ways! But if you receive a call requesting Medicare information, it’s not actually Medicare that you’re talking to.
For more on Medicare and payment types for long-term care, check out some of the resources below. And stay safe!