Medicare phone scams are a favored way for criminals to target senior adults. This is because it’s easy to prey on someone who may not be in complete control of their physical, mental, and emotional faculties.
Isolated and lonely seniors are at even higher risk. The need to connect with another person may make them vulnerable and encourage them to share confidential personal information that can be used to steal their identity and money.
What do Medicare phone scams look like?
Medicare phone scams work like this: You get a call from an official-looking number, with the caller claiming to be a Medicare representative.
They tell you they’re updating records and want to confirm some personal details with you. Or, they’re just checking in to make sure you’re okay. Or, they’ve noticed unusual activity in your online Medicare account and are worried that someone else might be accessing your Medicare account.
Rule of thumb: Whatever they say, don’t believe them. None of what they’re saying is true.
Why would a scammer want my Medicare number?
The scammer’s goal is to get you to give them your money, or financial information that can be used to steal your money, or personal information that can be used to create fake identities to commit a host of other crimes.
Your Medicare number, written on your Medicare card, is a unique identifier that unlocks all your personal details stored on file with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
How to spot a Medicare phone scam
You can identify a Medicare phone call scam instantly if you remain alert to the caller’s questions.
Scam alert: Asking if you’ve received your new, replacement, or updated Medicare card
The CMS provides information TO you. The only time Medicare representatives ever solicit, or ask for information FROM you is when you call them, or when you’re filling out an official form.
CMS will mail you your very first Medicare card in a welcome pack either within the 3 months before your 65th birthday (automatic enrollment), or about 2 weeks after you sign up (not automatic enrollment).
CMS staff or Medicare representatives do NOT call to ask if you’ve received your welcome packet.
Their job is to send it, and they’ve done that. If you haven’t received it, you must reach out to them.
Similarly, if you apply for a replacement card, CMS staff will never call to confirm, or ‘just check in to see’ if you’ve got it. If the card hasn’t arrived, you will have to call CMS.
Scam alert: Asking to ‘verify’ your Medicare details
People have generally wised up. They know not to give out birth dates, Social Security Numbers (SSNs), bank accounts, debit or credit card PINs, and Medicare numbers to strangers on the phone.
But what if the stranger doesn’t technically ask outright? What if that friendly caller warns you first not to share any sensitive information, then says that for your protection, they will tell you a number and you just need to confirm whether it’s correct?
And what if they follow up with, “I really am so sorry, but it’s like my brain is not working today! I’ve been mixing up numbers all morning! You know how it can be sometimes.”
And you reply, “Oh, I do! Don’t worry about it. Yes, the number is correct, just at the end it’s MK27, not MK72.”
Yikes…
Rule of thumb: Government agencies never call you
CMS, that manages Medicare, is also a government agency. You will always have to contact them first. You can ask for a callback, but the responding representative will not ask for any information nor verification since they have every necessary detail about you on the computer screen in front of them.
How to deal with phone scammers
Medicare scam phone calls are a year-round phenomenon, but they rise dramatically at certain times of the year, such as during Medicare Open Enrollment or Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment.
People have reported receiving anywhere from 15 to up to 30 calls a day. This can be exhausting and may lead to anxiety in recipients. The best ways to deal with Medicare scam phone calls are:
- Don’t engage. Don’t listen to the caller’s ‘explanations’ of new Medicare policies, updates to existing policies, new programs, offers, discounts, or free stuff. The longer they keep you on the line, the more likely you are to fall for their lies. Hang up the phone at once.
- Don’t get angry. Professional scammers call hundreds of people every day. This is literally their job. Your threats will not scare them, especially if they’re operating from a different country. Save your energy and hang up the phone at once.
- Don’t worry about seeming rude. No matter how friendly and sweet they sound, phone call scammers are ruthless criminals who want to steal from you. They don’t care about the distress they will cause you, so don’t worry about hurting their feelings. Hang up the phone at once.
- Block their number to prevent them from calling again.
- Put your own phone number on the Do Not Call registry. Scammers are sneaky, though, and some are very technologically advanced so a few calls may still slip through. If this happens, hang up the phone at once.
- The moment they say they’re calling from Medicare, hang up the phone.
Get genuine help with Patient Relations advisors
If you’re looking for honest information, guidance, and advice on Medicare plans and programs, call your health center’s Patient Relations Team on (800) 941-1106.
This is a service dedicated to helping senior patients better understand the Medicare programs, plans, benefits, and assistance options available to them, such as how they can reduce their premium and deductible payments, get Extra Help with prescription drug costs, and access resources to better manage their chronic health conditions.