Hang Up Immediately If You Receive This Call

Scammers often ramp up their efforts as Medicare open enrollment approaches each fall.

“It’s prime time during open enrollment because you don’t know the details yet,” said Nicole Liebau, strategic partnership and engagement director for the Senior Medicare Patrol Resource Center. They know people are reviewing their plans and may be more susceptible to sharing personal information.

Knowing how Medicare contacts you—and how it doesn’t—can help you avoid costly scams.

Safe Ways to Enroll in Medicare

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older, or younger with certain disabilities. You only enroll once, but scammers may pretend you need to re-enroll to steal your information.

If you’re getting Social Security benefits at least four months before turning 65, you’ll be enrolled automatically. But you can still choose whether to add Part D drug coverage or switch to a Medicare Advantage—a decision scammers may exploit.

Common Medicare Scam Tactics

Scam attempts often occur by telephone. Here’s what the caller will most likely tell you:

• You’re eligible for a special enrollment deal, and you’ll receive rewards.
• You need a new card for the upcoming calendar year or another reason.
• They need you to give them your Medicare card number so they can confirm that it’s up to date and valid.
• They need to activate a new card for you.
• They offer free medical equipment, but need your card number first.
• They have a great new plan that you’re eligible for.
• They need you to confirm your income.

These are by no means the least of their tactics.

The number on your caller ID may appear to be that of a medical provider or the government. Scammers can fake this and generally won’t stop at fishing for your Medicare number. They may ask for your Social Security number and other vital, identifying information, such as your date of birth, bank account and/or credit card numbers, and possibly even passwords for your personal accounts.

“The recent scams don’t request money up front, but rather try to steal your Medicare ID number,” said Eric Croak, certified financial planner (CFP), accredited wealth management advisor, and president of Croak Capital. “That’s the real gold mine. If that number is out there, it’s all over. The criminals can start submitting fraudulent claims and literally take tens of thousands in billed services before they’re discovered.”

“The actors behind these scams are organized crime,” Croak added. “Predominantly offshore. Recycled lead lists from insurance agencies, data brokers, and databases that have been hacked and sold. They’re not one guy with a burner phone.”

How to Protect Yourself

The best way to protect yourself is to ignore calls from suspicious numbers. If you do answer, hang up as soon as you sense something is wrong.

“The main thing we try to tell people is that Medicare is not going to call you,” Liebau said. “They’re going to send you something in the mail, or they’re going to communicate through your Medicare.gov account.”

If you think a call might be real, you still shouldn’t give out information. First, call your provider or Medicare directly using the number on your card or statement to confirm.

Where to Reach Out for Help

If you’ve been scammed, you can get help—but act quickly. You can contact Medicare, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), or the Senior Medicare Patrol online.

You can also call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or at 877-486-2048 if you’re hearing impaired or have difficulty speaking. Confirm that they didn’t call you and alert them to the problem.

You can file official complaints about the phone call with the FCC and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Be prepared to provide information regarding the number that showed up on your caller ID, the time and date of the call, and your own phone number as well.

“If you’ve already given out information, freeze your credit, call 1-800-MEDICARE, and be sure to closely watch your accounts. You’ll want to set up a fraud alert right away,” Croak said.

The Bottom Line 

Always be wary of surprise calls, even if they sound official, and contact Medicare if you feel something is wrong.

“You’ve earned too much to just give up your golden years to a guy on the other end of a phone,” Croak said. “Trust the paper trail. Trust the portals. Never trust urgency.”