Medicare scam phone calls have been on the rise lately. Scammers are preying on unsuspecting seniors by impersonating Medicare representatives. They try to steal your personal information or even money by making fraudulent claims about your benefits.
These scam calls can seem very realistic. The scammers often know your name, address, and other personal details. They sound professional and authoritative on the phone. This makes their lies harder to detect. Many people have fallen victim without realizing it was a scam.
You need to educate yourself about these Medicare scam calls. This will help you identify red flags so you can avoid falling for the lies. Keep reading to learn all about how these phone scams work, what to watch out for, and what to do if you receive one.
Scam Overview: Common Techniques Used in Fake Medicare Calls
Medicare scammers use clever psychological tricks and outright lies to try to access your information. They have several typical techniques they use in these scam calls:
Offering a Brand New Medicare Card
One common scam pitch is that Medicare is issuing new cards. The caller will say you need to verify information or provide additional details to get your new card.
Of course, this is completely false. Medicare is not giving beneficiaries new cards unless their current one is lost or stolen. Yet many people trust the authoritative voice on the phone without verifying this information.
The scammers use the new card story because it sounds reasonable. It allows them to ask for sensitive data by making it seem like they just need to “update their records.”
In reality, they steal your Medicare number, social security number, and other details for identity theft. Sometimes they even use it to fraudulently bill Medicare in your name.
Verifying Your Personal Information
Scammers often say they need to “verify your identity” or “validate your personal information.” They claim Medicare requires this to make sure your records are correct.
This is one of the more common techniques. The scammers sound very professional and make the request seem routine. But Medicare does not call to verify personal information over the phone.
The scammers use this tactic to get your Medicare number, social security number, bank details, or other valuable information. With just a few key details, they can steal your identity and commit Medicare fraud.
Offering Free Services, Equipment, or Products
Some callers offer free or low-cost health services, medical equipment, genetic testing kits, or other products. They claim Medicare will fully cover it because you qualify based on your records and benefits.
They might say you can get free knee braces, diabetic testing supplies, pain relief creams, DNA screening, and more. Of course, you just need to confirm your Medicare details first.
These scammers are trying to get your information for identity theft. In some cases, they also use it to fraudulently bill Medicare for expensive products or services that you never actually receive. Either way, it ends up costing you in the long run.
Threatening You with Fines or Losing Coverage
Other scam calls threaten you with penalties if you don’t act quickly. They might say:
- Your Medicare will be cancelled if you don’t verify your records.
- You must pay a fine for missing your annual recertification deadline.
- Your benefits are on hold because new Medicare cards weren’t issued properly.
- You will lose coverage if you don’t provide your Medicare number right away.
These are intimidation tactics meant to scare you into complying. In reality, Medicare does not suspend your benefits or impose fines without advanced notice by mail.
Yet these urgent threats often make people panic. Out of fear, they provide the scammers with any data requested on the call. This leads to identity theft and fraud.
How to Spot Fake Medicare Callers
Medicare scammers can sound convincing on the phone. But there are a few red flags to help identify imposters:
- They initiate contact – Medicare never calls beneficiaries out of the blue. Real reps only reach out if you’ve called and left a message first.
- Asking for sensitive information – Medicare won’t call to verify Medicare numbers or other personal data. Look out if they ask for this.
- Threats or unrealistic offers – Beware if the caller threatens your benefits or promises free equipment/services. This is likely a scam.
- Caller ID says “Medicare” – Scammers can spoof official-sounding caller IDs. Do not trust a call just because it says “Medicare” on your phone.
- High-pressure tactics – Scammers try to rush you into giving information. Take your time and never feel pressured.
- Vague business names – Ask the caller what company they work for. Research it to see if it’s a real, reputable business.
Trust your gut. End the call if anything seems suspicious and then contact Medicare directly to verify.
How the Medicare Phone Scam Works
Medicare scammers have a tried-and-true playbook they use on these calls to gain your trust. Here is the step-by-step process:
Step 1: Building Trust and Rapport
The scam call starts friendly. The caller greets you warmly by name and identifies themselves as a Medicare representative. They seem to have your personal information, like your address.
The caller takes time chatting, asking about your health, retirement, etc. This builds rapport and lulls you into a false sense of security.
Step 2: Offering Something Appealing
Once you seem trustful, the scammer makes an appealing offer related to your Medicare benefits. This could be:
- A new Medicare card on the way
- Free medical equipment or genetic testing kits
- Elimination of prescription co-pays
- A refund on expenditures
- Or similar offers that sound too good to be true
They make it sound like you qualify for special perks or deals. This piques your interest before asking for sensitive information.
Step 3: Requesting Personal Information
Next, the scammer says that to activate your new benefits, issue your new card, or process your free services, they first need to “verify some information.”
They ask you to confirm:
- Medicare Number
- Social Security Number
- Bank account and routing numbers
- Credit card details
- Other personal data
They claim they just need to validate your identity against their records. This is always a lie.
Step 4: High-Pressure Scare Tactics
If you hesitate or resist giving your information, the scammer turns up the pressure.
They stress the urgency of verifying your records immediately or else:
- You will lose your Medicare coverage
- You must pay fines for missing deadlines
- Your benefits will be canceled or delayed
- This is your last chance to claim the offer
It’s meant to get you scared so you act impulsively. Do not fall for this trick.
Step 5: Repeated Attempts
Medicare scam calls often come in waves. If you ignore or block a call, the scammers will try back multiple times.
They may even use slight variations in their pitch. For example, first trying an urgent threat, then later calling back with a promising offer.
Their relentless efforts are aimed at eventually getting you to comply. Keep blocking their attempts.
Step 6: Revealing the Scam
If you provide your information, you quickly learn it was a scam. The “rewards” never materialize. In fact, you may notice fraudulent activity, like:
- Fake charges to your Medicare or medical bills
- Prescriptions filled without your approval
- Medical equipment/genetic tests shipped even though you didn’t order them
- Your identity being stolen to file false tax returns or open accounts
At this point, the damage is done. You must spend time reporting the fraud and fixing your accounts. This whole hassle could have been avoided by recognizing the scam tactics over the phone.
What to Do if You Fall Victim to a Medicare Phone Scam
If you realize too late that it was a scam, take these steps right away:
Step 1: Document What Happened
Write down as many details about the call as you can remember:
- Date and time of the call
- What benefits were offered or threats were made
- What information you provided
- Caller’s name, company, phone number, etc.
This documentation will help you report the fraud properly in the next steps.
Step 2: Call Your Bank
If you revealed any financial information, call your bank immediately. Ask them to freeze your account and monitor for suspicious charges. Dispute any fraudulent charges promptly.
You may need to request new bank cards, account numbers, and routing numbers if they were compromised. Enable fraud alerts on the accounts as well. This limits future damage.
Step 3: Contact Credit Bureaus
If you gave your SSN or other identity details, the scammers may misuse them. Contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
Step 4: Call Medicare
Notify Medicare about the scam call right away. Their fraud department can document the case and watch for anyone fraudulently using your benefits.
Call 1-800-MEDICARE and say you need to report a scam attempt. Provide the details so they can investigate further and warn others.
Step 5: Reset Your Medicare Password
If you have a “MyMedicare.gov” account, immediately change your password and security questions. Scammers with your Medicare number can access and modify your account.
Resetting the password prevents fraudsters from tampering with your personal information or Medicare benefits online. Monitor your account closely for suspicious activity too.
Step 6: Watch for Any Other Fraud
Keep a close eye on all your financial accounts for several months. Scammers who get some of your information often try accessing other assets and credit cards too.
Check your credit reports frequently to catch any signs of new fraudulent accounts as well. Stop identity thieves in their tracks before they cause widespread damage.
Step 7: File a Police Report
File a report about the Medicare scam call with your local police department. This creates an official record that authorities keep on file in case other fraud occurs.
Having a police report also helps when disputing fraudulent charges with banks or credit bureaus. Give them the case number to validate your claims.
Step 8: Report it to Other Agencies
In addition to Medicare and police, report the scam call to the FTC and your state attorney general. These agencies track scam patterns to help warn others. The more reports they have, the easier it is to catch the scammers.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fake Medicare Phone Scams
1. Why are Medicare scam calls increasing lately?
Medicare scam calls are on the rise for several reasons:
- Scammers are getting more sophisticated at making believable-sounding fake calls. They often spoof caller IDs to appear as “Medicare” and have personal details about victims.
- The COVID-19 pandemic created more opportunities for Medicare fraud related to telehealth, equipment schemes, and phony vaccines/testing offers.
- Many new Medicare cards have been issued in recent years, which scammers use as an excuse to call about “new card” scams.
- Identity theft is increasingly common, prompting more “verify your account” type scams.
With growing Medicare enrollment, scammers have a larger pool of potential targets for their fraudulent calls. Stay vigilant about protecting your information.
2. How do scammers get my personal contact information?
Scammers obtain your phone number, name, address and other details a few ways:
- Buying stolen identity data online from other scammers
- Accessing public records, phone books, and social networks
- Guessing your info through random cold calls
- Purchasing marketing lead lists sold legally by brokers
- Obtaining records illegally through hacking medical facilities
Even if scammers already have some of your info, do not confirm it or provide additional sensitive details on scam calls.
3. Why do I keep getting repeated scam calls?
Once scammers call you once, they will often call back multiple times from different numbers. Reasons include:
- You did not answer initially, so they call back hoping to reach you directly.
- They use intentionally changing phone numbers to avoid call blocking.
- Different operators take turns calling you with slightly different scripts.
- Following up aggressively increases their odds you will eventually comply.
Keep blocking each new number. Don’t engage at all, even if they are very persistent.
4. How can I block Medicare scam call numbers?
To block frequent scam calls:
- Add each phone number to your cell phone’s block list so future calls go straight to voicemail.
- Ask your phone provider to block outbound calls from common scam prefixes like 876, 809, and 284.
- Install a call screening app or device to filter and block robocalls automatically.
- Register your number on the FTC’s Do Not Call list to reduce unsolicited calls.
5. What government agency oversees Medicare scam calls?
Primarily the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) pursues scammers misusing Medicare’s name.
You can report fake calls directly to Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE or to their Medicare Fraud Hotline at 1-800-447-8477.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and phone companies also investigate illegal robocalling scams more broadly. Report Medicare scams to them too.
6. How can I recover from a Medicare scam call?
If you shared information with scammers, take these steps:
- Change all account passwords, Medicare login, and monitor for fraud.
- Call banks to freeze accounts and watch for bogus charges.
- Contact credit bureaus to set fraud alerts on your SSN.
- File reports with Medicare, FTC, police, and your state attorney general.
Acting quickly can help limit the damage from any personal details the scammers now possess. Be extra vigilant about ongoing fraud attempts.
The Bottom Line
Medicare scam calls are on the rise as fraudsters get more sophisticated. Protect yourself by learning the common tricks these imposters use on the phone.
Never give out your personal information to a random caller claiming to be from Medicare. Confirm directly with Medicare if you have any doubts about a call. This simple step can protect you from becoming the victim of fraud.
Remember, Medicare does not call beneficiaries out of the blue requesting sensitive information. Hang up right away if you receive this type of suspicious call. With awareness, you can keep your identity and benefits safe from Medicare scammers.
