RBC | As the local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), we have had many reports about people receiving calls from someone saying they are from Medicare, claiming there is a problem with your account and asking for the individuals Medicare number. These scammers hijack numbers many times to look official or local. Usually if called back it would be someone else’s number or disconnected. Medicare already has your Medicare number and would not call to ask for it. We have heard callers says things like “they are from Medicare and want to make sure that my parts A and B are up to date or need to be reviewed with me or something similar. On one call the person said they were hired by Medicare and licensed to do an audit of their parts A and B.”
Medicare’s warning from its website: https://www.medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse
Protecting yourself from identity theft through Medicare fraud
Identity theft is a serious crime that happens when someone uses your personal information without your consent to commit Medicare fraud or other crimes. Use the following tips to protect yourself from becoming an identity theft victim.
Do:
- Protect your Medicare Number and your Social Security Number.
- Guard your Medicare card like it’s a credit card.
- Become familiar with how Medicare uses your personal information. If you join a Medicare health or drug plan, the plan will let you know how it will use your personal information.
- Remember that Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at your home. Medicare, or someone representing Medicare, will only call and ask for personal information in these 2 situations:
- A Medicare health or drug plan may call you if you’re already a member of the plan. The agent who helped you join can also call you.
- A customer service representative from 1-800-MEDICARE can call you if you’ve called and left a message or a representative said that someone would call you back.
- Contact the Federal Trade Commission if you think you’ve been a victim of identity theft. https://www.identitytheft.gov/#/
Don’t:
- Give your Medicare card, Medicare Number, Social Security card, or Social Security Number to anyone except your doctor or people you know should have it (like insurers acting on your behalf or people who work with Medicare, like your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) – # for Rio Blanco & Moffat is 970-819-6401
- Accept offers of money or gifts for free medical care.
- Allow anyone, except your doctor or other Medicare providers, to review your medical records or recommend services.
- Join a Medicare health or drug plan over the phone unless you called us.
Social Security Phone Scams
Telephone scammers pretend they’re from Social Security or another government agency. Caller ID or documents sent by email may look official but they are not. They may threaten you and may demand immediate payment to avoid arrest or other legal action. Do not be fooled! If you receive a suspicious call
- HANG UP!
- DO NOT GIVE THEM MONEY OR PERSONAL INFORMATION!
- REPORT THE SCAM AT OIG.SSA.GOV
What to look out for:
The caller says there is a problem with your Social Security number or account.
Any call asking you to pay a fine or debt with retail gift cards, cash, wire transfers, or pre-paid debit cards.
There are also many post cards coming in the mail that people think are from Medicare. Talking about new benefits. These are more than likely sales solicitations. You can call Medicare direct 1-800-MEDICARE to see if they sent you anything in the mail.
When in doubt HANG UP!
Contact info:
Rebekah Greenwood
NWCO SHIP Coordinator
ED/Senior Social Center
775 Yampa Ave. Craig, CO 81625
970-819-6401
[email protected]
By REBEKAH GREENWOOD – NWCO SHIP Coordinator
Special to the Herald Times
