Listen to these fake Medicare calls defrauding older Americans
If you or a loved one is on Medicare, we urge you to remain cautious if anybody calling for your information gives you trouble. An unscrupulous scam is making the rounds that you need to be aware of. Thieves are making phone calls pretending to be Medicare representatives. In reality, they’re trying to rip you off.
Check out one of the worst robocaller recordings we’ve ever heard below.
Would this scam call fool you?
This Medicare fraud call is making the rounds, and many people are angry.
On its surface, it sounds like a relatively harmless caller hoping to liberate your personal Medicare information. They should be fine if the receiver knows not to give out their Medicare or Social Security number.
Some older folks may not be as wise to their game, though. Scammers may also offer freebies like medical care they won’t have to pay for or prescriptions they don’t need.
Like a credit card, you should never feel pressured to give out personal information over the phone. Your medical records should only be shared with your doctor or Medicare provider.
The call linked above includes one of the biggest red flags to be wary of when receiving fraudulent Medicare calls: demanding the senior’s Medicare card number, often with little explanation. Weird caller ID monikers, unusual “identity verifications” and unfamiliar “refunds” might also clue you into ulterior motives on the other side.
These fake calls appear to spike around the annual Medicare Open Enrollment (MOE), which is from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 yearly. But they can happen at any time during the year. Scammers may ask for your valuable information under the guise of facilitating your continued service, but don’t be fooled.
Medicare recommends that subscribers never join a health or drug plan during a phone call they didn’t initiate. If you’re seeking coverage or other services, you or your loved one should always be the one to make the call.
How to spot potential Medicare scams and what to do next
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also has suggestions on how to handle potentially fake Medicare calls. Here are some tips:
Have a Windows PC? Don't fall for this bogus Windows Defender charge
Online scams come in all forms, including phony links, apps, files, phone numbers and websites. Scammers reach out to victims via phone, email and text message. It’s not always easy to spot a scam, but there are signs you can look out for.
Warning: Americans lost $19.7 billion to scam calls over the past year
The coronavirus pandemic may have slowed or shut down many things in America, but scam callers certainly aren’t one of them. In fact, with more people communicating online than ever before, the next regular call to come through to your phone is more likely a scammer than not.