Scammers are calling seniors. What they want is your Medicare number. They will use that number to create fraudulent claims. The method seems simple enough. The following article shows how easy it is to let your guard down.
Recently, while sitting at home on a Sunday afternoon, I received an email from a concerned friend asking about a potential Medicare scam.
The friend’s mother had received a call from someone claiming to be from Medicare who was offering to provide some free medical equipment.
All that was needed to complete the transaction was a Medicare number.
I quickly replied that the phone call was indeed a scam because no one from Medicare would ever call and ask you to provide your Medicare number.
Health care fraud is a serious problem affecting communities across the country. It has many faces, and criminals are becoming more sophisticated in their efforts to scam the system.
Although it is rare, some of the most troubling cases involve medical professionals — the same individuals to whom we entrust our care.
The vast majority of providers are honest. However, the very small percentage that are not can cost taxpayers billions of dollars and put beneficiaries’ health and well-being at risk.
Health care fraud drives up costs for everyone in the system and endangers the future of programs more than 100 million Americans depend on every day.
– from Portland Press Herald
It is easy to get caught unaware. There are extremely smooth talkers out there that can get you to reveal a lot of information about yourself.
The most important thing to remember is to reveal little information about yourself as possible, especially when it comes to revealing any kind of account number. No one has any reason to ask you for your Medicare number, Social Security number or credit card number over the telephone.