5 Ways to Avoid Medicare Phishing Scams

Medicare phishing scammers pretend to be from Medicare or another reputable organization, and they try to trick you into giving them your personal information. Phishing is a form of identity theft, and it can cost you time, money, and aggravation.

Criminals may contact you via phone, email, text messages, or postal mail, using various tactics to get your information. Once they have it, they can sell it on the dark web and get it into the hands of even more criminals.

Unfortunately, Medicare beneficiaries are often victims of phishing scams. We’ve put together 5 ways you can avoid Medicare phishing scams to protect your identity.

1.  Don’t Share Your Personal Information

Your personal information can include your Social Security number, Medicare ID number, health plan number, driver’s license number, and bank account information.

Medicare will never ask you for any of this information. No one who would contact you by email, phone, or text needs to have this information. It’s important to understand how Medicare works so you know what information you shouldn’t give out. You can learn more about Medicare by visiting https://boomerbenefits.com/understanding-medicare/.

By sharing your personal information, you are putting yourself at risk of identity theft. Your Medicare number or other personally identifiable information can give a criminal access to your credit record, financial accounts, or other assets.

If you’re not sure if the person who contacted you is legitimate, it’s best not to respond. You can call Medicare directly or the number on the back of your insurance card to verify whether the call is legitimate.

2. Don’t Engage with People, Companies, or Organizations You Don’t Know

Someone who calls you on a telemarketing call claiming to be a representative of your doctor’s office, Medicare, or a government agency may not be legitimate.

The best way to deal with an uninvited caller is to avoid engaging with them. Check your caller ID before answering calls. Let numbers you don’t recognize go straight to your voicemail. That will give you time to discern whether the call is legitimate. If you answer the call and are suspicious of the caller, hang up.

Scammers use other tactics to get your personal information such as getting you to answer questions by saying yes. They record your voice saying yes and use it for criminal activity.

To prevent some calls from coming through, register your number on the National Do Not Call Registry.

3. Don’t Give in to Threats or Pressure Tactics

It is against the law for Medicare salespeople to offer gifts such as free meals, medical equipment, or other things of value. Be wary of anyone who offers you something to get you talking to them.

Another scare tactic scammers use is to tell you that you’ll lose your Medicare benefits if you don’t take action on something they recommend.

Medicare provides coverage and benefits to all those who qualify for them. You won’t lose them by not signing up for something.

4. Don’t Click on Links in Emails or Texts

Never click on a link in a text or email that claims to be from Medicare.

Cybercriminals commonly create fake email addresses to get you to interact with them. You may be able to tell that it’s a fake email address if it has random letters and numbers in it. Unfortunately, criminals have gotten better at creating email addresses that appear to be legitimate, so read the email address carefully and don’t be fooled.

By clicking on a link sent by a scammer, they may take you to an authentic-looking website that’s designed to trap you into thinking the sender works for Medicare.

Medicare won’t send you emails, so don’t click on links in emails even if you think the message is authentic. It’s best to always call Medicare directly if you have any questions or concerns about something you’ve received.

5. Check Your Medicare Statements

It is critical to check your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) letters and Medicare statements carefully.

If you notice charges for services you didn’t receive, report it to your health provider and Medicare right away. By taking fast action, you could catch a scam before it negatively impacts you.

Once again, don’t respond to incoming calls with questions about billing charges. Always call the number on your Medicare ID card if you’re unsure about something.

Steps to Take If You Believe You Are a Victim of a Scam

Medicare staff is available to help and answer your questions 24/7 by calling (800) 633-4227.

Here are some places to report Medicare crimes:

• Internet Crime Complaint Center
• FBI Electronic Tip Form
• Senior Medicare Patrol (to find help in your state)
• USA.gov

Something that doesn’t look or feel right probably isn’t, so trust your instincts. You just might save someone else from becoming a victim.