Scammers will call up Medicare beneficiaries and tell them that to get their new card, they need to provide their Social Security number and banking information. From there, the scammer can use the Social Security number to open bank accounts, get medical care, and steal benefits or tax refunds.
How do I thwart a Medicare card scam?
May 29, 2019 · A decision earlier this year by Medicare to stop using its beneficiaries' Social Security numbers as account numbers has not gone unnoticed by scammers. In April, Medicare began sending its members new cards with unique eleven-digit account numbers, ending the previous reliance on SSA numbers. The transition to new cards and numbers is ongoing and is …
Why do I keep getting Medicare scam calls?
Mar 14, 2018 · Beginning next month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin sending out new Medicare cards. The major reason for this is to cut down on identity theft and medical identity theft, growing problems for seniors since the old cards contained their social security numbers and were low hanging fruit for con artists.
Are new Medicare identification numbers a social security scam?
Mar 27, 2018 · Scammers will call up Medicare beneficiaries and tell them that to get their new card, they need to provide their Social Security number and banking information. From there, the scammer can use the Social Security number to open bank accounts, get medical care, and steal benefits or tax refunds.
Why did I get a new Medicare card this year?
Oct 09, 2018 · In California, the new Medicare cards mailing is complete. These new cards help prevent identity theft by no longer using people’s Social Security number as their Medicare number. Now people have a new 11 digit Medicare number that combines numbers and letters and excludes gender identity and signatures. Does this mean the end of scams regarding your …
Is new Medicare cash card a scam?
Medicare will never ask older adults to give personal or private information to get their new Medicare number and card. There is absolutely no fee to get the new card. If anyone says otherwise, that's a big red flag that it's a scam.
Why would a scammer want my Medicare number?
Offers of free medical supplies- scammers may say they need to verify your coverage and ask for your SSN or Medicare Number. At times, they even request a credit card number, stating that it is needed to cover shipping costs for the free supplies.Jul 21, 2021
Why am I getting calls about a new Medicare card?
Scammers are calling beneficiaries and pretending to be with Medicare. The caller tells the beneficiary they need a new Medicare card because of COVID. The caller says they need to confirm a couple of things before sending the card, they then ask for the person's Medicare number and the enrollment dates on the card.Mar 17, 2021
Can someone steal your identity with your Medicare card?
Medical identity theft happens when someone steals or uses your personal information (like your name, Social Security Number, or Medicare Number) to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare and other health insurers without your permission. Medicare is working to find and prevent fraud and abuse.
Is Medicare sending out new plastic cards?
The short answer is no. Medicare is not replacing your paper card with a plastic chip card. Scammers tried this con a few years ago. They've apparently fired it up again, as a lot of viewers are telling us about getting this call.Feb 25, 2022
Are new Medicare cards being issued?
The new cards will be placed in the mail by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) beginning in April, but outreach for this campaign has already started to ensure a smooth transition for everyone involved....New Medicare Card Mailing Schedule.WaveStatesCards MailingNewly EligibleNationwideOngoing7 more rows•Aug 30, 2021
Is Medicare sending new cards for 2021?
All Medicare beneficiaries will be receiving new Medicare cards with their MBI. Current beneficiaries will be mailed a replacement Medicare card and instructions, while individuals who are new to Medicare in or after April 2018 will receive a new Medicare card with their MBI upon enrollment.
Is Medicare sending out new cards with a chip?
En español | If you're on Medicare, be aware: You will not be receiving a new chip card to replace your paper ID card. If somebody tells you that, they're lying. It's the latest Medicare scam.Sep 30, 2020
What does "800-633-4227" mean?
You receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to work for Medicare. Actual employees will never call you without being invited to do so — for example, if you left a message at Medicare’s customer service line (800-633-4227). The caller claims you need to pay a fee to get a new or upgraded Medicare card,
Can you share your Social Security number?
Don’t share your Medicare or Social Security number (or other personal information) with anyone who contacts you out of the blue by phone, text or email or shows up unannounced at your door.
What do scammers call Medicare?
Scam operators (many with foreign accents) call beneficiaries claiming to represent Medicare. They may say that new Medicare benefits cards are being issued and threaten to cancel Medicare coverage unless the beneficiary’s information is updated; claim they can improve benefits; “verify” your new Medicare card number to make sure you received your card; tell you to send in your old one, or claim they are selling Medicare policies. The caller might even ask for your information to send you a gift card. Sometimes, they’re selling phony products such as supplemental or prescription drug Medicare plans.
What is medical identity theft?
Medical identity theft is when someone steals or uses your personal information (like your name, Social Security Number, or Medicare Number) to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare and other health insurers without your permission. This isn’t like the bank or your credit card where identity theft is usually covered.
Can you get counterfeit medical bills from a doctor?
You may receive counterfeit sales materials, offers for discounted prescription drug plans, or supplemental Medicare coverage, or bills from an unknown hospital, doctor, or medical supplier through the mail. The scammers know that many people will just pay the bills.
Is Medicare a scam?
If someone calls and says they’re from Medicare and offers you a “free” or “low cost” brace, hang up. No one from Medicare will call you with such an offer. It’s a scam.
Is DNA testing a scam?
The US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General warns of this genetic testing fraud scheme. If anyone offers you a “free” or discounted DNA test, whether it be through the mail, on the phone, or even at a health fair, be wary. The scammers offer cheek swabs to scan for cancer or predispositions for other serious illnesses, and claim that Medicare will cover the costs, but in reality, they’re after your Medicare information for identity theft or fraudulent billing purposes.
Can Medicare call you?
Unless you initiated the request, Medicare will NEVER call you. Medicare will never call you to sell you anything and they can’t enroll you over the phone unless you called first. Never give your Medicare or other personal information over the phone to anyone who calls asking for it.
What is phishing in scams?
As the SSA says in its warning, phishing is "the practice of using social engineering techniques over email to trick a recipient into revealing personal information, clicking on a malicious link, or opening a malicious attachment.".
How to check if a site is safe?
If you want to truly check and see if a site is safe, it's best to either call the SSA at (800) 772-1213, or -- if you're dealing with non-Social Security-related information -- call the number for your banking or other financial institution.
Who is Brian Stoffel?
Author Bio. Brian Stoffel has been a Fool since 2008, and a financial journalist for The Motley Fool since 2010. He tends to follow the investment strategies of Fool co-founder David Gardner, looking for the most innovative companies driving positive change for the future.
Is a website fake?
With a little bit of effort, it's very easy to make a fraudulent website appear legitimate. Sleek layouts, official logos, and well-written content are usually enough to convince the average person that a site is legitimate. Unfortunately, all of that is easy to fake.
Is Medicare a scam?
Finally, while it's not technically related directly to Social Security, there's a scam making its rounds right now dealing with new Medicare identification numbers. Congress recently enacted a provision requiring all Social Security numbers to be removed from Medicare filings.
Can scammers get into my Social Security?
Email isn't the only way scammers will try to gain access to your Social Security information. Because the elderly are the primary users of the program, and because the elderly are less likely to be tech-savvy and using email on a regular basis, phone calls are another scamming medium.
