Reminder on Medicare Fraud Calls

[RetireBy90]

Wanted to pass along an experience reported by a friend. We all know not to bite on this type of cold call, but good for me to get a reminder now and then.

“I wanted to alert all my "mature" friends and relatives of the telephone call we just got. They identified themselves as being from the Office of Medicare Services and were alerting me that my Medicare card was being deactivated in 3 days and they needed to get information so they could send out a new card with a chip in it. They had all my basic info, name , address, birth month but they kept pushing to hurriedly get my Medicare number. There were a lot of "red flags" there that I initially didn't pick up on, like Medicare would never "call" with something this big - it would be advertised for months and she kept pushing to get the other information. Then when I asked, "If you are deactivating my card in 3 days - how are you going to get my new card to me in time?"... that's when she hung up.”

 

[TrvlBug]

I would have asked how can you deactivate my card if you don't know my number .

 

[Koolau]

Yeah, some scams are a lot easier to spot than others. Gummint rarely (if EVER) contacts individuals by phone (or email.) That's rule one.

 

[Gremlin]

Just wondering, was the point of that scam to get the Medicare number? Because what good would that do them?

 

[audreyh1]

Just wondering, was the point of that scam to get the Medicare number? Because what good would that do them?

Maybe they can use it for fraudulent billing.

 

[aja8888]

Maybe they can use it for fraudulent billing.

Exactly, that's what it can be used for.