mermaid

I received this from a friend. New MEDICARE SCAM

"This is pretty important to get to people with Medicare, their
families and friends or adult kids who help parents with Medicare.
Have just gotten word about the newest Medicare scam from an
organization I educate for, Texas Senior Medicare Patrol, a division
within the Better Business Bureau.
Here's what you need to know to protect yourself, family and friends
throughout the US.

Starting 4/1/18 Medicare will start a year long project to replace all
current Medicare cards for beneficiaries to convert to alphanumeric ID
numbers. Currently the ID number is your social security number. This
is starting to hit the media. Scammers are opportunistic. First of all
the new Medicare card will come to you in the mail. You don't need to
request it or do anything. It will show up.

WHAT'S THE SCAM?
Somebody from "MEDICARE " will call to tell you you are getting a new
Medicare card. But until it comes, you will need a temporary card. Fee
for the card is between $5-50 dollars. They want personal information,
bank account or credit card so they can process your "temporary card".

THINGS TO REMEMBER
Medicare will never call you unless you ask them to. Medicare does all
communications by mail unless you ask them to call. Ditto for anybody
saying they "work with Medicare to make sure you get everything you
are entitled to".

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THIS ONE?
First of all spread the word. Feel free to share these notes.
Use your answering machine to screen calls or just don't even answer a
number you don't recognize. If it has happened to you or your friends
or loved ones and personal info had been given out (happens
considerably more often than you think, so don't feel bad or stupid)
immediately take action to protect yourself against identity theft."

I, and friends are getting 3-4 calls a day, mostly from our local area code (it's fake) aboutsaying our medicare records disclose we are having leg and back pain. Also, telling us medicare does not cover funeral expenses and trying to sell us burial insurance. My best friend was away for 3 days, returned to find 15 messages on her phone. How can we stop these people? The caller ID even shows names of people we know, yet it is not from them! So disgusting.

Mariposa

Thanks for sharing this. I'll be calling our folks to let them know.

Jingle

Thanks for the info. I don't answer the phine unless it says someone's name I know. I don't know many people so that makes it easy.

Anniedeb

Caller ID is our friend! We block all "unavailable" calls, and answer no calls from names we don't recognize. Once we get a message, as in back brace, new ID cards, or what ever the current scheme is, we block that number as well. Currently we are being bombarded by calls from numbers that are very close to our own. Same area code, and same 3 number prefix, usually using a local company name. Don't answer those either. If it's legit, they will leave a message!

Jane Quilter

I have a voice mail app and am able to mark my cell phone calls as "spam" as these calls come in. When added to all the other app owners who mark them as "spam", I can see easily not to answer these calls. Love that app.

mermaid

Our answering machine is on at all times, and not answering a call just allows the scammers to leave a long message. Some have learned to disconnect after 4 rings///knowing they will get a machine. I think I will start answering the calls and after my /hello', ask if it's okay to record the call. If they ask why, I'll say "so I have evidence for suing a 'do not call' disregard".

JustAbitCrazy

Thanks for the heads up!

MaggieLou

Love that idea. I'll have to try it.

kittiebug

Thanks .....

OneBusyGranny

Every time I get a call like this ,I go to Do Not Call Registry and file a complaint. since I started doing that , seldom get a scam call now. The people trying to sell burial insurance is right. Medicare does not pay for burials., you can add that phone number to your don't call list,if you have registered for this free service.now - on the other hand ,the junk mail fills up my recycle bin each week.