Daniel, 71, had just discussed medical costs with his wife when a call from Mark promised relief.
“Hi, this is Mark from Medicare Benefits,” the call began. “We’ve been reviewing your file, and you qualify for a new program that involves extensive testing and medical equipment provided at no cost to you.”
Daniel had several ongoing medical issues and was concerned about costs. He knew that coverages and programs change all the time, so he was grateful to hear about cost-saving measures.
Mark went on to explain all of the benefits he’d receive under this new program, and Daniel diligently wrote them all down. He couldn’t wait to tell his wife.
“The last step,” Mark explained, “is to verify your Medicare number so we can ship the equipment.”
As he searched for his Medicare number, he grew concerned about the interaction. The timing was too convenient. Why was someone asking for his personal information over the phone? They aren’t supposed to do that.
Mark sensed his hesitation. “If you can’t find your number right now, it’s ok. We can do this another way. I can still provide you with the equipment; you’ll just need to pay the shipping. If I can just confirm your bank account information, we’ll get your delivery ready to go.”
A Red Flag
That’s when Daniel knew something wasn’t right. “I was told to never share information like this over the phone.”
“Of course, of course,” replied Mark. “Scams are everywhere! You’ll see, however, that this call is coming from an official Medicare.gov phone number.”
Daniel hung up. He was unsure, but his suspicion was strong enough that he ended the call.
He called the Medicare number he found on the official website and asked about the call he’d received. He discovered his suspicions were correct. This was a scam, and had he given the scammer his information, his account could have been billed for thousands of dollars of fraudulent expenses.
How Medicare Scams Work
Calm and confident: Scammers want to sound real, so you think they are legitimate.
Phone spoofing: Scammers can make it look like their call is coming from a real Medicare phone number.
Taking advantage of rising costs: Scammers know that health care costs are on everyone’s mind and are happy to take advantage of the situation.
Next Steps
You can read more about how to spot Medicare fraud and how to report it if you’re a victim at https://www.medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse.
If you suspect your bank account has also been compromised, reach out to your bank right away. Learn more about the fraud resources MidFirst Bank provides here.
