We all put our hard-earned money into our health insurance plans and trust that our information is always being kept private. However, scammers will do everything they can to try to get whatever they can on you, and recently, many of these cybercriminals are going after Medicare numbers. Here are some of my tips to make sure this never happens to you.
Why would a scammer want my Medicare number?
Believe it or not, your Medicare number can open a whole world of information for a malicious hacker. Once obtained, a hacker can pretty much use your medical insurance as if it were their own. They can make copayments, file for claims and reimbursements, get any kind of treatment that your benefits cover, and completely max out your benefits without you knowing.
What are some warning signs I should know about?
If you are unaware of the warning signs indicating that your Medicare number has been stolen, it will be difficult to detect and prevent fraud at an early stage. So here are things to look out for.
1. Unsolicited call asking to confirm Medicare number
One clear sign is when someone calls you asking you to confirm your Medicare number. Many scammers will pretend to be Medicare representatives over the phone and have public information on you, like your name and date of birth. A Medicare representative will never call you over the phone unless they are invited to do so first. Do not give your Medicare number to anyone you do not know over the phone.
MORE: DO NOT FALL FOR THIS MEDICAL EQUIPMENT SCAM
2. Asking for your social security number and banking info
A scammer may also ask for your details like your Social Security Number and banking information which you should never give away either whether it’s over the phone or via email.
3. Tricking you into a healthcare setting
Some scammers will even try to trick you into a healthcare setting where you might feel safe such as an examination room or pharmacy counter. You should not be discussing Medicare plans with anyone other than your doctor and the insurance company itself.
4. Pushing for a payment
A scammer will push for a payment online or over the phone without sending you a bill or will pressure you to sign an enrollment form before you’re ready.
5. Pitching a different product
Scammers may pitch a different product, such as a life insurance policy, instead of sticking to Medicare plans.
6. Charging you a fee to turn your enrollment into a plan
The process of enrolling in a Medicare plan can be complicated and overwhelming for many people. Unfortunately, scammers often take advantage of this confusion by offering fraudulent services that promise to help people navigate the enrollment process.
7. Requesting you share contact information for your loved ones
Scammers may also request that you share the names, phone numbers, and addresses of your family members and friends so they can pitch their scams to them.
8. Visiting you without your invitation
A fraudster might also attempt to pull off a Medicare scam by visiting you without your invitation to sell you a plan.
9. Offering freebies
Scammers may offer free gifts or other incentives to entice you to sign up for their plan. For example, they may offer a free health screening or a gift card in exchange for enrolling. Don’t fall for these freebies.
How can I prevent this from happening?
1) If you ever receive a call out of the blue from someone claiming to be from Medicare, hang up. If someone comes to your door claiming to be from Medicare don’t answer the door.
2) If you know your information has been stolen already, or if you’re simply getting a new Medicare card, it’s best that you destroy your old Medicare card and contact Medicare immediately to get a new one. Some imposters try to claim that you need to return your old Medicare card to get a new one. However, this is just a way for them to get your information. The government recommends that you never give your old card to anyone and always destroy your old card.
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MORE: TOP WAYS TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER FRAUD
3) Only give your Medicare number to your trusted healthcare providers, such as doctors, pharmacists, insurers, and state health agencies that work with Medicare. Anyone else asking for that information is likely a scammer.
4) Use Identity theft protection. You should also consider using a fraud protection service to keep yourself safe from identity theft.
My #1 pick is Identity Guard. Identity Guard will monitor personal information like your Home title, Social Security Number (SSN), phone number, and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.
One of the best parts of using Identity Guard includes identity theft insurance of up to 1 million dollars to cover losses and legal fees and a white glove fraud resolution team where a US-based case manager helps you recover any losses.
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5) Remove your personal information from the internet: While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap – and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.
My top recommendation is Incogni, which has a very clean interface and will scan 195 websites for your information and remove it and keep it removed.
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Have you been a victim of a Medicare scam? Let us know by commenting below.
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