Beware of Medicare Scams
-->
Over the years, I've warned readers of Medicare, Social
Security, and other scams targeting seniors. It looks like there is one
circulating in Missouri and Illinois now. If you are a senior or care for one, be alert for these scams. Warn your
loved one (again) to not respond with personal information.
Labels: Medicare, scams, Social Security
Friday, January 14, 2011
Another Scam on Seniors
We all know that seniors are ripe targets for scams. We know that scams come in many shapes and sizes. And with the increasing focus on identity theft, it becomes a little scary. Here’s a new one for our family.
A few weeks ago Mom mentioned that an insurance man had called and made an appointment to come to her home and check over her policy. “Which policy,” I asked? “Who?”
Well, she didn’t get his name, but she thought he was from John’s office. She has an annuity with John.
“Did he say he was from John’s office?” She thought he might have.
“So why didn’t John call?” She didn’t know, but said they were looking at everyone’s policies because the home office thought there were some problems with them.
Sounded fishy to me. He was scheduled to come by the next morning. In my usual maternal voice, I told her than under no condition was she to allow him into the house without me there. I reminded her again that she isn’t to have salespeople in or even talk to them without me. She couldn’t remember what she had told him about her policies, but I was sure it was too much. I told her to have him call me and we would schedule a time when I was there.
I told her to be away from the house the next day, and if he called back, to have him call me. He called me the next day. Unfortunately, I was on my way out. I asked him to call me back that afternoon. He didn’t.
So I called John and asked him if he had indeed sent this guy. I knew it was possible. John is aging and winding down his practice. But wouldn’t he have let us know he was sending a new employee? Wouldn’t he have called first or even brought him by the first time?
Sure enough, John knew nothing about this guy. Without a name or number, we were left with no way to follow up. But I was grateful to have caught it this time.
I wish I could get Mom to stop talking to strangers. After all, didn’t she teach me that when I was little? Now she seems willing to tell anyone anything about her business. But I keep trying. I keep reminding her and hoping.
What do you do to try to protect your aging parents from scams?
Photo Credit: iStockphoto
Labels: aging parents, scams
Monday, January 28, 2008
Medicare Scam Hits Wisconsin
WEAU.com is reporting the Medicare scam I’ve been reporting on in Alabama, Idaho, New York and Texas is hitting seniors in Wisconsin. Heads up, folks!Saturday, January 26, 2008
Medicare Scam in Alabama
The news is full of reports of the same scam hitting seniors all over the nation. Today's report is from Alabama, where the details look almost identical to those reported yesterday. It looks as if this may be a well-organized, national scam. I'm mailing a copy of these reports to Mom to remind her to keep her info to herself.Friday, January 25, 2008
Medicare Scam Moves to Idaho and New York
Boise's Idaho News reports that seniors in that state are receiving telephone calls seeking private information and offering a $400 Life Line card. A similar scam is occurring in New York. I can't say it too often. Remind your parents that Medicare and Social Security will never ask for personal information over the phone!Friday, January 11, 2008
Medicare Scam in Texas
According to the Tyler Post, there is a new Medicare scam in Texas. A person is calling claiming to be with Medicare and asking for personal numbers such as bank account numbers. Once again, let me encourage you to talk to your aging parents and remind them to NEVER give out personal or financial information on the telephone. They're often so lonely that they are an easy mark.Labels: aging parents, Medicare, scams
Friday, July 13, 2007
Medicare Scam in Pennsylvania
Cumberland county officials announced today that there is a phone scam targeting Medicare beneficiaries in their area.Callers, claiming to work for the government's health insurer for senior citizens, insist they must issue a second Medicare card. All that's needed, the caller insists, is a senior's bank account information.
Once again, remind your elderly parents not to give out any personal or financial information over the phone or to anyone they don’t know has a legitimate right to it. All too often, these people are sweeter than they are wise.
Labels: Medicare, sandwich generation, scams
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Protecting Parents From Telephone SCAMS
Eldercare has another article reminding Boomers to remind their parents to not give out personal information. Telephone scams abound and the elderly are ripe for pickin’. I know it gets old, but tell ‘em again.Labels: aging parents, scams
Monday, May 21, 2007
Phone scam targets Medicare
On May 6 I reported a Medicare phone scam targeting Kansas. It looks as if it’s continuing. The Arkansas City (KS) Police Department recently received information from the local Chamber of Commerce about a telephone scam that involves people on Medicare. At least one area person has been targeted so far.The caller, posing as a drug company representative, offers to help with, not only Medicare, but medication as well. The caller asked personal financial questions, including the name of the targeted victim's bank, checking account number and routing number.
I don’t think we can remind our parents too often about not giving out any personal information on the telephone. The world is so different from the one they grew up in. They still seem to assume that anyone who calls them has their best interests at heart, almost as if they can still talk to the local operator and say, “Mabel, get me Eva.” We need to keep reminding them that it ain’t necessarily so.
Labels: aging parents, Medicare, scams
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Kansas Medicare Scam
Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger is warning Kansas Medicare beneficiaries of a new phone scam. The caller, claiming to be a Medicare representative, reports that all Medicare beneficiaries will receiver either $200 or $150 per month to pay for prescription drugs. Then the caller asks to confirm their Medicare number and then asks for their bank account number.Beneficiaries are reminded that Medicare representatives will never ask for a bank account number over the phone.
Whether you live in Kansas or not, please alert your parents of these scams that keep popping up. I was so proud of my mom recently. She had received a call asking for her Medicare number, but she told the caller to call me. He didn’t. Good for her!
Friday, February 16, 2007
Thieves Target Medicare Beneficiaries
A news service in South Florida is reporting scammers calling Medicare recipients. The telemarketers insist that the seniors need new “verification card numbers” from Medicare. The callers then ask them to disclose their checking account information.According to complaints received by Medicare, the bank account numbers are used to withdraw money from their accounts electronically.I've seen this report from other localities, so it behooves all of us to remind our parents to be on the alert and never give personal or financial information over the phone.
Labels: Medicare, scams, seniors, telemarketers