Feds, Montana Aging Services warn of scam targeting Medicare enrollees
Aging services in Cascade and Missoula Counties are urging vigilance for Medicare enrollees around a scam offering free services or equipment in exchange for Medicare numbers.
Renee Labrie-Shanks, Director of the Statewide Senior Medicare Patrol Program at Missoula Aging Services says Medicare enrollees themselves are the “frontline defense against fraud.”
“If someone offers free medical equipment and asks for your Medicare number, it’s a red flag. Hang up immediately,” Labrie-Shanks said in a statement.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General said on their website the organization has seen a variety of scams where fraudsters use technology to impersonate official government personnel from the state health department.
The scammers target people by phone, email or social media to try to get money or personal, medical, or financial information, the HHS OIG said.
“Scammers may claim they need information to settle a debt, verify medical claims, or to provide grant money,” officials said. “Once these criminals have your personal information, they will use it to steal money from you or commit fraud.”
There’s one particular scheme involving catheters, or other medical equipment, where someone calls a Medicare enrollee claiming they work for Medicare or are calling on behalf of Medicare and offer free equipment or services, with the goal of getting their Medicaid number.
If you believe you have been the target or victim of a scam in which someone impersonated a federal health worker or a federal official, please report this contact to the HHS OIG Hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or online.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Scam targeting Medicare enrollees reaches Montana residents
