The Dunn County ADRC has been alerted to some SCAM calls related to Open Enrollment. The scam callers had legitimate looking phone numbers and caller IDs. Below are some tips to avoid being scammed.
Avoid sharing your Medicare number with people who contact you out of the blue
Do not provide your Medicare card, Medicare Number, Social Security card, or Social Security Number to anyone but your doctor, pharmacy, or people who work with Medicare to assist beneficiaries. These numbers should be protected just like you would protect your credit card, debit card, or bank account information.
It’s important to know Medicare will not call you unless you’ve specifically asked for help. And if they do call you in response to a request, they will not need your information since they’ll already have it on file.
Does your caller ID show a legitimate-looking phone number? Don’t be fooled. Scammers can spoof their number to make it look like the call is coming from a government agency or other known organization. Also, don’t be surprised if the caller has some basic information about you. With the internet, those details are easy to find today. If someone unfamiliar calls asking you for personal details, simply hang up.
Do not click on suspicious links
Criminals create fake email addresses to make it appear messages are coming directly from Medicare. These emails may send you to a website that looks authentic. Do not respond to unexpected emails or text messages or click on any links they contain—even if the communication looks real.
If you need to update your information, log in to your Medicare account at Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or talk to a trusted advisor.
Do not be afraid of threats to terminate benefits
If you qualify for Medicare, your benefits will not be taken away for reasons like not signing up for a certain plan.
Do not speak to anyone who tries to persuade you to choose a certain plan
Ignore claims that any policy is “preferred by Medicare,” since Medicare does not endorse a specific plan.
From the Dunn County ADRC Facebook page.
