Better Business Bureau of Coastal Carolina warns of scams involving Medicare cards
The Better Business Bureau of Coastal Carolina is warning that there is a new scam that targets Medicare recipients. Medicare has begun the process of replacing Medicare cards and scammers are seeking ways to make money during this period of transition. In a recent AARP survey, more than three quarters of Americans over the age of 65 knew very little about the new card system, which includes new user cards and replacement cards. Because of this lack of knowledge, it makes them very susceptible to the scammers who have plans on taking advantage of the situation.
Medicare is making the change to make cards more secure. The card is still red, white and blue, but it no longer will include the social security number. Instead it will have a “Medicare Beneficiary Identifier,” which is an 11- character number that is randomly selected and has no connection to the beneficiary’s personal information. It also will not include gender or require a signature.
“Medicare has stepped up to help combat medical fraud,” said Dr. John D’Ambrosio, President and CEO of the BBB of Coastal Carolina. “Scammers attempt to submit fraudulent medical charges or use the information for identity theft. The consumer doesn’t know until it’s too late. We have many tips available to consumers about scams and how the new Medicare card works.”
Medicare will not contact you via the telephone according to the Federal Trade Commission. Medicare will only contact beneficiaries through the U.S. Mail. It is important that addresses are up-to-date with Medicare. Addresses can be updated online at www.medicare.gov.
There is no charge for the new Medicare card. Reported scams are callers impersonating Medicare personnel and requesting Social Security numbers or bank account numbers. They are threatening to cancel Medicare benefits if the information is not given them.
A person should never give out personal information to anyone over the phone or email unless it’s someone trusted and known. Unless you contact them and you know that it is a legitimate entity, do not give any information. If anyone calls and asks for personal information, simply hang up.
The delivery of the new cards is staggered, so everyone receives them at different times. The cards will be mailed out in seven stages that began in April 2018. North Carolina and South Carolina are scheduled to start receiving cards after June 2018.
Also, according to AARP, sixty percent of those surveyed mistakenly believed they might have to pay for the revamped cards. Equally as disturbing, more than fifty percent said that if they received a call claiming to be from Medicare and asking to verify information, they would not be suspicious. This is making it easy for scammers to take advantage of the confusion.
Old cards should be destroyed once the new card arrives, since the old card contains the social security number. Once the new card is registered at the doctor’s visit, it is advisable to not carry it. Physicians offices will also have the ability to look up the new Medicare numbers at an online website.
For questions or concerns regarding the new Medicare card mailout, there are resources available. Contact www.medicare.gov or visit our website at www.bbb.org.
Better Business Bureau of Coastal Carolina is a private not-for-profit organization that strives for a trustworthy marketplace by maintaining standards for truthful advertising, investigating and exposing fraud against consumers and businesses. For more than 100 years, the BBB has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2017, people turned to BBB more than 160 million times for BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.2 million businesses and charity reports on 11,000 charities. Information is available for free at www.bbb.org, 24 hours a day. BBB of Coastal Carolina covers the counties of Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion and Williamsburg in South Carolina and Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, New Hanover, Pender, Robeson and Sampson in North Carolina.