If you have an elderly relative or family member, make sure you warn them of a scam that could cost them their identity or money. The Better Business Bureau said seniors nationwide are reporting a Medicare phone scam.
The caller allegedly says he / she is with Medicare and that a new card is in the mail. In the meantime, you need to set up your direct deposit so your Medicare funds can be deposited. To do this, you need to give your banking information. That gives the scammer access to the senior’s financial information.
Other Medicare ripoffs happen when the senior is asked to verify their information. If anyone calls you to verify information, hang up, and call the back directly to make sure it is legitimate. Unfortunately, Medicare still uses Social Security numbers as the account or member number so if you give that out your identity could be at risk.
Medicare really needs to change the number on the cards and stop using the individual’s social security number. I advise seniors to keep their Medicare card at home and only take it when they have a scheduled appointment because if the senior loses their wallet or purse, their identity could be at risk.
While some of this may seem like common sense, it’s important to review the details of this latest ripoff with any senior or family member on Medicare to make sure they don’t put themselves at risk.
I think seniors would be less vulnerable if more family members made it their priority to look over the individual’s finances.
This will become a bigger scam now that the Gov’t is switching to Direct Deposit or Debit Cards. So please, everyone advise any seniors in your family about this scam.