Medicare Spoofing Calls New Trend in Illinois

Scammers are spoofing phone numbers, a technique that causes caller ID to say a call is coming from someone other than who is actually calling, and pretending they are from Medicare, Social Security or other government agencies. Once the scammers get you on the phone, they try to steal your personal information.This is becoming a trend in Illinois and across the United States.

Medicare will never call you, and you should only give your Medicare card number out to your doctors or providers. If you have received one of these phone calls and have given out any information, you can report this with the Illinois SMP at AgeOptions at (800)699-9043.

Read more here as the Federal Communications Commission explains how scammers are spoofing phone numbers and what happens if this happens to you or a loved one.

Have you gotten confused about whom to contact for certain services? Medicare and Social Security can get confusing when signing up for both services.

Did you know that when signing up for Medicare Part A and B you sign up through the Social Security Administration? Did you know when signing up for a Part D Medicare plan you can sign up through Medicare? This can make this very confusing for many people.

The Social Security Administration has put together a wonderful cheat sheet to help you know which place to contact when you have certain questions.

Click here to see who to contact for services at both Medicare and the Social Security Administration.

Have a wonderful week!

Travis Trumitch

travis.trumitch@ageoptions.org

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This project was supported, in part by grant number 90MPPG0036, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.

The Illinois SMP at AgeOptions partners with agencies across the state to empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education.

Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area and visit our website to sign up for our Fraud Alert email list.