"New" Medicare Card Scams are Back
Over the past six months, we have been seeing an increase in "new" Medicare card scams. In 2018, everyone received a new Medicare card in the mail. Scammers are now trying to use this old scam with a new twist.

How the scam works is that the fraudsters will call a beneficiary and ask them if they have received their "new" card in the mail. They tell them that the new card is either gold, plastic or has a chip in it. They will then ask the beneficiary to confirm all their personal information and then the consumer never receives that new "card." Please remember that Medicare will NEVER call you.
 
If you or someone you know has a been a victim of a potential Medicare card scam, please call the Illinois SMP Hotline at (800)699-9043.

Please visit www.illinoissmp.org to download the tip sheet above and all of our other tip sheets to help prevent Medicare fraud.
As noted in our story above, this “new” Medicare card scam has resurfaced as a frequent call to the SMP Hotline. Here are two news articles about this scam.

AARP first reported on these Medicare card scams in September of 2020. You can read the article from AARP here.

Illinois isn't the only state seeing the resurgence of this scam. In February of 2022, WGAL of Lancaster, PA reported on this scam as well. You can see the report here.

If you or someone you know has a been a victim of a potential Medicare card scam, please call the Illinois SMP Hotline at (800)699-9043.
April and May 2022 Workshops

In-Person Only
SMP Basics - April 27th at 10:00 am
Stickney Township Office on Aging – 7745 Leamington Ave, Burbank, IL 60459

SMP Basics – May 10th at 10:00 am
In person: Plymouth Place - Dole Hall - 315 N La Grange Rd, La Grange Park, IL 60526
SMP – Types of Medicare Fraud – May 12th at 10:40 am
In person: Mt Carmel Church Meal Site - 1101 23rd Ave, Melrose Park, IL 60160

SMP – Basics – May 25th at 1:30 pm
In person: Maywood Park District - 921 S 9th Ave, Maywood, IL 60153

SMP – Basics – May 26th at 11:30 am
In person: Markham Senior Dinning Site - 16310 S. Kedzie, Markham IL

Hybrid (Zoom and in-person options)
SMP – Tips on How to Prevent Medicare Fraud – May 3rd at 10:00 am
In-person: Schiller Park Recreation Center - 9638 Irving Park Rd, Schiller Park, IL 60176
Call: 312 626 6799 Meeting ID: 897 677 570 83#

SMP Basics – May 6th at 10:00 am
In-person: Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library - 3541 Park Ave, Brookfield, IL 60513

SMP – Types of Medicare Fraud – May 17th at 1:00 pm
In person: Lan-Oak Park District -2550 178th St, Lansing, IL 60438

Zoom Only
SMP – Tips to Prevent Medicare Fraud - May 18th at 10:00 am
Eisenhower Public Library
Phone: 312-626-6799 Meeting ID: 874 930 628 12#

SMP – Tips to Prevent Medicare Fraud – May 19th at 6:30 pm
Richton Park Public Library
Have a wonderful week!

Travis Trumitch
travis.trumitch@ageoptions.org
Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area. If you would like to sign up to receive the Fraud Alert directly, visit click here.

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.