[ARRL-OK] New Medicare cards warning

[D C _Mac_ Macdonald]

Warning


(Watch out for this scam.)


Pass this on to your friends.  Yes, we will get new Medicare cards but NO one will call us.

Just a heads up that there is a scam going around involving the new Medicare Cards coming out in April.

Pass it along.  It might come in handy to know Medicare will never call you on the phone.

It is true that the new cards will be sent out from April 2018 to April 2019. Medicare has also warned on scams.  They do not charge for cards or want your personal information over the phone.

This change is coming up.  DO NOT give out any information over the phone.

Medicare Cards without Social Security Numbers Coming ..<https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Foig.ssa.gov%2Fnewsroom%2Fblog%2Fjune16-new-medicare-cards&data=02%7C01%7C%7Ca101dbbaafd2438864c408d577907fc5%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636546384857412755&sdata=eY%2F9Q5RLjk2Ske1mfn0onJZklwvyvLGkZF0FpmFK2Vk%3D&reserved=0>




This is pretty important to get to people with Medicare, their families, and friends or adult kids who help parents with Medicare.

I have just gotten word about the newest Medicare scam from an organization I educate for, Texas Senior Medicare Patrol, a division within the Better Business Bureau.

Here's what you need to know to protect yourself, family and friends, throughout the US.

Starting 4/1/18 Medicare will start a year-long project to replace all current Medicare cards for beneficiaries to convert to alphanumeric ID numbers.  Currently, the ID number is your social security number.  This is starting to hit the media.

Scammers are opportunistic.

First of all the new Medicare card will come to you in the mail You don't need to request it or do anything.  It will show up sometime between 4/1/2018 and 3/31/2019.

WHAT'S THE SCAM

Somebody from "MEDICARE " will call to tell you that you are getting a new Medicare card.  But until it comes you will need a temporary card.  The fake fee for the card is between $5-50 dollars.  They want personal information, bank account or credit card so they can process your temporary card.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Medicare will never call you unless you ask them to.
Medicare does all communication by mail unless you ask them to call.
Ditto for anybody saying they "work with Medicare to make sure you get everything you are entitled to."  Scammer alert

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THIS ONE?

First of all, spread the word.  Feel free to share these notes
Use your answering machine to screen calls or just don't even answer a number you don't recognize.

If it has happened to you or your friends or loved ones and personal info had been given out (happens considerably more often than you think so don't feel bad or stupid) immediately take action to protect yourself against identity theft.