Impersonation of Medicaid/Medicare Employees
A scammer will call you and purport to be an employee of Medicare and ask for personal identifying information. Please note that this is a scam intended to use your information for nefarious actions. Legitimate businesses will not call you and ask you for personal identifying information over the phone or to make changes to your benefits or policy.
In one instance, the caller purported to be giving upgraded benefits that came with an upgraded plastic card to replace the paper card. The caller indicated it was a “policy change” to benefit the recipients. The caller continues trying to gain your trust by indicating they do not need a social security number; just the member benefit number for your Medicaid/Medicare. They claim to already have it but want you to repeat it to them to confirm. After giving the member benefit number, they tell you it comes back as an error and they then start to ask for other personal information.
Takoma Park Police would like to remind everyone to be cautious about who they talk to and to never blindly give personal information to anyone. Government agencies will not call or text asking for your personal information.
If someone asks you for your information, for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your personal details, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit medicare.gov.
