SOURCE: Bridget Small, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

October is time for cooler days, warmer drinks, and the start of Medicare Open Enrollment Period. If you have Medicare, October 15 – December 7 is when you can make changes to your Medicare health and Part D prescription drug plans. About now, you’ll probably be seeing ads from plans by mail, email, phone, and on TV. You might hear from scammers, too — but how will you know?

Medicare scammers often look official. They pretend to be from or connected to Medicare, or to a business you know. Their goal? Steal your information. To avoid the scammers:

• Never give personal information to anyone who contacts you out of the blue. Even if the request seems to come from Medicare. They might ask for things like your Medicare, Social Security, or financial account numbers. But Medicare doesn’t call people unexpectedly and ask for your Medicare number or financial information. They won’t call you to sell insurance or health care products. Not sure that call is legitimate? Hang up and call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE.
• Don’t respond to anyone who seems to be from Medicare and asks for your personal info. They might reach out by phone, mail, email, social media message, or text. They might include the Medicare name. They might look or seem government-y. But as soon as they ask for your Medicare, Social Security, or financial account numbers, you know it’s a scam. The real Medicare doesn’t ask for that kind of information. Also, don’t click on links, open any attachments, or call any numbers if you get those messages. They’re probably phishing for your personal or financial information. Throw away the mail, delete the messages, or get off the phone.

Get help comparing Medicare costs, coverage, and plans from the State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) in all U.S. states and territories. To report someone pretending to be from Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE, then tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov