Medicare Scam Impacts Older Adults in Virginia

The New River Valley Agency on Aging has received an alert on a Medicare scam unfolding in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Scammers are representing themselves as Medicare representatives and altering the appearance of the caller ID to make it seem as if the call is coming from 1-800 Medicare (1-800-633-4227).

So far, Virginia Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) has received complaints from a dozen beneficiaries who fell for the scam and provided their new Medicare number. Some beneficiaries were asked for their height and weight. It is believed that the scammers are using this information to order Durable Medical Equipment supplies that are not necessary or needed.

If a consumer responds to a caller and gives out personal identifying information accidentally, or even if they feel their number may have been compromised (example: their mail was opened), they should call 1-800-Medicare and request a new number, indicating they feel they were scammed.  800 Customer Service Reps at Medicare will note in the person’s record and will ask additional questions needed to request a re-assignment.

Remember these helpful tips:

• Medicare will likely never call a beneficiary. They will never ask for your Medicare number; they have your number and identifying information in their database.

• Never give out personal or identifying information over the phone, even if the caller ID appears to be from a local personal or business number. Fraudulent calls are now being “spoofed”, or bounced from local numbers in your area.

• If a caller pressures you over the telephone, you have the right to hang up and terminate the call.

• If a consumer responds to a caller and gives out personal identifying information accidentally, or even if they feel their number may have been compromised (example: their mail was opened), they should call 1-800-Medicare and request a new number, indicating they feel they were scammed. 800 Customer Service Reps will note in the person’s record and will ask additional questions needed to request a re-assignment.

Please call our VICAP office if you have questions. We will share additional details as they become available to our Agency. To better protect our senior population, please share this post on your personal and business pages.

Remember, never give out personal/identifying information over the phone and if pressured by the caller, you have the right to hang up and terminate the call.

If a consumer responds to a caller and gives out personal identifying information accidentally, or even if they feel their number may have been compromised (example: their mail was opened), they should call 1-800-Medicare and request a new number, indicating they feel they were scammed. 800 Customer Service Reps will note in the person’s record and will ask additional questions needed to request a re-assignment.

Please call our VICAP office if you have questions. We will share additional details as they become available to our Agency. To better protect our senior population, please share this post on your personal and business pages.

Remember, never give out personal/identifying information over the phone and if pressured by the caller, you have the right to hang up and terminate the call.

The New River Valley Agency on Aging is a Governmental Cooperative serving the Counties of Giles, Montgomery, Floyd and Pulaski and the City of Radford. To learn more about our services, please call the office at 540.980.7720 or visit www.nrvaoa.org.