Medicare card scam hits valley

Winnie Greenshields, volunteer coordinator of the local Senior Medicare Patrol, warns seniors that two local people have been contacted in a new scam to obtain Medicare card numbers.

 A warning sent out gave the example of a man who was awakened at 7 a.m. by a phone caller who said he was calling to get information for a new type of Medicare card to replace his old one.

Still half asleep, the man gave the caller the information, then later realized he had been a victim of identity theft.

Greenshields said there is no new type of Medicare card.

Scammers may sell the number and other information obtained to criminals who use it for fraudulent billings to Medicare that may reduce the victim’s access to limited benefits.

If you are victimized happens, the Senior Medicare Patrol recommends:

1. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to alert them if your Medicare number has been compromised.

2. Call the Montana Senior Medical Patrol Office at 1-800-551-3191.

3. Call Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS(1-800-447-8477).

4. Call the Consumer Protection Office at 1-800-481-6897.

5. Call your bank immediately if you gave out account information.

6. Contact the Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft helpline at 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338).

7. File a police report.

8. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports and review your credit reports.

Montana has 10 Senior Medical Patrol organizations of trained retired professionals who work with older adults and caregivers on ways to prevent, detect and report health care fraud, errors and abuse.