If you or a family member are on Medicare, there is a scam hitting Tennessee and the Southeast right now that you need to know about immediately.
Callers impersonate Medicare representatives and tell seniors they qualify for new "extra benefits." They ask for your Medicare number to "activate" these benefits. Once they have it, they bill Medicare fraudulently in your name — sometimes thousands of dollars.
What the call sounds like
It usually starts with a robocall: "This is an important message from Medicare. You may be eligible for new extra benefits available in your area. Press 1 to speak with a Medicare representative." When you press 1, a live person picks up who sounds professional and may already know your name and address.
Why people believe it
These scammers often already know your name, the last 4 digits of your Social Security number, and your general location — purchased from data brokers or obtained through data breaches. This detail makes them sound legitimate before they ask for anything sensitive.
What they do with your Medicare number
Your Medicare number is tied directly to your Social Security number. Once a scammer has it they can bill Medicare for services you never received, sell your number to other criminals, and use it for broader identity theft. Medicare fraud costs taxpayers billions each year.
- Unsolicited call claiming to be from Medicare
- Told you qualify for "new" or "extra" benefits
- Asked to "verify" your Medicare number
- Urgency — "you must act today"
- Asked to pay any fee to receive benefits
What to do right now
- Hang up immediately. Do not press 1, do not engage.
- Never give your Medicare number to someone who called you unsolicited.
- Check your Medicare Summary Notice regularly for charges you don't recognize.
- Report it to 1-800-MEDICARE and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- If you gave your number, call 1-800-MEDICARE immediately to report fraud and request a new card.
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