State consumer protection officials are issuing a warning about criminals targeting Medicare recipients. The scam comes from a group calling itself “Preferred Benefits to Seniors,” which claims the victim needs to order a new Medicare card and then asks for personal information.
State Division of Consumer Protection Administrator Sandy Chalmers says Medicare would never contact someone over the phone and then try to charge them for services or ask for sensitive personal information. She says those types of communications would usually come through the mail.
If you receive such a call, Chalmers says the best thing to do is to just hang up the phone. If you are worried the call may have been legitimate, she says you should contact Medicare directly using the number printed on your existing card.
The agency has already received at least one complaint, after a Madison woman turned over bank account information to a caller. Chalmers says the victim was able to cancel her bank account before any money was stolen.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (:53)
