How to avoid scammers this open enrollment season
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Although the holiday season is meant for spreading cheer, scammers are on the prowl hoping to steal from people looking for insurance coverage. Open enrollment season is here and the AARP says during this time of year, Virginia's seniors are most at risk. The Medicare enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 and this is when insurance experts warn Medicare fraud scams are at their peak. “They're basically hoping to play on our emotions and get us confused as far as doing a selection of Medicare things. And also because of this, the scammers can work their scams a lot better now," said Martin Bailey, an AARP community ambassador. The organization says scammers will pose as legitimate insurance providers telling people about free limited offers, free gifts or problems with their coverage. “What they're looking for really is personally identifiable information like a match, your card number, your Social Security number, your banking information, as well as obviously money," said Bailey. READ MORE: What to know about buying health insurance through the Virginia Insurance Marketplace The Federal Trade Commission says scammers will ask for your Medicare, bank account or credit card number to receive a new card. Bailey says this is a red flag because you will not have to pay for a Medicare card. “No government agency is going to call you, email you, text you or message you on social media asking you to verify your Medicare number or social security street number or any other personal identifiable information," said Bailey. Bailey says you should not share your personal information over the phone or fall for so-called "free offers." To avoid a scammer you can not answer calls you don't recognize, hang up if someone calls claiming they are affiliated with Medicare and if a deal sounds too good to be true, hang up and call the company back on a number you can verify. “It will happen to you. The question is when. And the only really when I give all my fraud lectures and the only real defense we have now is your due diligence and vigilance," said Bailey. If you are looking for insurance help you are encouraged to use the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program. To report fraud or scams you can contact the Virginia Attorney General's Office, call 1-800-MEDICARE or contact the Federal Trade Commission.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Although the holiday season is meant for spreading cheer, scammers are on the prowl hoping to steal from people looking for insurance coverage.
Open enrollment season is here and the AARP says during this time of year, Virginia's seniors are most at risk. The Medicare enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 and this is when insurance experts warn Medicare fraud scams are at their peak.
“They're basically hoping to play on our emotions and get us confused as far as doing a selection of Medicare things. And also because of this, the scammers can work their scams a lot better now," said Martin Bailey, an AARP community ambassador.
The organization says scammers will pose as legitimate insurance providers telling people about free limited offers, free gifts or problems with their coverage.
“What they're looking for really is personally identifiable information like a match, your card number, your Social Security number, your banking information, as well as obviously money," said Bailey.
READ MORE: What to know about buying health insurance through the Virginia Insurance Marketplace
The Federal Trade Commission says scammers will ask for your Medicare, bank account or credit card number to receive a new card. Bailey says this is a red flag because you will not have to pay for a Medicare card.
“No government agency is going to call you, email you, text you or message you on social media asking you to verify your Medicare number or social security street number or any other personal identifiable information," said Bailey.
Bailey says you should not share your personal information over the phone or fall for so-called "free offers." To avoid a scammer you can not answer calls you don't recognize, hang up if someone calls claiming they are affiliated with Medicare and if a deal sounds too good to be true, hang up and call the company back on a number you can verify.
“It will happen to you. The question is when. And the only really when I give all my fraud lectures and the only real defense we have now is your due diligence and vigilance," said Bailey.
If you are looking for insurance help you are encouraged to use the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program.
To report fraud or scams you can contact the Virginia Attorney General's Office, call 1-800-MEDICARE or contact the Federal Trade Commission.
