Authorities Warn About Medicare Card Scam

From the Brazos Valley Council of Governments

The Brazos Valley Council of Governments and the Area Agency on Aging is warning Medicare beneficiaries about a scam regarding new Medicare Cards.

Morenike Aboaba, Program Manager at the Aging and Disability Resource Center, says new Medicare cards, which will be mailed out after June 2018, are meant to prevent identity theft by not using the beneficiary’s Social Security number. However, scammers are still making calls.

“Sometimes they will offer them gifts or money in exchange for that personal information, and it should be noted that Medicare and Social Security are not going to call you on the phone unless they sent out a letter first advising that they will contact you,” said Aboaba.

Stacey Urbanczyk, Aging Program Specialist with the Area Agency on Aging, said if your address is up to date, there are no other steps you need to take to receive your new card.

“These new cards are free, so if somebody calls and asks for money regarding them, hang up. And you do not have to do anything to receive this Medicare card at all,” said Urbanczyk.

If you think you have been a victim of a scam or contacted by a scammer, contact the Texas Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-888-341-6187.

From the Brazos Valley Council of Governments

Click below to hear Morenike Aboaba and Stacey Urbanczyk visiting with WTAW’s Chelsea Reber.

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