"Free" Medical Equipment Scams
Claim your free wellness watch / CPAP machine / flu shot!
Emails, texts, or door-to-door offers for "free" medical equipment — wellness watches, CPAP machines, blood pressure monitors, or flu shots — in exchange for your Medicare ID number. The equipment costs the scammer $5-20. Your Medicare number is worth far more, as scammers use it to bill Medicare for services and equipment that were never provided.
What to Watch For
- Requires your Medicare ID number to "qualify" for a free item
- Offer comes via email, text, mailer, or door-to-door solicitor
- No legitimate company gives away medical equipment for free
- The "wellness watch" or device is a cheap gadget worth pennies
- Offers seem too generous — especially during Medicare open enrollment (Oct–Dec)
Examples
""CONGRATULATIONS! As a Medicare beneficiary, you've been selected to receive a FREE Apple Watch Ultra ($799 value) to monitor your health! Simply provide your Medicare number to verify eligibility and claim your watch at free-health-watch.com.""
Why it works: The promise of a high-value free item appeals to generosity and curiosity. Medicare beneficiaries are targeted because scammers know they have valid Medicare numbers to exploit for fraudulent billing.
What to Do
Never give your Medicare number in exchange for a "free" item. Medicare does not give away watches, equipment, or gifts. Report these offers to Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE or to the HHS Office of Inspector General at oig.hhs.gov.