Fake Medicare Representatives
Your Medicare card has been cancelled — verify now!
Scammers call or text claiming to be from Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), or a "Medicare eligibility specialist." They claim your card has been compromised, your benefits will be suspended, or you qualify for an exclusive plan upgrade. They want your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank information.
What to Watch For
- Medicare will never call you unsolicited asking for your Medicare number
- Caller ID shows "Medicare" or a government number (it's spoofed)
- Threats that your coverage or benefits will be cancelled
- Pressure to act immediately during "open enrollment" or "system updates"
- Caller knows your name or zip code (your information was leaked elsewhere)
Examples
""Hello, this is Sarah from Medicare member services. We've detected that your Medicare card has been compromised in a data breach. To issue a replacement, I need to verify your Social Security number and date of birth.""
Why it works: Uses Medicare-specific terminology ("data breach," "replacement card") to sound authentic. The caller ID is spoofed to show a real Medicare number.
What to Do
Medicare will never call you asking for your Medicare number or SSN. Hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) yourself using the official number. If you're concerned about your card, visit medicare.gov directly.