RIO GRANDE – Dolores Rambo, an investigator with Cape May County Consumer Affairs-Weights & Measures, warns of possible scams that may be directed toward persons covered by Medicare as new Medicare cards are being issued.
Beginning in April 2018 Medicare will issue new cards to all Medicare recipients. The new cards will no longer use Social Security numbers. Instead, members will be identified by a unique, 11-character identity composed of numbers and letters.
The old cards contained Social Security numbers, getting rid of those numbers should help reduce fraud, according to a release.
According to Medicare, the new cards will be sent automatically.
Warning of Scams
Tip 1: Medicare will never call, email or text to ask for personal information. This means that if a person receives a communication asking for personal information, it’s a scam.
Tip 2: The new cards cost nothing. If a caller asks for a fee to expedite or process shipment of the new card, it’s a scam.
Tip 3: Medicare will not contact people via phone, email, or text to discuss their “new benefits” or find out if they have received a new card. Medicare benefits are not changing just because new cards are being sent out.
Tip 4: If someone calls, emails, or texts and claims that one’s Medicare benefits are in danger of being canceled unless they pay a fee or share their information, it’s a scam.
Tip 5: Medicare does not accept payment in the form of gift cards, wired money, or credit cards. If someone asks to be sent money, it’s a scam.
The county Consumer Affairs Office is located in the Social Services Building, 4005 Route 9 South, Rio Grande.Its phone numbers are 609-886-2903 or 609-886-2904 Fax: 609-886-2906.
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