Medicare scam calls target seniors with offers of free medical equipment, fake benefit updates, or threats that coverage will be cancelled unless you verify your Medicare number. These calls harvest Medicare IDs and personal information for identity theft and fraudulent billing. 1,120 medicare scam phone numbers reports have been filed by Chicago residents. In Illinois, residents filed 186,426 fraud reports last year totalling $318 million in losses (FTC Consumer Sentinel).
How this scam works in Chicago
Caller claims to be from Medicare or a Medicare-approved provider
They offer free knee braces, back supports, or other medical equipment
They ask for your Medicare ID to 'process the benefit'
Your Medicare ID is then used for fraudulent billing and identity theft
Red flags Chicago residents have reported
Unsolicited offer of free medical equipment in exchange for your Medicare number
Claim that Medicare has updated its benefits and you need to verify
Threat that your coverage will be cancelled
Request for your Medicare ID, Social Security number, or bank information
What to do if you get this call in Chicago
Hang up — Medicare does not call offering free equipment unsolicited
Never give your Medicare ID to an incoming caller
Call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) if concerned
Report Medicare fraud to 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477)