Scam Awareness
Medicare Scams: How to Spot Fake Calls, Cards, and Websites (And What to Do)
Here is the most important thing to know about Medicare scams: Medicare will almost never call you first.
If your phone rings and someone says they're from Medicare — asking you to confirm your Medicare number, update your card, or pay a fee — you are almost certainly talking to a criminal. The real Medicare program contacts beneficiaries almost exclusively by mail.
That one rule — Medicare doesn't cold call — protects you from the majority of Medicare fraud attempts. But the scams have grown more sophisticated. This guide covers exactly what to watch for, what to do when you get a suspicious call, and how to make sure your Medicare number stays protected.
Why Medicare Scams Target Seniors Specifically
Medicare is a goldmine for criminals, for one simple reason: your Medicare number is tied directly to your Social Security number.
The old Medicare cards — which many people still have — actually printed your Social Security number on the front. Since 2018, CMS (the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) has replaced them with random Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) numbers, but millions of the old cards are still floating around.
Getting your Medicare number gives a criminal enough information to:
- Bill Medicare for medical services, equipment, and prescriptions that were never provided
- Open new credit accounts in your name
- File fraudulent tax returns using your Social Security number
- Sell your information on the dark web to other criminals
The FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services estimated that Medicare and Medicaid fraud costs the U.S. around $60 billion per year. Most of that involves stolen beneficiary numbers — like yours.
The 5 Medicare Scams Happening Right Now
Knowing the specific scripts criminals use makes you dramatically harder to fool.
1. The "New Medicare Card" Scam
You get a call: "Congratulations — you qualify for a new Medicare card. We just need to verify your current number to process it."
This is fiction. Medicare does not call people to issue new cards. All card updates and replacements happen through Social Security Administration, and they don't require you to read your number over the phone.
The tell: Any caller who needs your Medicare number "to send you a new card" is lying.
2. The Free Equipment Scam
A caller offers you free knee braces, back supports, CPAP supplies, or other durable medical equipment at "no cost to you — Medicare covers it all." They just need your Medicare number to process the claim.
Once they have your number, they submit fraudulent bills to Medicare for equipment you never receive — and Medicare pays them from the trust fund that your taxes funded over a lifetime of work.
The tell: Unsolicited calls offering free medical equipment in exchange for your Medicare number are always scams. Legitimate suppliers work through your doctor, not through cold calls.
3. The Medicare Supplement Scam
A caller says your current Medicare coverage is changing and you need to switch to a new supplement plan to keep your current doctors. They have a "limited time offer" and need your Medicare number, bank account number, or credit card information to enroll you.
Real changes to Medicare coverage don't happen through surprise phone calls with countdown timers. Real Medicare counselors don't pressure you to decide on the spot.
The tell: Pressure to act immediately is the defining feature of this scam. Legitimate insurance options have no enrollment clock tied to a cold call.
4. The "COVID" or "Government Program" Benefits Scam
These scams dress up in current events. Callers have claimed to offer free COVID tests, special pandemic relief benefits, or new government assistance programs — all requiring your Medicare number to process.
The format changes to match whatever is in the news. The scam is the same.
The tell: Legitimate benefits programs are announced through Medicare.gov and mailed notices, not through unsolicited calls asking for your Medicare number.
5. The Fake Medicare Website
You search for Medicare information online and click a result that looks official — blue and white colors, government-looking seals, URLs that include the word "Medicare." But it's a fake site designed to harvest your personal information.
The tell: The only official Medicare website is medicare.gov — with nothing before "medicare" and nothing after "gov." Any other URL — "medicarecenter.com," "mymedicarecard.org," "medicare-benefits.net" — is not official.
What to Do When You Get a Suspicious Call
The moment something feels off, follow these steps:
Step 1: Don't give any information. You can end the call immediately. You don't owe a caller explanations, patience, or courtesy if they're demanding your Medicare number.
Step 2: Don't call back on the number they give you. Scammers control those numbers. If you want to verify a Medicare-related claim, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) directly — the number on the back of your Medicare card.
Step 3: Write down what you can. If possible, note the time, the caller's number (if it showed up on caller ID), and what they said. You'll need this if you report it.
Step 4: Report the call. You can report Medicare fraud at oig.hhs.gov or by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477). The reports matter — they help investigators identify criminal networks and shut them down.
Step 5: Check your Medicare Summary Notice. Every three months, Medicare mails a summary of what was billed on your behalf. Read it carefully. If you see claims for services, equipment, or prescriptions you never received, report it immediately at 1-800-MEDICARE.
How to Protect Your Medicare Number Going Forward
Your Medicare number is as sensitive as your Social Security number. Treat it the same way.
Don't carry your Medicare card unless you need it. Most people keep it in their wallet permanently. Instead, make a photocopy with the last four digits of the MBI number blocked out, and carry that. Bring the actual card only to appointments.
Never share your Medicare number over the phone or by email. The only people who legitimately need it are your actual healthcare providers, during actual appointments.
Store the old card if you still have one. The old card with your Social Security number on it is particularly dangerous if lost or stolen. If you still have one, keep it locked away at home — or better yet, cut it up and request a replacement at ssa.gov.
Shred everything Medicare-related before recycling. Explanation of Benefits statements, Medicare Summary Notices, and insurance documents all contain your Medicare number. Shred them — don't just toss them.
The Hidden Threat: Medical Identity Theft
Standard identity theft — someone opening credit cards in your name — gets a lot of attention. Medical identity theft is less talked about but can be more damaging.
When a criminal uses your Medicare number to bill for services, a few things can go wrong that you won't notice for months:
- Medicare may deny legitimate claims for services you actually need, because someone already billed for a similar service
- False medical records can appear in your file — including diagnoses, prescriptions, or procedures you've never had
- Sorting out fraudulent Medicare billing can take months of phone calls and paperwork
This is where active monitoring becomes important. A service that watches for your Medicare number and SSN appearing in unusual contexts can flag fraud months before you'd notice it on a quarterly summary notice.
Aura monitors your personal information — including dark web exposure, public record changes, and financial account activity — and alerts you the moment something looks wrong. If your information is being misused, you find out immediately rather than when the damage is already done. Their $1 million identity theft insurance and U.S.-based fraud resolution team also mean that if something does happen, you have real help to fix it.
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Quick Reference: Real Medicare vs. Scam Medicare
| Situation | Real Medicare | Scammer |
|---|---|---|
| How they contact you | Almost always by mail | Usually by phone, sometimes text |
| Asks for your Medicare number over the phone | Never | Always |
| Offers free equipment for your number | Never | Common tactic |
| Pressures you to decide immediately | Never | Standard pressure tactic |
| Tells you your benefits are expiring | Never | Common threat |
| Asks you to pay fees to keep coverage | Never | Common demand |
| Website address | medicare.gov only | Variations and lookalikes |
What to Do Right Now
You don't need to wait until you receive a suspicious call. Take three steps today:
- Make a copy of your Medicare card with the last four digits of your MBI number blocked. Carry the copy; store the real card at home.
- Add 1-800-MEDICARE to your contacts so you always have the real number to call back if you're unsure about a caller.
- Set up active monitoring with a service like Aura so that if your Medicare number or SSN is ever misused, you hear about it immediately — not three months from now when the paperwork catches up.
Medicare fraud affects millions of Americans every year, and the criminals who run these schemes are well-organized and convincing. But they depend on urgency and confusion to succeed. When you know the playbook, the pressure stops working.
Last updated: 2026-06-22
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