Dear Sheri: How Can I Tell If a Medicare Call Is Real?

Dear Sheri,‍

My mother is very independent, but lately she has been receiving phone calls from people claiming to be from Medicare. They tell her they need to verify her Medicare number or that she needs a new Medicare card. How can we tell what is real?

—Concerned Daughter

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Dear Concerned Daughter,

You are right to be cautious. Unfortunately, Medicare scams are becoming more sophisticated, and scammers can sound incredibly convincing.

My rule is simple: If someone unexpectedly calls, texts, emails, or approaches you asking for your Medicare number, Social Security number, bank information, credit card information, or money, stop and think before you respond.

Never allow someone to pressure you into making a decision immediately. If you are unsure whether a call is legitimate, hang up and contact Medicare directly using an official phone number.

And remember: Caller ID is not proof that a call is legitimate. Scammers can make a phone number appear to belong to a trusted organization.

With love,

Sheri

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