Open enrollment gives scammers prime opportunity to target your medical benefits

PITTSBURGH — Each year scammers are evolving, but one thing that rarely changes is the population they target.

“Typically, with Medicare it focuses more on senior citizens,” said Caitlin Driscoll with the BBB of Western PA.

Right now, the Medicare Open Enrollment period is underway. It’s this time of year that police departments see a spike in a report of scammer phone calls. This year it’s already happening.

“We’ve received a couple reports through scam tracker as the enrollment periods have been happening especially dealing with robocalls,” Driscoll said.

According to the Better Business Bureau of Western PA, it’s important to know the red flags.

“Victims of these scams have reported to BBB Scam tracker that the people are claiming to be government representatives or health care advocates who are going to help you navigate you through the options and of course all you have to do to get started is provide them with some personal information,” Driscoll said.

That’s the key. The BBB told Channel 11 any situation that asks for your Medicare ID number or social security number is likely a scam. The best solution is to hang up the phone.

But what do you do if you do provide that info to a potential scammer?

“Definitely put a fraud alert or credit freeze on your credit report to protect yourself from incidents of identity theft,” Driscoll said.

Driscoll said the best way for you to protect your loved one is to have these conversations about red flags. Some other telling signs include gifts or incentives to sign up or a representative saying you will lose coverage if you don’t give out the information.

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