New Medicare cards may bring about more scams

New Medicare cards are on their way to everyone enrolled in the program. Cards will be mailed automatically and free of charge. People should be wary of anyone calling to offer assistance with the cards or to request money or personal information, says Brenda Procter, University of Missouri associate extension professor.

“Any time changes are made to programs that target the elderly, scam artists come out of the woodwork,” says Procter.

If someone calls claiming to be from Medicare and asks for your Social Security number or bank information, hang up, she says. “People who call offering help with your cards are scam artists who want your money.”

Scammers may even threaten to cancel your benefits if you don’t give up information. Medicare will never ask for your Social Security number or bank information, Procter says.

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