Medicare Scam Check: Spot Fake Calls, Cards & Offers

Medicare scams can arrive by phone, text, email, website, or mail. They may involve medical equipment, requests for your Medicare number or money, or someone posing as an official. This guide helps older adults and families pause, recognize warning signs, and check with official sources before acting.

Updated October 15, 2026

Verify Before You Act

Before you give anyone your Medicare number, change a plan, send money, or trust an urgent Medicare message, independently verify who you are dealing with.

Medicare Open Enrollment scams: what to watch for right now

Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. In 2026, this is the October 15–December 7 window for changes taking effect January 1, 2027. More legitimate plan advertising, mail, calls, emails, and search results can make a suspicious approach seem ordinary. Not all Medicare marketing is fraudulent.

In its September 28, 2026 warning, the Federal Trade Commission explained that scammers and dishonest businesses may pay to appear at the top of search results and use lookalike government addresses or official-looking logos. In separate May 28, 2026 guidance, the FTC said Medicare losses from fraud, errors, and abuse cost taxpayers about $60 billion each year—not fraud alone.

The safest response is not panic. It is to slow down and independently verify who you are dealing with before sharing personal information, choosing a plan, or sending money.

Official guidance: Medicare.gov: Open Enrollment · FTC: What to know ahead of Open Enrollment to avoid health insurance scams (September 28, 2026) · FTC: Medicare fraud affects everyone—what to know and do (May 28, 2026)

1. Unexpected Medicare calls and impersonators

A caller may say they work for Medicare and need your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank details to verify your benefits. Caller ID can be spoofed, so a name or phone number on your screen is not proof of identity.

Medicare generally will not unexpectedly call asking for private information, and it does not call to sell you anything. Limited legitimate contact can occur after you contacted Medicare, left a message, reported fraud, joined a plan, or otherwise initiated or authorized contact. A Medicare plan may also contact members or people who gave permission. Ask: did you initiate or authorize this conversation? If not, end it and verify independently.

  • Do not confirm your Medicare number or other personal details to an unexpected caller.
  • End the call and independently dial 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
  • Do not use a callback number or link supplied by the person you are checking.

Official guidance: Medicare.gov: Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse · Medicare.gov: Your Medicare Card · FTC: Medicare fraud affects everyone—what to know and do (May 28, 2026)

2. “Your benefits will be canceled” and other pressure tactics

Someone may threaten to cancel your benefits unless you pay a fee, update your information immediately, or switch plans. Medicare.gov advises hanging up and calling Medicare when a caller asks for information or money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits.

A real deadline is not a reason to trust an unknown person. Independently verify any notice, coverage question, or request before responding. Do not assume every notice is fraudulent; check it using official contact information.

  • Pause if someone demands immediate action or tells you not to speak with family.
  • Keep the letter, text, email, or voicemail so you can describe it when you call Medicare.
  • Do not pay a caller to keep benefits active or accept pressure to sign an enrollment form.

Official guidance: Medicare.gov: Your Medicare Card · Medicare.gov: Marketing rules for health plans

3. Replacement or “new Medicare card” scams

A scammer may claim you need a replacement, updated, plastic, or chip-enabled Medicare card and ask for money or personal information. Other claims include “your new card needs activation,” “your account needs updating,” or “your coverage needs to be reactivated.” A request to pay or confirm your Medicare number to an unsolicited caller is a warning sign.

If your card is lost or damaged, use your secure Medicare.gov account to print or order an official copy, or call 1-800-MEDICARE to request a replacement. Do not enter your Medicare number into a card-replacement link sent by an unknown person.

Official guidance: Medicare.gov: Your Medicare Card · FTC: Medicare fraud affects everyone—what to know and do (May 28, 2026)

4. Fake Medicare search results and lookalike websites

The first search result is not necessarily Medicare.gov. The FTC's September 2026 warning describes paid search ads using Medicare-related keywords, official-looking logos, government-style designs, or lookalike website addresses.

A sponsored result is not proof of government affiliation, and not every sponsored Medicare advertisement is fraudulent. For official Medicare information, type Medicare.gov directly into your browser and check the actual domain—not just the logo or wording. Do not blindly use a phone number from a paid search result.

  • Look for small “Ad” or “Sponsored” labels to identify paid results.
  • Use the official Medicare.gov address rather than a similar-looking name.
  • Avoid links and QR codes in a suspicious message; find the official organization yourself.

Official guidance: FTC: What to know ahead of Open Enrollment to avoid health insurance scams (September 28, 2026)

5. Suspicious Medicare Advantage and enrollment offers

An unsolicited offer may promise extra benefits or push you to switch coverage before you have checked the details. Legitimate private-plan marketing is different from government Medicare communication; verify both the sender and the claims.

People representing Medicare plans generally cannot call unless you are already a member or gave permission. They cannot pressure you to enroll by saying you will otherwise have no coverage next year, charge a fee to process your enrollment, or ask you to sign before you are ready.

Use Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE for official information and help identifying your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). SHIP provides free local Medicare counseling. VerifyBefore does not recommend plans or determine whether coverage is appropriate for you.

  • An agent representing a private plan is not the same as a government Medicare representative.
  • Do not join a plan during an unexpected call; contact an official source yourself first.
  • If you believe you enrolled because of misleading information, call 1-800-MEDICARE and explain what happened.

Official guidance: Medicare.gov: Open Enrollment · Medicare.gov: Marketing rules for health plans · Medicare.gov: Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse

6. “Free” equipment, supplies, services, or medical tests

HHS-OIG warns about callers and advertisements offering supposedly free braces in exchange for Medicare information. That information can be used to bill Medicare for equipment you did not request or need.

The same warning applies to unsolicited offers of diagnostic or genetic tests, health products, supplies, or services. Medicare's fraud-protection publication warns about claims that equipment or a service is free and only your Medicare number is needed.

Some legitimate benefits cover equipment or tests, but an unexpected “Medicare covers everything—we just need your number” claim deserves verification. Fraudulent billing can affect your Medicare record and may interfere with later benefits or legitimate claims; the outcome is not automatic. Discuss equipment or services with a health care provider you know and trust. This guide does not determine medical necessity or coverage.

  • Hang up on an unsolicited offer of a free brace that will be billed to Medicare.
  • Check with your physician if equipment arrives that you did not request; HHS-OIG advises not accepting equipment unless your physician ordered it.
  • Keep sender details and records of unexpected deliveries, and check your Medicare statements.

Official guidance: HHS-OIG: Fraud Alert—Nationwide Brace Scam · Medicare/CMS: Protecting Yourself From Fraud (PDF) · Medicare.gov: Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse

7. Fake refunds, rebates, and benefit payments

Treat an unexpected promise of a Medicare refund, rebate, or benefit payment as unverified—especially if someone asks for your Medicare number, bank details, or a payment to release it.

Do not use the message's link or phone number to check the claim. Independently contact Medicare or your verified plan using official contact information. A promise of money is not proof that an offer is legitimate.

Official guidance: Medicare.gov: Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse · Medicare.gov: Your Medicare Card · FTC: Medicare fraud affects everyone—what to know and do (May 28, 2026)

8. Spoofed caller ID and staged official-looking video calls

Caller ID is not proof of identity. Someone can make a call appear to come from a real agency, office, business, or government phone number. Do not call back a number simply because it appeared on your screen.

On September 29, 2026, FBI Newark warned about people impersonating federal law enforcement agents, using real agents' names and spoofing government office numbers. One impersonator staged a video-call background to resemble an FBI office, with a desk, seal, and a person in a suit.

This was not specifically a Medicare scam. It is a broader government-impersonation example: a seal, badge, uniform, professional office, video meeting, or real employee name does not establish who is contacting you. Confirming that an employee exists is not the same as confirming that the employee contacted you.

If an unexpected Medicare-related caller uses these signals as proof, end the conversation and contact the organization through details you found independently. Our voice-cloning guide explains why a familiar-sounding voice also needs verification.

Official guidance: FBI Newark: Government-impersonation warning (September 29, 2026; not Medicare-specific)

Medicare scam red flags

One warning sign does not prove fraud. An unexpected request for sensitive information combined with pressure is a strong reason to pause and verify.

  • An unexpected contact wants your Medicare number, Social Security number, bank details, or payment.
  • They push an urgent coverage change, account update, or new-card activation.
  • “Free” equipment, tests, or services depend on sharing your Medicare number.
  • A site or sponsored search result claims to be official Medicare but uses a lookalike address rather than Medicare.gov.
  • They tell you not to involve family, a caregiver, Medicare, your bank, or another trusted person.
  • They demand gift cards, cryptocurrency, a wire transfer, cash, or another unusual payment method.
  • They use caller ID, a badge, a seal, an office, or a video meeting as their only proof.
  • They become more threatening when you ask to verify independently.

Official guidance: Medicare.gov: Your Medicare Card · FTC: What to know ahead of Open Enrollment to avoid health insurance scams (September 28, 2026) · Medicare/CMS: Protecting Yourself From Fraud (PDF) · FBI Newark: Government-impersonation warning (September 29, 2026; not Medicare-specific)

Medicare identity theft and suspicious claims

Medical identity theft happens when someone uses your personal information without permission. Review Medicare statements and claims for services, equipment, dates, or providers you do not recognize.

A billing mistake is not automatically fraud. Contact the provider's office through a known number about an incorrect charge. If you suspect fraud or someone else using your Medicare number, call 1-800-MEDICARE.

  • Compare your appointments and services with your Medicare statements.
  • Use a secure Medicare.gov account to view Original Medicare claims as they are processed.
  • Keep copies of suspicious claims or statements for an official report.

Official guidance: Medicare.gov: Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse · Medicare.gov: Your Medicare Card

The 5-step check before you share anything

Stop the conversation before sharing information, paying, clicking a link, or changing coverage. Verification should come from an independently chosen official source—not from the same message you are checking.

  1. End the conversation and contact Medicare yourself

    Dial 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or use Medicare.gov or your Medicare card. TTY: 1-877-486-2048. For plan-specific questions, use your existing plan card or official plan documents. Ask whether the actual communication and request are genuine—not just whether a named employee exists.

  2. Do not use contact information from the suspicious message

    Do not click its link, scan its QR code, call its number, reply, or follow website instructions supplied by the caller. Type Medicare.gov directly into your browser. Caller ID can be spoofed.

  3. Treat your Medicare number like a credit card number

    Do not share it with an unexpected contact. Give it only when appropriately needed by verified providers, insurers, plans, authorized representatives, trusted people helping with Medicare, or official programs.

  4. Get free, unbiased help

    SHIP offers local Medicare counseling at no cost: call 1-877-839-2675 and say “Medicare” when prompted. Senior Medicare Patrol helps prevent, detect, and report suspected Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse: call 1-877-808-2468. A trusted family member, caregiver, or advocate can also help you pause and review.

  5. Use VerifyBefore as another pause-and-check tool

    Use the existing message-review tool for mailers, emails, texts, ads, screenshots, letters, payment requests, or documents. For a call, describe what was claimed, requested, and shown on caller ID or a website. Remove sensitive numbers first. VerifyBefore identifies warning signs and verification gaps; it cannot authenticate a representative or guarantee legitimacy. Verify consequential decisions with Medicare, your plan, SHIP, or another appropriate official source.

Official guidance: Medicare.gov: Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse · Medicare.gov: Your Medicare Card · Medicare.gov: Marketing rules for health plans · SHIP: Free, unbiased local Medicare counseling · SHIP: Medicare complaints and beneficiary resources, including SHIP and SMP phone numbers · Senior Medicare Patrol: Prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud

What to do if you already shared information or paid

You do not need to wait for a suspicious claim to appear. Stop contact and tell Medicare what you shared and when. Medicare.gov directs people who suspect misuse of their Medicare number to call 1-800-MEDICARE.

If you suspect identity theft or shared personal information with someone you should not have, use the FTC's IdentityTheft.gov for recovery guidance. If bank or card information was also exposed or money was sent, contact your bank or card issuer through a verified channel.

If you shared your Medicare number, call 1-800-MEDICARE and explain that it may have been exposed. Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-877-808-2468 can also help. Review Medicare Summary Notices and claims for services or equipment you did not receive and providers you do not recognize.

If you shared banking or card details, explain the exposure to your bank or card provider using independently obtained contact information. Ask about appropriate protective steps. If you sent money, our scam recovery guide explains immediate actions and official organizations that may help. Reimbursement or recovery is not guaranteed.

There is no advantage to handling suspected fraud alone. Scammers use urgency, authority, familiarity, and confusion to push people into acting before they verify. A trusted family member, caregiver, advocate, or qualified professional can make the next step easier.

  • Save messages, caller details, receipts, letters, and screenshots. Do not post your Medicare number publicly.
  • Call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask what steps are appropriate for your situation.
  • Review claims and statements for unfamiliar activity.
  • If a plan change happened because of misleading information, explain it to Medicare and ask about available options.

Official guidance: Medicare.gov: Your Medicare Card · Medicare.gov: Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse · Medicare.gov: Marketing rules for health plans · FTC: IdentityTheft.gov · Senior Medicare Patrol: Prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud

Official reporting and help

For suspected Medicare fraud or misuse of your Medicare number, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227); TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. Medicare.gov also links to HHS-OIG's online fraud-reporting service.

HHS-OIG accepts reports of suspected fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare and other HHS programs. Its hotline is 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477). A report does not guarantee an investigation, refund, or recovery.

Use the FTC's ReportFraud.ftc.gov for scam reports and IdentityTheft.gov for identity-theft recovery guidance. For internet-enabled fraud, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is another appropriate reporting channel. Senior Medicare Patrol can help you understand Medicare-related reporting options. You do not need to report to every agency; choose the resources appropriate to what happened. Provide sensitive information only through verified official reporting channels.

Official guidance: Medicare.gov: Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse · HHS-OIG: Report Fraud, Waste, and Abuse · FTC: Medicare fraud affects everyone—what to know and do (May 28, 2026) · FTC: IdentityTheft.gov · FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov · Senior Medicare Patrol: Prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud · FBI: Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

How VerifyBefore can help—and what it cannot do

VerifyBefore provides another pause-and-check tool before you act. It can review Medicare mailers, screenshots, emails, letters, texts, advertisements, documents, payment requests, and enrollment communications for warning signs and verification gaps, and explain risk signals in plain English. For phone calls, describe what happened.

It cannot authenticate a caller, prove a message is genuine, determine whether a Medicare plan is appropriate, make medical or insurance recommendations, or replace Medicare, your plan, a trusted health care provider, or qualified counseling. Remove Medicare numbers, Social Security numbers, account details, and other sensitive information before submitting material for review.

Review a Suspicious Message

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Medicare call people during Open Enrollment?

Medicare generally will not unexpectedly call to ask for private information or sell you something. Limited legitimate contact can occur after you contacted Medicare, joined a plan, reported fraud, left a message, or otherwise initiated or authorized contact. Medicare plans may contact members or people who gave permission. If you were not expecting the call, end it and independently dial 1-800-MEDICARE.

Should I give someone my Medicare number over the phone?

Do not give it to an unexpected caller. Medicare advises protecting your Medicare number like a credit card number. Share it only when appropriately needed by verified health care providers, insurers, plans, or trusted people and programs that work with Medicare. Independently initiate contact through an official channel before responding to a suspicious request.

Is there a fee for a new Medicare card?

Do not pay an unsolicited caller who says you need a new or replacement Medicare card. Medicare.gov provides official ways to print or order a replacement through your secure account or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. Use those channels rather than a paid offer or link from someone you do not know.

What should I do if I gave a scammer my Medicare number?

Stop contact, keep records, and call 1-800-MEDICARE to explain that your number may have been exposed. Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-877-808-2468 can also help. Review Medicare Summary Notices and claims for unfamiliar providers, services, or equipment. If you suspect identity theft, use IdentityTheft.gov for recovery guidance. Act quickly with any affected bank or card issuer if payment details were also shared.

How can I verify whether a Medicare message is real?

Do not rely on caller ID, a logo, or contact details in the suspicious message. Type Medicare.gov yourself or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). For plan-specific questions, use a verified number on your existing plan card. VerifyBefore can flag warning signs in a message, but cannot authenticate a caller or confirm that an offer is genuine.

Can a sponsored search result pretending to be Medicare be a scam?

Yes. A sponsored result is not proof that a site is affiliated with Medicare. In September 2026, the FTC warned that scammers and dishonest businesses may buy search ads and use official-looking logos or web addresses. Not every sponsored ad is fraudulent. Type Medicare.gov directly into your browser and check the actual .gov domain.

Are offers for free Medicare equipment legitimate?

Some legitimate Medicare benefits cover equipment, but an unsolicited offer saying everything is free and asking for your Medicare number deserves independent verification. Medicare fraud guidance warns about this pattern. Check with a health care provider you know and trust rather than accepting a caller's recommendation.

Can scammers fake government caller ID or video meetings?

Yes. Caller ID can be spoofed. In September 2026, FBI Newark documented government impersonators using real agents' names, spoofed government phone numbers, and a staged video-call background resembling an FBI office. That case was not specifically a Medicare scam. Official-looking surroundings do not verify who is contacting you.

Official Sources

Updated October 15, 2026.

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Important Disclaimer

VerifyBefore is an independent scam-prevention resource, not affiliated with Medicare, CMS, HHS, FTC, FBI, SHIP, Senior Medicare Patrol, or any Medicare plan. This guide is educational, not medical, insurance, legal, or financial advice. It does not prove fraud or authenticate callers or offers. For enrollment and coverage decisions, rely on Medicare, SHIP, your legitimate plan, or another appropriate official source or qualified adviser.