Scammers have gotten crafty about tricking people out of their money, and often they use purported Medicare concerns as a way into the wallets of older people.
As a way to help people and in recognition of Medicare Fraud Prevention Week earlier in June, the Evergreen Park Public Library recently held a session to inform about the latest scams that are circulating.
AgeOptions, a nonprofit organization based in Oak Park, has led such information sessions at libraries and community centers throughout Cook County to tell seniors what to watch out for when their Medicare benefits are targeted.
“A lot of people in every state get scammed, so prevention is necessary so it doesn’t happen in the first place,” said Jesus Enriquez, outreach and information specialist from AgeOptions, who led the session from an online feed.
Medicare fraud and improper payments reap $60 billion annually, according to the organization Senior Medicare Patrol, which helps fund such education sessions through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Enriquez said those looking to purchase durable medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, hospital beds or CPAP machines, are a prime target for scammers.
“They’ll get a call from who they think is Medicare,” Enriquez said, asking for Medicare numbers and other personal information.
Some fraudsters run an illegitimate DME company and get a doctor to prescribe the equipment. They might tell a senior they have a promotion where the individual can get a knee brace, neck brace or wheelchair, and say they just need the Medicare number to verify coverage.
“The other route they can sometimes go, is those beneficiary identification numbers are sold on the dark web and illegitimate DME providers can get hold of those numbers,” said Patrick Dixon, manager of Elder Rights at AgeOptions. “They get their hands into somebody registered as a provider who is able to bill Medicare and they’ll use the number to ring up an illegitimate charge, whether or not the beneficiary receives the equipment.”
“It’s very damaging,” Dixon said about the effect on victims of fraud. “The thing about any of these types of people perpetrating one of these scams is they thrive on two things: speed — getting the person to disclose sensitive information as quickly as possible — and they try to isolate people by not letting them check if things are legitimate.
“With that isolation, the people who fall victim to fraud or scams think they’re completely alone in it when in reality they’re not.”
Dixon also pointed out a reputable provider will not rush patients in that way.
When AgeOptions receives calls from seniors about scams, they typically forward the information to the state inspector general and occasionally the state’s attorney’s office and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said Dixon
Any individual who suspects they’ve been scammed, should call AgeOptions at 708-3838-0258 and ask to speak with a representative of Senior Medicare Patrol or go to Ageoptions.org for contact information.
Dixon added the non-profit fields these calls and offers seniors information and advice but does not, itself, get into the investigative aspect of the fraud.
Dixon offered several prevention tips.
“The biggest one is to guard your Medicare beneficiary ID at all costs, treat it just like it’s your social security number or credit card number,” said Dixon. “Be very careful about who you’re providing that number with.
“I’ll always tell people the old adage is true, if something seems to be too good to be true, there’s a chance it could be. … Take the time to do due diligence.”
Dixon also said sometimes it’s necessary to simply stop scammers in their tracks.
“When in doubt when getting these phone calls that often can be very fast-paced and very high-pressure situations, just hang up,” said Dixon.
Enriquez also said during the presentation that seniors should call their doctor if in doubt about equipment needed. He told the audience to check their Medicare statements carefully for any charges that didn’t see right.
Linda Hyler, one of several older adults who attended, said she was concerned with so many scammers out there.
“There’s a lot going on with phone scams, so I said, I need to come here and take notes,” adding she came away with several useful phone numbers.
But like many seniors, Hyler, who lives in Chicago’s Ashburn community, said she was on to a lot of the cons.
Hyler said a few days after she had visited her bank, she got a call that said it was from the bank but at a different number and knew to be suspicious and ignore the call.
“I never answer,” said Hyler. “I call my daughter, who is like a cyber navigator. “But it’s hard because you could be missing some calls.”
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
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