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David
N. Kirkman
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North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services |
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Georgia Reporting Collect Call-Medicare Scams Task Force member Stephanie Bias, Medicare Lookout Coordinator for the NC Department of Insurance’s Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), shares with us the following warning issued by SHIIP’s counterparts in Georgia. So far, no such calls have been reported in North Carolina.
Dena J. Smith, Press Secretary GEORGIACARES SENIOR MEDICARE PATROL WARNS
ATLANTA (GA) -- The GeorgiaCares Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is issuing a warning to seniors to beware of collect call scams. A report has come in from the Athens area regarding scammers making collect calls to seniors claiming they are from Medicare or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The caller asks to verify personal information (i.e., name, address, Medicare number and bank routing numbers)….. “If individuals receive collect calls from scammers claiming to work with Medicare, they should not accept the charges. With the enrollment for Medicare Part D upon us, these types of incidences are likely to occur. People with Medicare should be on guard and protect themselves,” said DAS Director Maria Greene. The open enrollment period for Medicare Part D began November 15, 2006 and ends December 31, 2006. Scammers have used this as an opportunity to take advantage of those benefiting from the drug benefit program. Medicare beneficiaries can enroll, change or renew their drug plan options for 2007 during this period. For help, individuals can go the Medicare Drug Plan Finder at www.medicare.gov. The GeorgiaCares SMP would like to warn seniors to be aware of telemarketers and door-to-door salesmen claiming to work for Medicare or the Social Security Administration; salesmen pressuring them to make decisions about them healthcare and insurance benefits; and companies seeking you to offer “free” services and requesting personal information.
NC citizens who receive such calls are invited to report them to SHIIP (toll free 1-800-443-9354), local law enforcement and the Consumer Protection Division (toll free 1-866-867-6272)
******End of Alert******
December 4, 2006 |
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