Scam alert: Elderly, disabled are victims
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) warns senior citizens and people with disabilities to be aware of a scheme to bilk them of money.
The con is to ask Medicare beneficiaries for money and checking account information to assist them to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan.
The scheme is called the "$299 Ring" for the typical amount of money Medicare beneficiaries are talked into withdrawing from checking accounts to pay for non-existent prescription drug plan.
Medicare drug plans will not ask for bank account or other personal information over the telephone. Beneficiaries should never provide that kind of information to a caller.
Medicare has received complaints from Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Georgia. Numerous companies have been named in the complaints but it is believed the companies are the same and typically are based outside of the U.S.
Take these steps to protect oneself and property:
— Do not let anyone enter the home uninvited.
— Do not provide personal information to anyone not known.
— Always keep safe all personal information, such as a Medicare number, just like credit cards or bank account numbers.
Consumers should report scam cases to local law enforcement agencies or (877) 7SAFERX (772-3379).
