Consumer advice on avoiding fraud in the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, Medicare Plan D
When the massive sales campaign starts for the new Medicare program, look out for the scammers.
The Milwaukee Sentinel Journal Houston Chronicle posted a story on their Website that said "But because the details of Part D can be complicated, consumer advocates fear that scammers posing as representatives of the companies could trick older people into revealing personal and financial information."
Other sources around the web and in print agree. The trouble point seems to be the decision to allow cold-call telephone selling. It's an open invitation to scammers who get bank account information and other identity data, and then use it to open up false credit card accounts in the victim's name.
The other issue is Internet sites and phone sellers who will charge for processing sign-ups to the plan. Enrollment is absolutely free, and charging to fill out enrollment forms is prohibited.
The other issue is Internet sites and phone sellers who will charge for processing sign-ups to the plan. Enrollment is absolutely free, and charging to fill out enrollment forms is prohibited.
Report fraud or suspicious sales activity
The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups has set up an e-mail address for Wisconsin residents to report Report Medicare Part D Scams. The address is medfraud@cwag.org. Other states are expected to follow Wisconsin's lead on this.Take these steps to protect yourself
- Never give out personal information like Social Security Numbers, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, or even addresses to anyone calling by phone.
- Salespeople cannot call you after 9 p.m. or before 8 a.m., by Federal law.
- If you get a "bad" call" just say "stop calling me". Salespeople must honor "do not call again" requests from prospects. You can also register for the federal "do not call" list to prevent all unsolicited marketing calls. On the web,its at www.donotcall.gov.
More in this Plain Talk
I Need To Know series:
(Home) Plain talk about the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
What is the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan?
Important Dates and
Deadlines for Plan D
How much will it cost me for Medicare Prescription Program Part D?
Beware of Scams: Part 1
Beware of Scams: Part 2
I Need To Know series:
(Home) Plain talk about the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
What is the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan?
Important Dates and
Deadlines for Plan D
How much will it cost me for Medicare Prescription Program Part D?
Beware of Scams: Part 1
Beware of Scams: Part 2
