Here's the short version. If someone calls out of the blue claiming to be from Medicare and asks for your Medicare Number, money, or personal details — it's a scam. Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at your home. Guard your Medicare card like a credit card, check your statements, and report anything suspicious to 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or the fraud hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477).
The Rules That Stop Most Scams
Medicare, or someone representing Medicare, will only call and ask for personal information in limited situations — like returning a call after you've joined a plan, reported fraud, or left a message. Everything else follows from a few habits:
- Don't give your Medicare card, Medicare Number, Social Security card, or Social Security Number to anyone except your doctor or people you know should have it.
- Don't accept offers of money or gifts for free medical care.
- Don't join a Medicare health or drug plan over the phone unless you called and asked for help.
- Don't let anyone except your doctor or other Medicare providers review your medical records or recommend services.
- Do compare the dates and services on your calendar with your Medicare statements, and question every charge you don't recognize.
Scams Circulating Now
The federal fraud watchdog (the HHS Office of Inspector General) posts alerts about active schemes. Recent ones include:
- Government impersonation. Fraudsters pose as officials from HHS, its Inspector General, or other agencies — by phone, email, social media, or letter — claiming they need information to settle a debt, verify medical claims, or hand out grant money. They even spoof real government phone numbers so caller ID looks official.
- Medical equipment schemes. Billing scams involving durable medical equipment, like urinary catheters and braces, charged to Medicare numbers — sometimes for gear that shows up at your door without a doctor's order.
- Remote patient monitoring sign-ups. Scammers enroll people with Medicare in "remote monitoring" they don't need so someone can bill for it.
- Test-kit bait. Fraudulent genetic testing and cardiovascular testing offers used to harvest Medicare numbers.
- Fake websites and grant offers. Social media schemes and look-alike HHS websites that steal money through fake grant offers.
- Enrollment "fees." People asking for money to enroll you in Marketplace coverage. Legitimate enrollment assisters will not ask for money.
The common thread: someone you didn't contact wants your Medicare Number, your money, or your "yes." Slow down. Hang up. Call the organization back at its official number if you think the request might be real.
Medical Identity Theft
Medical identity theft is when someone steals or uses your personal information — your name, Social Security number, or Medicare Number — to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare or other insurers without your permission. It can lead to delays in your care, wrong bills, or stolen money. Your best early-warning system:
- Check the receipts and statements you get from providers for mistakes, and call the provider's office if a charge looks wrong.
- Create a secure Medicare.gov account so you can view Original Medicare claims as soon as they're processed and spot problems sooner.
- If your identity is stolen, report it at IdentityTheft.gov.
Where to Report a Scam
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or report Medicare fraud online at Medicare.gov.
- In a Medicare Advantage or drug plan? You can also call the Investigations Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor (I-MEDIC) at 1-877-7SAFERX (1-877-772-3379).
- Report to the HHS Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or online at oig.hhs.gov — especially if someone impersonated a government official.
- Get free local help from your Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) or SHIP. SMPs teach people with Medicare how to spot and report fraud, and your State Health Insurance Assistance Program offers free one-on-one counseling.
- Medicaid fraud? Contact your state Medicaid office or your state's fraud hotline — find yours in our State Medicaid Directory.
Common Questions
Medicare called me about a new card. Is that real?
Almost certainly not. Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit your home, and it only asks for personal information by phone in limited situations — like returning a call you made. If a card issue seems plausible, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself. See also how to replace a lost Medicare card.
I already gave my Medicare Number to a caller. What now?
Report it right away — call 1-800-MEDICARE and the OIG hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS — and then watch your statements closely. A secure Medicare.gov account lets you review claims as soon as they're processed so you can flag charges you don't recognize. If money or identity theft is involved, also report at IdentityTheft.gov.
Medical equipment I never ordered arrived. Is that fraud?
It's a known scheme — fraudsters bill Medicare for equipment like braces or catheters using stolen numbers. Don't ignore it: check your Medicare statements for a matching charge and report it to 1-800-MEDICARE.
Is it fraud or just a billing mistake?
You don't have to decide — start with your provider's billing office for a single odd charge, and report patterns or anything that feels deceptive. Reporting is free and confidential, and the people answering these lines sort honest errors from fraud every day. Our Your Rights page covers billing disputes and complaints.