Law enforcement officials and the Federal Trade Commission are warning about a new Medicare fraud scheme targeting seniors. Scammers are exploiting recent changes to Social Security and Medicare—introduced by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency—to trick beneficiaries and defraud the Medicare system.
Posing as employees from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), scammers are calling seniors and claiming they need to “update” or “verify” personal information. But these calls are not legitimate. The scammers are collecting Medicare numbers and other sensitive information to submit fraudulent claims for medical equipment or medication, pocketing the reimbursements.
It’s important to know: CMS will never call you unless you’ve contacted them first. They are not issuing new Medicare cards. If you receive a call claiming you need to verify your Medicare number or are being issued a new card, it’s a scam.
“As long as older adults keep their Medicare information private and avoid phone calls asking for these details, they should not have to worry about being taken advantage of,” said Alliance President Robert Roach, Jr. “Make sure to stay on high alert and protect your Medicare card and number as if it was a credit card.”
If you believe your Medicare number has been compromised or want to report a suspicious call, contact Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
This was originally published in the July 25, 2025 edition of the Friday Alert. Read the full length version and see other Friday Alert editions here.
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