Please be aware of growing national scams targeting Medicare patients. MANA has reports from concerned patients receiving calls soliciting genetic testing and home specimen/swab kits. This is a known national scam, and MANA records have not been breached.
What you should know:
- Your physician has not recommended this test or requested that you be contacted for any genetic testing.
- MANA records have not been breached.
- Scammers can appear to be calling from a MANA number.
- Medicare will not contact you over the phone to sell you drug plans or services.
The phone call can even appear with your doctor’s office phone number, and the scammer may claim they are calling from your doctor’s office or that your doctor has asked them to contact you because you qualify for this service or testing. The scammer may use persuasive, false language like, “Your doctor ordered this test or service,” when they did not. The caller may attempt to get your social security number, personal health information like medications and chronic conditions, bank information, or Medicare numbers to use to make fraudulent charges.
The offered service may not be limited to genetic testing but could also be medical equipment or supplies that you have not requested or discussed with your doctor. If you have any doubts or concerns about a phone call, hang up and contact your doctor’s office for confirmation.
Protect Your Information
- Do not give your personal information, bank information, Medicare number, or any medical information to anyone you do not recognize over the phone or online.
- If you suspect the caller or do know the caller, tell them you will call your doctor’s office or the number on your Medicare card to verify and hang up.
- Stay vigilant and be aware of growing national scams targeting Medicare patients. Scammers can be very tricky and persuasive. If you have any doubts, trust your instincts and check with your doctor or Medicare.
Report Medicare Fraud or Abuse
If you suspect a scammer has contacted you or have any concerns about possible fraud, report the fraud to Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-663-4227) or your local Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP). The SMP program, funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living, helps Medicare beneficiaries protect themselves from Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse and detect and report them when they occur. To find your local Senior Medicare Control, visit https://www.smpresource.org/ or call 1-877-808-2468.