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DuPage County warns seniors about common Medicare scams, offers counseling
Summary
DuPage County Community Services warned seniors about scam calls, fraudulent billing and pressure tactics targeting Medicare beneficiaries, and provided steps to protect personal data and local SHIP counseling and contact information.
A Community Services staff member for DuPage County urged seniors to guard against common Medicare scams and said county staff can help with questions and counseling. "The Medicare process can sometimes be difficult to understand," the staff member said, noting that scammers exploit that confusion to target older adults.
The announcement outlined common schemes—unsolicited calls and emails claiming problems with a Medicare card or offering free care, and fraudulent billing by providers that double-bill or charge for services that never occurred—and advised concrete protections. "Remember, Medicare will never contact you and ask you for your Medicare number, banking information, or Social Security number," the staff member said, and listeners were told to avoid clicking suspicious links and to verify contacts at medicare.gov. The speaker also recommended regularly checking Medicare statements and shredding documents that contain identifying numbers.
The County directed anyone who believes they are a victim to report fraud to Medicare (1-800-633-4227) or the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and said DuPage County offers free Medicare counseling through the Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP). For more information, call DuPage County Community Services at (630) 407-6500. The county offices are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
