Fake Medicare calls are unsolicited phone calls from scammers pretending to represent Medicare, usually to trick you into handing over your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank details. The single most useful fact to remember: Medicare does not call people out of the blue. If you did not ask Medicare to contact you, the call is not from Medicare. Hang up.
How to Tell a Medicare Call Is Fake
Medicare will not call you unless you have specifically asked them for help, and when they do return a call, they already have your information on file and will not ask you to confirm it.1Federal Communications Commission. Older Americans and Medicare Call Scams Anyone asking you to “verify” your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank details by phone is a scammer, no matter how official they sound.
The caller ID does not help you here. Scammers use caller ID spoofing to make their calls appear to come from a government agency or a local number.2Federal Communications Commission. Caller ID Spoofing A familiar-looking number proves nothing about who is actually on the line.
Most scam pitches follow one of a few scripts:
- A “free” genetic or DNA test for cancer risk that Medicare supposedly covers, in exchange for your Medicare number to “process” it.
- A story that Medicare is issuing new cards and you need to confirm your identity to activate yours. Medicare finished replacing Social Security-based cards with Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers years ago and does not require phone activation.3Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medical Beneficiary Identifiers MBIs
- A threat that your benefits will be terminated unless you immediately verify personal information or enroll in a new plan.
- An offer of “free” durable medical equipment, such as a back brace or wheelchair, in exchange for your Medicare number.
What ties these together is urgency plus a request for personal information. Real Medicare communications never pressure you to decide something on the phone right now. Scam calls also tend to spike during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period from October 15 through December 7, so be especially skeptical of unsolicited health-insurance calls in that window.4Federal Trade Commission. This Medicare Open Enrollment Season Learn How to Protect Yourself From Scams
What to Do While the Call Is Happening
Hang up. That is the entire strategy. Don’t press any buttons to be removed from a list, don’t answer questions, and don’t try to outsmart the caller. Even confirming your name tells them the number reached a live person worth calling again.
Don’t call back a number the caller gave you, even one that looks legitimate on your screen. If you want to check whether Medicare actually needs to reach you, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) using the number printed on your Medicare card, or sign in at Medicare.gov.5Medicare. Reporting Medicare Fraud and Abuse
Where to Report a Fake Medicare Call
Reporting matters even if you hung up and shared nothing. Agencies use the reports to trace scam operations and pursue enforcement. Using more than one channel is fine.
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is the primary line for suspected Medicare fraud. Have your Medicare number and any details about the call ready.5Medicare. Reporting Medicare Fraud and Abuse
- The HHS Office of Inspector General takes tips at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) and online at oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/.6U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Submit a Hotline Complaint
- The Federal Trade Commission takes reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and tracks scam patterns across industries.7Federal Trade Commission. How to Report Fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Your state Senior Medicare Patrol is staffed by trained volunteers who help beneficiaries detect and report Medicare fraud. Find yours at smpresource.org/locator/ or call 1-800-MEDICARE for a referral.
Include the date and time of the call, the number shown on your caller ID, what the caller said, and what information (if any) you gave. Approximate details still help.
What to Do If You Shared Information
If you gave a scammer your Medicare number, Social Security number, or financial details, move quickly. Identity theft damage compounds, and the first few days matter most.
Call Your Bank and Card Issuers
Report what happened to your bank and any card issuers involved. They can flag accounts, cancel compromised cards, and often reverse unauthorized charges. Ask about temporary holds and transaction alerts so any new activity reaches you immediately.
Request a New Medicare Number
Call 1-800-MEDICARE to report that your Medicare number was compromised and to request a replacement card with a new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier.5Medicare. Reporting Medicare Fraud and Abuse The old number is deactivated, which stops anyone from billing services under it.
Protect Your Credit
Place a fraud alert or credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. A fraud alert asks lenders to take extra steps to verify your identity before opening new credit, and you only need to contact one bureau because it must notify the other two.8Federal Trade Commission. Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts
A credit freeze goes further. It blocks access to your credit report, so new accounts can’t be opened in your name. You place a freeze with each bureau separately. Both a fraud alert and a freeze are free.9Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Do I Do If I Have Been a Victim of Identity Theft You can also pull free weekly credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com from all three bureaus.10Federal Trade Commission. You Now Have Permanent Access to Free Weekly Credit Reports
File a Report at IdentityTheft.gov
If your Social Security number was involved, file at IdentityTheft.gov. The FTC site builds a personalized recovery plan, generates pre-filled letters and forms for credit bureaus and banks, and tracks your progress.
Get an IRS Identity Protection PIN
A stolen Social Security number can be used to file a fraudulent tax return in your name. An IRS Identity Protection PIN prevents anyone else from filing under your SSN. Anyone with a Social Security number or ITIN can enroll, and the fastest way is through your IRS Online Account at IRS.gov. Taxpayers with adjusted gross income at or below $84,000 (or $168,000 for married filing jointly) can also submit Form 15227 by mail.11Internal Revenue Service. Frequently Asked Questions About the Identity Protection Personal Identification Number IP PIN
Watch for Medical Identity Theft
Medicare fraud creates a specific problem beyond stolen money: every time a scammer bills Medicare under your number, false medical information gets attached to your name. That record can lead Medicare to deny coverage for a condition you don’t have, or to limit benefits because its system shows you already received a service or device. Dispute any unfamiliar charges with 1-800-MEDICARE promptly to keep the record accurate.
Check Your Medicare Summary Notice
Your Medicare Summary Notice is the best tool for catching fraud that has already happened. It lists every service billed to Medicare under your name, with dates, provider names, and descriptions. A service you didn’t receive, a provider you didn’t visit, or equipment you didn’t order is a sign someone is using your number.12Medicare.gov. Sample Part B Medicare Summary Notice
Starting in January 2026, paper MSNs are mailed every 180 days rather than quarterly, so waiting for the paper copy leaves long gaps between fraud checks. Create an account at Medicare.gov to see processed claims much sooner, or sign up for electronic MSNs, which are issued monthly. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to dispute anything that looks wrong.
How to Reduce Unwanted Calls Going Forward
No single tool eliminates scam calls, but layering a few measures cuts them down.
Register your home and mobile numbers at DoNotCall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register. Registration is free and doesn’t expire.13Consumer Advice. National Do Not Call Registry FAQs The catch: the Registry only stops sales calls from legitimate companies that follow the law. Scammers ignore it.
Most major carriers offer free or low-cost call-filtering apps that flag likely scam calls before your phone rings, using caller ID authentication to detect spoofing.14Federal Communications Commission. Combating Spoofed Robocalls with Caller ID Authentication Check your carrier’s app store or customer service line to turn filtering on if you haven’t.
Be careful where you share your number. Forms at health fairs, online sweepstakes, and unfamiliar websites are common sources for the lists scammers buy. If a phone-number field on a form is optional, leave it blank.