Many New Jersey residents 65 and older count on government programs like Medicare and Medicaid to live comfortably while aging. With careful estate and financial planning, seniors can access these benefits without risking their assets.
Unfortunately, scammers lie in wait to target the assets elders worked so hard to preserve. Whether you are a senior citizen or a relative of one, always be on the lookout for elder financial scams.
Advancements in technology have made it easier than ever for scammers to impersonate government offices. Here are two seemingly authentic situations that could be financial scams in disguise.
Telephone requests for information
Victims are often contacted on the phone by someone claiming to represent the Medicare program. They may say they need more personal information to ensure uninterrupted Medicare coverage. Through spoofing technology, scam artists can even fool caller ID systems, making it appear the call is from a legitimate office.
Remember that government offices never request personal information over the phone. Calls like these are always bogus.
In-person Medicare scams
You may think there is no way to get scammed when you can look someone in the eye. Unfortunately, you would be wrong. One way fraud can occur face-to-face is when doctors and care providers overbill Medicare for services you never received.
Another scheme involves selling medical supplies and products door-to-door. The scammer claims to represent the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), but the CMS does not send people out to sell services or products.
Never give your personal information, including Medicare or Medicaid card numbers, to anyone you do not know. For help with legal issues involving scams against seniors, you may need to consider obtaining elder law representation.
