by Dave Moore, CISSP
12/24/2023
What can an Internet or phone call scammer do with the Medicare number they just talked you into revealing?
As it turns out, a lot.
November and December mark the holiday season, when humans indulge in frenzied buying sprees in local stores and on the Internet that would not be considered normal behavior any other time of year. The Internet bad guys understand this affliction and exploit it to maximum effect.
Part of this aberrant behavior includes an unusual susceptibility to suggestion and influence by complete strangers using phone calls, email and Internet websites to trick people into giving away the contents of their bank accounts. That’s why the frequency of scam emails and phone calls rises dramatically during the holiday season.
The holiday season also marks the time when of-age Americans are compelled to make Medicare healthcare decisions. Internet scammers are well aware of this annual ritual, and have developed special ways to trick people into giving up information that makes the scammer rich.
Keep in mind the word, “profile.” The bad guys have learned that creating profiles of their victims makes their scams more profitable. Multiple bits of seemingly harmless information can be compiled into mini-databases (“profiles”) that allow the scammers to commit full-on fraud. Many billions of dollars are stolen this way every year.
Every bit of information about you is important. Your name, physical address, email address and phone number have value; those items alone have allowed con artists to develop their con and succeed. Add items like bank account numbers, credit card numbers and Social Security numbers, and the value of your profile increases greatly.
One of the numbers that enables scammers to profit is your Medicare number. It seems that Medicare numbers are shockingly easy to obtain. You get a phone call, email, or a message pops up on your computer screen with an important message. An official Medicare Team Agent needs your help. They address you by your real name, and ask you to confirm your address and date of birth; of course, they already know these things about you because any sixth grader can find out these things in less than a minute using simple Internet tools.
Next, the official Medicare Agent informs you that new cards are about to be issued; could you please confirm your Medicare number so your new card can be mailed to you without delay? You dutifully pull the card out of your wallet and read the number. The agent says thank you very much, that’s all they need, and won’t you please have a nice day?
Now your Medicare number can be turned into a money machine. One thing the bad guys can do is obtain medical treatment that gets charged to you, affects your copay, taps your benefits and becomes part of your medical record. Another favorite rip-off is to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare and other health insurers without your permission. Phony doctors and “medical suppliers” can charge Medicare for services, supplies, or equipment you didn’t get.
Stay vigilant, stay safe.
Dave Moore, CISSP, has been fixing computers in Oklahoma since 1984. Founder of the non-profit Internet Safety Group Ltd, he also teaches Internet safety community training workshops. He can be reached at 405-919-9901 or www.internetsafetygroup.org