Medicare Card Scam

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Story Published: Aug 27, 2008 at 11:03 PM MDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 2:20 AM MDT

By Veronica Cardenas

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POCATELLO - The medicare card scam started in Washington, then Oregon, and Idaho could be next...

"People are calling from a company called National Medical Office in Washington DC," says Idaho Department of Insurance coordinator, Krista Robinson.

This "National Mecial Office in Washington DC" doesn't exist. These medicare imposters are calling seniors saying they need to get account information to send them their medicare card.

"They say they cannot ask for your social security # but try to get your personal info," explained Robinson.

They ask where you bank and then look up your routing number.

Once they have your routing number then they try to get the rest of your bank account information, says Robinson.

And if you don't give it to them the caller gets very irrate and proceeds to threaten the party they are calling.

Medicare stresses that they do not call their beneficiaries and if you do receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from Medicare here's what you should do:

Ask if you can have their phone number and say that you will call them back.

Ask to speak to their supervisor

Call 1-800-Medicare or 1800-633-4227

Contact your local SHIBA rep

At this time no charges have been filed against any medicare imposters in Southeast Idaho but we still want to warn seniors to be aware of this scam.

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