‘Tis the season for an uptick in healthcare phone scams, as highlighted by recent data from Hiya, a leading company in tracking phone fraud and spam. The period between October and November witnessed a surge in calls promoting counterfeit health plans and deceptive Medicare assistance. This spike aligns with the commencement of the marketplace open-enrollment period spanning from Nov. 1 to Jan. 16.
Whether the automated call claims to be from individuals such as Dale at Elite Medicare Options or Ashley from the Health Enrollment Center (actual instances documented by Hiya), the fraud-protection platform revealed a common tactic among scammers. Most scammers employ a button- or voice-activated menu to engage their targets.
Hiya warns that this menu might be disguised as a Medicare coverage survey or an option to opt out of future calls. However, regardless of the guise, individuals responding to the automated call may find themselves in a precarious situation.
Responding affirmatively to the robocall could connect the recipient with a live agent seeking to extract personal information, including Medicare numbers. On the other hand, answering with a ‘no’ or opting to be removed from the list informs the scammer that the phone number is valid, potentially leading to more scam calls in the future, as noted in a Hiya blog post. It’s imperative for seniors to be vigilant during this season and remain cautious when interacting with unexpected healthcare-related calls to ensure their security and well-being.
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