Federal Trade Commission

Pass It On in 2023: Renewing Fraud Prevention

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has added new online and print information about business impersonators and investment scams on their Pass It On website. They also have updated their existing materials about common scams that often affect older adults — like romance, tech support, and grandkid scams.

The FTC Pass it On website has shared more than 17 million fact sheets and bookmarks, in English and Spanish! They have updated their downloadable Power Point presentations about the 13 topics that Pass It On covers.

The FTC has two upcoming webinars scheduled in English and Spanish. The links are below.

English

February 22,2023 3:00 pm EST

March 1, 2023 3;00 pm EST

Spanish

February 23, 2023 2:00 pm EST

March 1, 2023 2:00 pm EST

The Illinois SMP is also here to offer assistance if you feel you have been affected by any potential Medicare fraud, please call the Illinois SMP at AgeOptions at (800)699-9043.

Please visit www.illinoissmp.org to download all of our tip sheets to help prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud.

Medicare Card Scam Makes National News, Happening All Across the United States

The "new" Medicare card scam has been reported by the Illinois SMP Fraud Alert for the past year. Now it is being reported by states all across the USA. This isn't a new scam for most readers, but it is playing a significant role in Medicare scams across the country.

The scammer will call and say they are from “Medicare Services” or something else equally as generic. The voice promises to improve your Medicare benefits, possibly save you money, or even get you more money in your Social Security check. “Hold on to be transferred to one of our agents,” the caller says. Your phone displays a local number, “spoofed” to make you think it’s someone you know.

They will soon offer you a "new" Medicare card that will be "plastic, gold or have a chip in it." They will then ask you to confirm all of your personal information. You should just hang up and report the potential scam to your local SMP. Never give out any personal information, including your Medicare card number over the phone. Medicare will never call you!

You can read the whole story from the Seattle Times here.

If you or someone you know has had any potential home health care fraud please contact the Illinois SMP at (800)699-9043.

February, March and April 2023 Workshops

February 28, 2023 at 10:00 am – SMP presentation with BINGO

Roberts Park Fire Protection District (8611 S Roberts Rd. Justice, IL 60458)

March 10, 2023 at 10:00 am – SMP presentation with BINGO

Waukegan Township (411 S Lewis Ave. Waukegan, IL 60085)

March 11,2023 at 12:00 pm – Community Resources Fair

St. Paul Lutheran Church (6201 Vollmer Rd. Matteson, IL 60443)

March 18, 2023 at 10:00 am – Mobile DMV at Levy Senior Center

Levy Senior Citizens Center (300 Dodge Ave. Evanston, IL 60202)

March 23, 2023 at 2:00 pm – SMP presentation with BINGO

Cedar Village of Arlington Heights (320 W Campbell St. Arlington Heights, IL 60005)

March 28, 2023 at 2:00 pm – SMP presentation with BINGO

Flesh Becoming Word Church (18423 Stony Island Ave. Lansing, IL 60438)

March 31, 2023 at 2:00 pm – SMP presentation with BINGO

Summit Park District (5700 S Archer Rd. Summit, IL 60501)

April 5, 2023 at 10:00 am – SMP presentation with BINGO

Dolton Public Library (14037 Lincoln Ave. Dolton, IL 60419)

April 12, 2023 at 1:00 pm – SMP presentation with BINGO

Valley Kingdom Christian Academy (5217 149th St. Oak Forest, IL 60452)

April 19, 2023 at 11:00 am – SMP presentation with BINGO

Forest Park Public Library (7555 Jackson Blvd. Forest Park, IL 60130)

April 25, 2023 at 1:00 pm – SMP, Benefit Access and Health Screenings

with Alivio Medical

Blue Island Public Library (2433 York St. Blue Island, IL 60406)

Have a wonderful week!

Travis Trumitch

travis.trumitch@ageoptions.org

Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area. If you would like to sign up to receive the Fraud Alert directly, visit click here.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 90MPPG0036, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.

The Illinois SMP at AgeOptions partners with agencies across the state to empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education.

Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area and visit our website to sign up for our Fraud Alert email list.

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