Federal Trade Commission Taking

Action Against Robocalls

Robocalls are disrupting millions of Americans each year. Everyone is getting tired of the automated calls and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is taking action against these companies.

The FTC filed a lawsuit against Stratics Networks, a company that supplied the technology for telemarketers to make tens of millions of robocalls. The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed the complaint in federal court on the FTC’s behalf.

“The Department of Justice is committed to stopping individuals and companies from making illegal robocalls and peddling predatory debt relief services,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.

The FTC is also suing the debt relief companies that hired Stratics to make robocalls for their illegal debt relief services.

Things to remember if you receive a robocall:

Robocalls trying to sell you something is illegal unless the company has your written permission to call you.
If you receive a robocall hang up immediately.
Do not give out any of your information to the caller.
Put your phone number on the FTC do not call list here.

You can read the whole article from the FTC here.

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 or visit www.illinoissmp.org.

Former Chicago Area Hospital VP and CEO Indicted on Fraud Charges

On February 15, 2023, a former Chicago Area Hospital VP and CEO was indicted with three counts of mail fraud and three counts of money laundering. Robert Spadoni of Darien defrauded a Chicago area hospital out of approximately $622,500.

Spadoni caused the hospital to enter into a professional services agreement with Medical Education Solutions (MES), a company established by Spadoni. The contract between the hospital system and MES was for MES to provide administrative support and compliance services to the hospital’s podiatry residency program.

You can read the full press release from the Department of Justice here.

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

March and April 2023 Workshops

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 15, 2023 at 11:00 am – YMCA Berwyn Senior Fair

Pav YMCA (2947 S Oak Park Ave. Berwyn, IL 60402)

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

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

March 22, 2023 at 2:00 pm – SMP presentation with BINGO

Senior Suites of Bellwood (3201 Randolph St. Bellwood, IL 60104)

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 1, 2023 at 10:00 am – Spanish Health Fair

Casa DuPage (505 N County Farm Rd. Third Floor, Wheaton, IL 60187)

April 5, 2023 at 10:00 am – SMP and Benefit Access Presentation

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 13, 2023 at 10:45 am – SMP presentation with BINGO

West Suburban Sr Service (439 Bohland Ave. Bellwood, IL 60104)

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 – Spanish SMP with Benefit Access Presentation

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

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

The Barn (231 Civic Drive Schaumburg, IL 60193)

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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