PEORIA, Ill. — It’s open enrollment time for Medicare and Affordable Care Act medical plans.
Jessica Tharp, with the Better Business Bureau of Peoria, confirms a phishing scam is targeting senior citizens trying to sign up for health coverage.
“Seniors are claiming to get phone calls, or even emails, saying that their benefits might be in jeopardy, unless you provide some information,” Tharp said.
The BBB says anytime you share personal information over the phone, you open yourself up to identity theft.
“So a couple of different versions of it are, you get a call from a person who’s very helpful, claims to be a healthcare advocate, but there’s been a problem and they need you to verify your Medicare ID number so you can get your benefits,” Tharp said.
Healthcare administrators affiliated with Medicare or the ACA will never call asking for Medicare numbers or other specific details, according to the BBB.
“If you receive such a call, contact the Better Business Bureau to report it,” Tharp said.
This year’s open enrollment runs through December 7 for Medicare and December 15 for the Affordable Care Act.
For more information from the BBB, click HERE.
