Medicare impersonation phone and email scams
Last verified:
Scammers pose as Medicare representatives to ask for Medicare or Social Security numbers, offer fake equipment or plans, or claim benefits will be canceled. According to Medicare and FTC consumer guidance, Medicare does not call to sell services or demand sensitive information in unsolicited contacts.
- Impersonated brand
- Medicare (CMS)
- Scam type
- Government impersonation
- Common delivery methods
- Phone call, Email, SMS / text message, Letter
How this scam works
You receive an unexpected call, email, text, or official-looking letter claiming to be from Medicare. The caller may use spoofed caller ID and friendly, professional language — and some reports describe AI-generated voices. They may offer free braces, genetic tests, or new cards; claim your benefits will stop unless you verify information; or say you must confirm your Medicare number after a data breach. The typical aim is to obtain identifiers for billing fraud or identity theft.
Warning signs
- Unsolicited calls asking for your Medicare number or Social Security number.
- Offers of free medical equipment or services in exchange for your Medicare ID.
- Threats to cancel benefits unless you act immediately.
- Requests to pay for a new Medicare card — cards are free through official channels.
- Caller ID showing Medicare or CMS — numbers can be spoofed.
- Emails with links asking you to verify identity after an unexpected breach notice.
How to verify safely
- Hang up on unexpected Medicare sales or verification calls.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE using the number on your official Medicare materials — not a number from the caller.
- Review Medicare statements for services you did not receive.
- Know that CMS notifies beneficiaries of certain data incidents by mail, not by asking for your number by phone.
If you received this message
- Do not share your Medicare number with unexpected callers.
- Do not accept prepaid debit cards or gifts in exchange for your Medicare ID.
- Shred unneeded Medicare documents that contain your beneficiary number.
- Talk to a trusted family member or Senior Medicare Patrol volunteer if unsure.
If you already clicked or paid
- Report suspected medical identity theft to your Medicare plan and providers.
- Use IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan if personal information was misused.
- Contact your bank if you paid a scammer directly.
Official reporting guidance
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE to report suspected Medicare fraud.
- Contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-877-808-2468.
- Report to the HHS OIG hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or oig.hhs.gov.
- Report scams to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Check a suspicious link
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Fraudly resources
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Medicare and CMS communicate through official channels and may mail notices about program changes. This alert describes criminal impersonation. Fraudly cannot verify whether a specific call is from Medicare.
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