Prepare for Medicare Scams Before Open Enrollment
Medicare Open Enrollment, starting October 15, presents a prime opportunity for scammers. By August, they usually have their target lists ready from public dates like Medicare Open Enrollment and Social Security COLA announcements. Here’s how to prepare and protect yourself from scams.
Understanding the Timeline
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7. During this period, beneficiaries often receive advertisements and calls about their coverage. Scammers exploit this by making fake benefit calls and messages. Social Security COLA announcements also contribute to fraud as scammers use these predictable dates to their advantage.
The Scamming Process
Before the scam call reaches you, scammers compile target lists. Consumer data companies often sell lists with names, ages, and addresses, allowing scammers to make convincing personal calls.
Case Study: Epsilon Data Management
Epsilon Data Management was involved in selling targeted consumer lists, which fraudsters used to scam over 218,000 victims for more than $23.7 million. This case highlights how data sales contribute to fraud.
Protecting Your Information
- Search Your Data: Look up your information on people-search sites to see what scammers can access.
- Remove Personal Data: Submit opt-out requests to data brokers. Start this process before calls start in October, giving time for removal requests to process.
- Use Automated Services: Automated data removal services can help maintain privacy by managing opt-out requests on your behalf.
- Set up a Family Password: Agree on a code word with relatives now. This makes it easier to verify legitimate calls.
- Update Security Questions: Change security questions to answers that are not true, and use a password manager to remember them.
Why Action is Necessary Now
Scammers use predictable Medicare and Social Security periods for fraudulent activity. Public information, like the Social Security COLA increase, is automatic and free. Act now to reduce scammers’ access to your data and become a less viable target.