Medicare scam calls are usually trying to steal your Social Security number, Medicare number, or bank details — and the best defense is to hang up when ready and call Medicare directly yourself

Scammers call pretending to be from Medicare, your insurance company, or a pharmacy, claiming you need to "verify" information, update your card, or claim a refund. They sound official and may even have real details about you. The truth is Medicare will not call you out of the blue asking for your number, and neither will legitimate insurers or pharmacies. If you get such a call, hang up without giving any information, then call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report it.

The scammers are counting on you to stay on the line. They know that fear — fear of losing coverage, fear of missing a refund, fear of account problems — makes people act quickly without thinking. That urgency is the scam itself. Real Medicare business happens by mail, not by surprise phone calls demanding when ready action.

Key Takeaways

  • Medicare never calls you first asking for your Social Security number, Medicare number, or bank account details — if someone does, it is a scam.
  • Hang up when ready and do not press any buttons, transfer to an agent, or stay on the line to argue; scammers use any response to confirm your number is active.
  • Report the call to Medicare's fraud hotline at 1-800-MEDICARE or online at Medicare.gov/fraud, and to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • Real Medicare correspondence comes by mail, not phone, and legitimate insurers will not ask you to verify information during an unsolicited call.
  • Register your number on the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov, though this does not stop Medicare scammers — it only stops telemarketers.

How to recognize a Medicare scam call

Scam calls often follow a pattern. The caller claims there is a problem with your Medicare card, a refund waiting for you, or new benefits you are missing. They may say your card will be deactivated, your coverage will end, or your account has been compromised. They ask you to "verify" your Social Security number, Medicare number, or bank details "to confirm your identity" or "process the refund."

Real Medicare staff will never ask for this information over the phone. Medicare contacts you by mail when something needs your attention — not by surprise phone calls. If you are unsure whether a call is real, hang up and call Medicare yourself at 1-800-MEDICARE. Do not use a phone number the caller gives you, because scammers often provide fake numbers that connect to their own team.

Scammers are also getting better at sounding legitimate. They may have your real name, part of your Social Security number, or details about your actual Medicare coverage. This information often comes from data breaches or public records, not because they work for Medicare. Do not assume a call is real just because the caller knows something about you.

What to do if you get a scam call

The safest action is to hang up when ready. Do not press any buttons, do not transfer to an agent, and do not stay on the line to tell them you know it is a scam. Any response — even saying "no" or hanging up slowly — tells the scammer your number is active and monitored by a real person. They will call back and sell your number to other scammers.

If you have already given information, act quickly. If you shared your Social Security number or Medicare number, call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE and tell them about the call. If you gave your bank account or credit card number, contact your bank or card company right away and ask them to watch for unauthorized charges. You can also place a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — by calling any one of them; they will notify the others.

Write down the details of the call: the phone number it came from (if your phone shows it), the time, what they said, and what information you gave. This information helps when you report the scam to Medicare and law enforcement.

Report the scam to Medicare and the government

Report every scam call, even if you did not give information. Medicare uses these reports to track patterns and shut down scam operations. You can report in two ways:

  • Medicare's fraud hotline: Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and tell the representative you want to report fraud. They will take your information and file a report.
  • Online at Medicare.gov: Go to Medicare.gov/fraud and click "Report Fraud, Waste, or Abuse." You can submit details about the call without talking to anyone.

You should also report the call to the Federal Trade Commission, which tracks scams across the country. Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov, select "Imposter Scams," then "Government Imposter," and fill in what happened. The FTC shares this information with law enforcement and uses it to identify patterns that help stop scam operations.

If the scammer spoofed a real Medicare phone number (made it look like the call came from Medicare), tell Medicare about that too. Spoofing is illegal, and Medicare works with the FBI to investigate these cases.

Block and filter scam calls on your phone

Your phone company and your phone itself have tools to reduce scam calls. Ask your phone provider whether they offer free call-blocking or call-filtering services. Many providers — including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile — include these at no extra cost. Some providers have names like Call Filter, Call Protect, or Scam Shield, so ask specifically what they offer.

On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Phone, then Silence Unknown Callers. This sends calls from numbers not in your contacts to voicemail. On an Android phone, open the Phone app, tap the three-line menu, go to Settings, then Spam and Abuse, and turn on "Filter Unknown Calls" or "Spam Protection" (the exact names vary by phone and carrier).

You can also read a call-blocking app. Popular free options include Nomorobo, RoboKiller, and Truecaller. These apps use databases of known scam numbers to block or flag suspicious calls. No app catches every scam, but they reduce the volume significantly.

Register your number on the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. This stops most telemarketers, though it does not stop Medicare scammers — they ignore the registry because they are breaking the law anyway. Still, it is worth doing to reduce other unwanted calls.

Protect your Medicare information going forward

Keep your Medicare card in a safe place at home, not in your wallet. You only need to show it to doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies — not to anyone who calls you. If you need to give your Medicare number to a provider, do it in person or by calling them directly using a number you find yourself (not one given to you by a caller).

Be cautious about unsolicited mail too. Scammers send fake letters that look like they come from Medicare or your insurance company, asking you to call a number or click a link. If you get a letter about your Medicare coverage and you are not sure it is real, call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE before responding. Legitimate Medicare mail will have your name and address printed on it and will not ask you to call a number to "verify" anything.

If you have a trusted family member or caregiver, give them permission to help monitor your Medicare account. You can set up a representative payee or authorized representative through Medicare.gov so someone you trust can help spot problems early and act on your behalf if needed.

What to tell family and friends about Medicare scams

Share this information with older relatives and friends who have Medicare. Scammers target older adults because they are more likely to have Medicare and savings. If someone you know has gotten a scam call, help them report it and check whether they gave out information. If they did, help them contact their bank and Medicare right away.

If an older relative lives alone and gets many calls, help them set up call-blocking or a call-filtering service. You might also suggest they let calls go to voicemail and only call back numbers they recognize. This straightforward habit stops most scams. Some older adults also benefit from having a trusted person check their mail and alert them to anything suspicious before they respond to it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can scammers actually deactivate my Medicare card?

No. Only Medicare can deactivate your card, and they do it by mail, not by phone. If a caller says your card will be deactivated, it is a scam. Hang up and call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE if you are worried about your coverage.

What if the caller has my real Medicare number?

Scammers often buy or steal lists of real Medicare numbers from data breaches. Having your real number does not make the call legitimate. Medicare will never call you asking you to repeat your number back to them. If you are unsure, hang up and call Medicare yourself.

Is it safe to press a button to "speak to an agent" or "opt out"?

No. Pressing any button tells the scammer your number is active and monitored. Hang up without pressing anything. Do not try to argue with them or tell them it is a scam — just end the call.

What happens if I already gave my information to a scammer?

Call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE right away and tell them what you shared. If you gave your bank or credit card number, call your bank when ready. You can also place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus by calling Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion — they will notify each other automatically.

Do I have to pay to report a scam?

No. Reporting to Medicare, the FTC, and your state attorney general is always free. Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay money to "report" a scam or "get your refund back" — that is another scam.