State warns against Medicare scam calls

According to the Alaska Department of Health’s Medicare Information Office, a new scam is targeting Medicare recipients in the state.

In an announcement issued Tuesday, the Medicare Information Office says scammers are attempting to acquire Alaskans’ Medicare details by saying new Medicare cards are being issued, and the details need to be verified. The Department of Health says that in some instances, scammers are able to fool caller ID into showing the phone number of real Alaskan medical offices.

The statement advises that someone receiving such a call claiming to be a doctor’s office should state that they will call their doctor’s office directly, then hang up.

The state is advising Alaskans who have received a similar scam call should report it to the Medicare Information Office. The office can also assist those who received a scam call and gave out their insurance information. The toll-free number to report Medicare scam calls to is 1-800-478-6065, and the email is hss.medicare@alaska.gov.