A Scam for Every Card
November 8, 2022
Scammers continue to call, email, and even come to our doors – any way to reach and build a relationship with you so they can take advantage of you. Here are some all-too-familiar card-related scams we see:
Medicare card scam
The story: Posers offer to send you a new Medicare card with a microchip and replace the paper card. “All” you have to do is share a picture, or allow them to take a picture, of your existing Medicare card. As a “thank you,” you could also be offered the opportunity to move up in line for a specific medical service or are promised a particular piece of medical equipment.
What to do:
1. DO NOT SHARE your card information – by picture or in person; hang up, delete the email, or get them out of our home.
2. Guard your Medicare number and any other piece of information that is a unique and important identifier.
3. Rely on your trusted health care providers to establish medical-related appointments or communicate any changes to your appointments and submit requests for medical equipment.
Social Security card scam
The story: Swindlers imply that your social security card was used in a crime or to rent a vehicle involved in criminal activity; anything scary or embarrassing to get your attention. Callers use software to make their phone number appear like it’s coming from a law enforcement agency and may attempt to scare you by telling you they are on the way to your home or workplace. The storyline goes that you’ll be arrested or publicly humiliated if you do not pay a fine and provide proof by sharing a picture or allowing them to take a picture of your social security card.
What to do:
1. DO NOT SHARE your card information – by picture or in person; hang up or delete the email.
2. Guard your Social Security number. Rely on your local law enforcement to validate any claims.
3. If you did share information, please consider the option to file a police report of what happened and who the caller claimed to be.
Gift card scam
The story: Tricksters imply that you have a past due bill, need upfront fees for collecting lottery winnings or an inheritance, or come up with a story where you will return money to them – all by simply taking a picture of a gift card.
What to do:
1. DO NOT SHARE your gift card information – by picture or sent by mail.
2. Guard your gift card information; the moment fraudsters have a picture of the card number, they will transfer funds off that gift card and leave you with a card with zero value.
3. If you did share the gift card information, please quickly cancel the cards with the issuer, if possible.
4. Then consider the option to file a police report of what happened and who the caller claimed to be.
Fraud trends are constantly evolving – we have shared the details of the scenarios as we know them, but we also know that scammer’s tactics change quickly.
Sources:
https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/schemes-targeting-older-adults.html
https://www.aarp.org/research/topics/economics/info-2022/gift-card-scams-survey.html
https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2020/new-medicare-chip-card-scam.html