Stay Aware of Fraud and Scams
Unfortunately, there are a number of fraud artists and scams that target the aging population. We are here to help you stay safe from these common tactics.
Missouri Fraud Prevention Fact
September 2026
Sadly, Medicare scams by phone happen every day. Remember that Medicare will never cold call you and ask for your personal information. When in doubt, hang up and call Medicare at (800) 633-4227.
Keep Your Personal Information Away from Scammers
The Missouri Senior Medicare Patrol has an important message for Medicare beneficiaries: Be careful if someone calls you asking for personal information or trying to sell you a Medicare plan.
Scammers and unwanted sales callers are common these days. Adults who are getting ready to enroll in Medicare, as well as those already enrolled, are targeted by these callers.
Some callers may sound very official. They might say they are calling from Medicare or another organization that sounds familiar. Scammers can sound very convincing.
Insurance companies and agents that sell Medicare plans must follow rules about how they contact people. For example, they can’t make cold calls to sell these plans without your consent.
Even so, many keep getting unwanted calls from people trying to sell Medicare products or steal personal information.
Never give personal information to an unexpected caller. Medicare will not unexpectedly call and ask you for your:
Social Security number
Medicare number
Bank account information
Credit card number
Date of birth
Passwords or other account information
Medicare will not unexpectedly call you and ask for this kind of information.
If you are not sure whether a caller is legitimate, hang up and make the call yourself. Don’t use a phone number the caller gives you. You can contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
When it comes to Medicare and your personal information, it is better to be safe than sorry.
The Missouri SMP is here to provide you with information you need to protect, detect, and report potential Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse. If you think you or a loved one has been a target of a Medicare scam, call the Missouri SMP at 888-515-6565.
Call (888) 515-6565 to report suspected Medicare or Medicaid fraud, errors, or abuse.
This project was supported, in part, by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $638,014 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government
