As the deadline to sign up for the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) approaches, unfortunately there has been a spike in identity theft. It is especially unfortunate that ACA, which has enabled thousands of people to obtain health insurance, is referenced by identity thieves in their scam.
Identity thieves are referring to ACA as a pretense to get people, especially seniors, to give them private personal information.
Examples of this scam includes people pretending to be “calling from a physician’s office asking for someone’s social security or Medicare number to update their files,” said Howard Schwartz, Executive Communication Director, Better Business Bureau. The identity thieves may also falsely pose as government officials and request personal information, including credit card and bank information. Medicare will never ask for your personal information over the phone.
Senior citizens are also being told they will need new Medicare cards because of ACA. This is totally false and a pretense to get your personal information.
Another falsehood being told to seniors is that they will lose their Medicare coverage unless they provide their Social Security number and financial information.  Again, this is false.
Do not fall victim to identity theft. Never give out your bank account numbers, date of birth, credit card number or social security number to someone who calls you!
At Terrell • Hogan, we protect consumers’ rights.