HIGH government impersonation
Is “does medicare call you to verify your number” a scam?
Yes — this is a known, dangerous scam.
A caller claims to be from Medicare and says you need a new card, a back brace, or genetic testing — they just need to "verify" your Medicare number, Social Security number, and bank details. Medicare numbers are then used to bill Medicare fraudulently or to steal identity.
How to tell
- ⚠ Medicare does not call beneficiaries about a new card or to verify your number — they communicate by mail
- ⚠ Offers of 'free' braces, knee wraps, COVID tests, or DNA kits that are 'covered by Medicare' if you give your number
- ⚠ Caller knows your name and address (easily bought) but asks for your Medicare or Social Security number
- ⚠ Pressure to act before benefits 'expire'
What to do right now
- 1 Hang up. Medicare will never call you out of the blue asking for your Medicare number
- 2 Treat your Medicare number like a credit card number — share it only with doctors you have chosen
- 3 If you believe you owe Medicare anything, call them directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
- 4 Check your Medicare Summary Notice every quarter for billings you do not recognize
- 5 Report Medicare fraud to 1-800-HHS-TIPS or https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/
- 6 Report to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov.
Full guidance, red flags, variants & official sources
"Medicare" calls about your new card and asks for your Medicare number →