Medicare and Social Security scams: Warning signs and tips

Medicare and Social Security scams target older adults by impersonating trusted government programs and creating fear around benefits, medical coverage, or legal trouble.

The scam may arrive as a phone call, text, email, social media ad, or even a message that appears to come from a benefits office.

The goal is usually simple: get sensitive information, redirect money, or pressure someone into acting before they stop to verify the story.

These scams are effective because they sound official.

A caller may claim your Medicare account needs to be verified, your Social Security number has been linked to fraud, or your benefits are about to be suspended.

In reality, that urgency is often the biggest warning sign.

Once people know the patterns, these schemes become much easier to spot and shut down.

Here's how these scams work, the warning signs to watch for and the steps you can take to protect yourself or someone you love.

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IS ID.ME SAFE TO USE? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Most Medicare and Social Security scams follow a familiar script.