New scams aimed at seniors exploit Medicare Part D rollout
Authorities areinvestigating two possible scams aimed at getting financial informationfrom Medicare patients who are eligible for new prescription drugbenefits, U.S. officials said on Friday as they announced new effortsto fight fraud.
Medicare officials said they havefeared scam artists would try to take advantage of seniors whilecompanies are enrolling them in the prescription drug coverage thatstarts in January.
In the two cases under investigation,Medicare patients were asked for bank card information or otherfinancial data. One scheme involved an offer to sell a drug discountcard, and the other promised help with the new drug coverage.
Legitimate Medicare drug plans cannot ask for Social Security numbers, bank account numbers or credit card numbers.
The Centers for Medicare and MedicaidServices (CMS) said it referred the cases to local law enforcementagencies, which are investigating the reports.