Scare Tactics: Scammers Use Ruses of Medicare, IRS, Utilities to Demand Money

Several Connecticut agencies are warning state residents — especially senior citizens — about a series of new scams that offer deals on health insurance benefits, or make threats to shut off utilities because of an overdue bill payment or arrest because of overdue taxes.

The scams are being made via the mail in the form of leaflets that state officials believe have been sent to hundreds of residents across Connecticut, and via phone calls and emails.

According to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, the mailed document is titled “Connecticut Resident Health and Wellness Benefits Notice,” and requests the recipient to call various telephone numbers “for details and qualification.” The mailer says it offers subsidies for a knee or neck brace, hearing aid, diabetes testing and Medicare benefits GAP Coverage.

Anyone who called one of the listed telephone numbers was asked for personal information, including their Medicare or Social Security Number and contact details for their physician.

“Although the telephone numbers have been taken out of circulation, this scam serves as a reminder to consumers to be wary of any unsolicited document that requires giving out personal information over the telephone, at your front door or by email or text,” Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan A. Harris said in a statement. “An official looking seal can be easily copied and used by scammers to mislead consumers.”

According to Connecticut Better Business Bureau President, Paulette Scarpetti, “This is a very busy time of year for consumers, when they are bombarded by emails, telephone calls, charity appeals and telemarketers’ pitches. We have to be extremely careful about responding to what may appear to be an urgent appeal, a threat or unrealistic deals and discounts.”

AARP State Director, Nora Duncan added, “Scams targeting older adults continue to be a concern for all of us. Even if something looks official, it pays to check it out before providing any personal information.”

There also have been incidents of callers purporting to be the IRS demanding immediate callbacks to pay overdue taxes or face arrest. The IRS says it never makes phone calls or sends emails regarding overdue taxes, demand immediate payments or make threats of arrest.

Eversource spokesman Mitch Gross said in an email, “Scams continue to be reported across the state … the latest that have been reported involving Eversource customers in Avon, East Lyme and New London. No town is immune. It is happening to both residential and business customers and has been on-going for at least the last three years. Unfortunately, customers continue to panic and pay. We NEVER demand immediate payment over the phone...we never require the use of pre-paid debit cards or to wire the money to an account number - these should be big, red flags to any customer who gets these types of calls demanding such.”

Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) say offers should be considered fraudulent if:

• It asks for a Medicare number in exchange for equipment, services or discounts on lab tests
• It uses pressure or scare tactics to sell expensive materials
• It offers non-medical services as Medicare-approved expenditures

To protect yourself, make sure to follow these guidelines:

• Do not give away personal information, including your Medicare number, to door-to-door sales people, callers, or as a follow up to a mailed or emailed solicitation
• Do not call numbers listed on mail solicitations, or left on voicemails that tell you to call back at risk of a penalty
• Never be afraid to say “no”

The BBB, AARP and DCP urge consumers to discuss these issues with friends, relatives and, in particular, those who are eligible for Medicare benefits.

If you or anyone you know has received this sort of document, you are asked to report it to DCP at 860-713-6300 or toll free at 1-800-842-2649, in addition to reporting the incident through Connecticut BBB’s Scam Tracker, at bbb.org/scamtracker/Connecticut.

Advice from the IRS:

If you don’t owe taxes, or don’t have a reason to think that you do:

• Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately.
• Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) to report the call. Use their “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” web page. You can also call 800-366-4484.
• Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Use the “FTC Complaint Assistant” on FTC.gov. Please add “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.

Images from Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.

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