Scammers are always lurking to take advantage of any opportunity. And now with covid on people’s mind, these crooks are more than ready to make a quick buck. They wouldn’t miss the opportunity to take away your medical identity — to sell it so others can get free medical care in your name or to falsely bill your insurance company or Medicare.
How does it work?
- Scammers “dumpster drive” into your trash looking for health insurance or medical information.
- Scammers establish fake coronavirus testing sites to attract passersby to provide medical information.
- Scammers ask for you to complete a “survey” to get free medical services or products.
What should you know?
- Medical identity theft could lead to delay in treatment.
- Medical identity theft could result in treatment delays, incorrect prescriptions and even misdiagnoses for you.
- Medical identity theft can lead to huge legal and financial complications.
- Medical identity theft can badly damage you credit.
- Medical identity theft can haunt you for years since medical debt collectors will stop at nothing to get the “monies you allegedly own them”.
What should you do?
- Shred all paperwork related to your medical care before discarding it.
- Share your medical or health insurance information only with providers you know and trust — not with a stranger offering “free” medical care or equipment or services.
- Review your medical insurance statements and bills and report unauthorized charges immediately.
When it comes to fraud, awareness and monitoring are our number one weapons.
