Medicare Open Enrollment starts on October 15, a predictable time for scammers to target individuals, especially older Americans, with fraudulent calls and messages. These calls often include fake Medicare card offers and urgent Social Security warnings. To prepare, it’s crucial to understand scammers’ targeting methods and take steps to safeguard yourself.
Understanding the Targeting Process
Scammers often start building their target lists long before October arrives. They rely not only on public dates, such as Medicare Open Enrollment and Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), to time their scams but also on marketing data to identify and contact potential victims.
Epsilon Data Management, for instance, maintained a vast database and faced legal consequences after former employees sold targeted consumer lists to fraudsters. One fraudster used these lists to defraud victims of more than $23.7 million.
The Risk of Consumer Lists and Personal Data
Legitimate marketing companies still sell consumer lists online. These lists can include detailed information such as phone numbers, addresses, and estimated home values. Scammers use this data to craft convincing fraudulent calls.
Removing personal information from data broker sites can help reduce the likelihood of impersonation scams. Sites like Spokeo, Whitepages, and Intelius routinely hold a wealth of personal data, making it easier for scammers to create believable scams.
Steps to Protect Yourself and Your Family
- Conduct Personal Searches: Search your own name on people-search sites to see what information is exposed.
- Check for Older Relatives: Older relatives are more vulnerable and their information is more valuable to scammers.
- Submit Opt-Out Requests: Personal data removal from broker sites takes time. Start the process early before scammers exploit it.
- Use Automated Removal Services: Consider using services that automate the removal process from major data brokers.
- Establish a Family Password: Decide on a code word with relatives to confirm identities during suspicious calls.
- Change Security Questions: If you verify identity with common questions like “mother’s maiden name,” change them to answers only you know.
Key Takeaway
Although Medicare cards and Social Security COLAs are automatic processes, scammers use public dates to make false claims. Start safeguarding personal information ahead of scheduled enrollment periods to make it harder for scammers to target you. Preparation now means reduced scam likelihood later.
Let us know your experiences with scam attempts and visit CyberGuy.com for free resources on protecting yourself against fraud.