Medicare fraud drains the program every year, and scammers go after your Medicare Number to bill for care you never got. Here's the one rule that stops most of it: Medicare will never call you out of the blue to sell you something or ask for your number. This guide shows you how to guard your card, spot the common scams, catch fraud on your statements, and report it.
Guard your Medicare Number like a credit card
Your Medicare card is the key to your benefits. A scammer with your Medicare Number can bill Medicare for fake services in your name.
Treat the number the way you'd treat a credit card. Give it only to people who should have it: your doctors, your pharmacist, your insurer, and trusted providers who treat you. Carry the card when you need it for a medical visit. Otherwise, keep it somewhere safe at home.
Never give your Medicare Number, Social Security Number, or bank details to someone who contacts you first. That's the line. Real Medicare business doesn't start with a surprise phone call.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse. medicare.gov. Retrieved Sep 2, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse
The scams to watch for
Most Medicare scams run the same play. Someone offers you something free, or claims to be from Medicare, and the price is always your Medicare Number. Here are the ones that show up most.
| The pitch | What they want | Why it's a scam |
|---|---|---|
| "Free" back brace, knee brace, or other equipment | Your Medicare Number to "ship" it | They bill Medicare for costly equipment you don't need |
| "Free" genetic or DNA cancer test | Your Medicare Number and a cheek swab | They bill Medicare thousands for a test your doctor never ordered |
| "Free" test kits or a home monitoring device mailed to you | Your Medicare Number to "qualify" | You get signed up for services billed to Medicare month after month, monitored or not |
| Caller "from Medicare" verifying your number | Your Medicare or Social Security Number | Medicare already has your number and never calls uninvited to ask for it |
| "We're issuing you a new Medicare card" | Your current number, SSN, or a fee | You order a replacement card yourself through your Medicare account, never from a caller |
| Pushy plan-enrollment pitch by phone or at your door | Your number plus a signature | Medicare never calls to sell you anything or shows up at your door |
The common thread: free gear, a "verification," or a new card, all in exchange for your number. When the request comes to you uninvited, it's a scam.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse. medicare.gov. Retrieved Sep 2, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse
Check your statements for Medicare fraud
The fastest way to catch fraud is to read what Medicare pays out in your name. Two documents show you that.
If you have Original Medicare, you get a Medicare Summary Notice in the mail listing the services and equipment billed to your number. If you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your plan sends an Explanation of Benefits that does the same.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse. medicare.gov. Retrieved Sep 2, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 8, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/your-coverage-options/compare-original-medicare-medicare-advantage
Read each one against the care you actually received. Check the dates, the providers, and the services. Watch for three things:
- Charges for services or equipment you never got
- The same service billed twice
- A provider's name you don't recognize
You don't have to wait for the mail. Set up a secure account at Medicare.gov and you can view Original Medicare claims as soon as they're processed. Checking early means you catch a problem while it's small.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse. medicare.gov. Retrieved Sep 2, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse
Report Medicare fraud the moment you spot it
Found something wrong? Report it. You don't need proof it's fraud, just a reason to question a charge.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report a suspect charge. Start here. See reporting Medicare fraud for what to have ready.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse. medicare.gov. Retrieved Sep 2, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse It is also Medicare's official national line for any other beneficiary question, staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except some federal holidays; TTY users call 1-877-486-2048.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Contact Medicare — Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 23, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/talk-to-someone
- Call the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) fraud hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477), or file a report online. This is the federal watchdog for healthcare fraud.
- If the charge came through a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you can also call the Investigations Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor (I-MEDIC) at 1-877-7SAFERX (1-877-772-3379).
Before you call, pull your Medicare card, your statement, and the date you noticed the problem. That's enough to start.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse. medicare.gov. Retrieved Sep 2, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse
Get help from the Senior Medicare Patrol
You don't have to sort this out alone. The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is a federally funded program, run on grants from the Administration for Community Living, that helps Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers prevent, detect, and report suspected fraud, errors, and abuse. SMPs operate in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse. medicare.gov. Retrieved Sep 2, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse
SMP counselors will sit down with you, walk through a confusing statement, and help you decide whether something is a billing error or a scam.
Find your local program through the SMP Locator.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse. medicare.gov. Retrieved Sep 2, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse
When someone steals your medical identity
Medical identity theft happens when someone uses your Medicare Number or personal information to get care or bill Medicare in your name. It's the end goal of most of the scams above.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse. medicare.gov. Retrieved Sep 2, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse
The damage isn't just financial. Fraudulent billing can clutter your records with treatments and diagnoses that aren't yours, and that can affect your real care down the line.
If you suspect it, act fast:
- Report it to 1-800-MEDICARE and the HHS OIG hotline right away.
- Keep checking your Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits for more bad charges.
- Watch your other accounts, since a thief with your information may not stop at Medicare.
When fraud crosses your Medicare and Medicaid coverage, or affects a plan that pays after Medicare, knowing how the programs interact helps. See the guide on coordination of benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Medicare ever call me?
Medicare may return a call you started, or a plan you joined may contact you about your own enrollment. But Medicare does not call you out of the blue to sell coverage or ask for your Medicare Number, Social Security Number, or bank information. An unsolicited call asking for those is a scam.
Is it safe to give my Medicare Number to a doctor's office?
Yes. Your providers, pharmacy, and insurer need your number to bill correctly. The danger is giving it to someone who contacts you first, especially anyone offering free equipment, tests, or a new card.
What should I do if I already gave my number to a scammer?
Report it to 1-800-MEDICARE and the HHS OIG hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS as soon as you can. Then watch your Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits closely for charges you don't recognize, and contact your Senior Medicare Patrol for help.
How do I report fraud if I'm not sure it's fraud?
You don't need to be sure. If a charge looks wrong, call 1-800-MEDICARE or your Senior Medicare Patrol and ask. Many reports turn out to be honest billing errors, and catching those still matters.
Someone called saying I need a new Medicare card. Is that real?
No. You order a replacement card yourself: log in to (or create) your secure Medicare account at Medicare.gov to print or order an official copy, or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Never pay a caller or give out your number to get a card.
Learn More
Find personalized help protecting yourself from Medicare fraud at brevy.com.
The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.