Is it a scam if someone called claiming to be from Medicare?

Almost certainly yes. Medicare contacts beneficiaries primarily by mail. Medicare does not call unsolicited to ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or banking information. Any unsolicited call claiming to be from Medicare asking for personal information is a scam. Hang up and call the real Medicare helpline at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) if you have concerns.

What if I already gave them my Medicare number?

Report it to the HHS Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) and to Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Review your Medicare Summary Notice carefully for any services you didn't receive — fraudulent billing on your Medicare account can affect your future coverage. Also report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and monitor your credit.

Medicare called saying my card needs to be replaced. Is it real?

Almost certainly a scam. Medicare sends new cards by mail without requiring any action from you. Medicare does not call to request your current Medicare number or personal information in order to send a replacement card. If you're unsure about the status of your Medicare card, call 1-800-MEDICARE directly using a number you've verified yourself.

Did Medicare actually change my benefits or coverage?

Medicare changes are communicated in writing — through your Annual Notice of Change, the Medicare & You handbook mailed each fall, or official letters from Medicare or your plan. Medicare does not call to inform you of benefit changes or require you to confirm coverage by phone. If you have questions about your benefits, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or log into MyMedicare.gov.

How do I report a Medicare impersonation scam?

Report to the HHS Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or at oig.hhs.gov. Also report to Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). If you gave personal information, report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The Senior Medicare Patrol (877-808-2468) offers free assistance identifying and reporting Medicare fraud.

Medicare Fraud ⚠ Almost Certainly a Scam

Someone Claiming to Be Medicare Called. Is It Real or a Scam?

💡

Medicare does not call beneficiaries unsolicited to ask for personal information, Medicare numbers, or payment. Any such call is almost certainly a scam.

🚨 Almost Certainly a Scam

Medicare contacts beneficiaries primarily by mail — not by unsolicited phone call asking for your Medicare number, banking details, or personal information. The HHS Office of Inspector General identified Medicare impersonation as one of the top fraud types targeting seniors. A call requesting your Medicare number or asking you to confirm coverage is a scam in virtually every case.

Hang up. Do not give your Medicare number, Social Security number, or banking information.

Source: Medicare.gov — official fraud prevention guidance

Step 1

Hang up immediately

Do not give any personal or Medicare information

Step 2

Verify with real Medicare

Call 1-800-MEDICARE if you have concerns about your coverage

Step 3

If you shared information — report now

Recovery steps →

How to Know in 60 Seconds If It Was Real

Check these against your call. Each is a confirmed indicator of fraud.

Did they ask for your Medicare number? Medicare already has your Medicare number on file. Medicare will never call and ask you to provide or confirm it. Medicare.gov states: "Medicare will never call you uninvited and ask for your Medicare Number."
Did they say your card needs to be replaced or updated? Medicare sends replacement cards by mail automatically — no phone confirmation is needed. Any call asking you to "verify" your information to receive a new card is a scam designed to steal your Medicare number.
Did they offer free medical equipment, tests, or supplies in exchange for your number? This is a documented Medicare fraud variant — offering free braces, glucose monitors, or genetic tests in exchange for your Medicare number, which is then used to fraudulently bill Medicare for equipment you never received.
Did they ask for payment by gift card, wire, or money order? Medicare does not accept payment by gift card, wire transfer, or money order. Medicare billing goes through your health plan or Medicare directly. Any request for these payment methods is always fraudulent.
Want to verify your actual Medicare coverage? Call the real Medicare helpline at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — look this up yourself at medicare.gov. Or log into MyMedicare.gov to review your actual coverage and claims.

What This Scam Is and How It Works

Medicare impersonation scams take several forms. The most common: a caller claiming to be a Medicare representative says your card needs to be replaced, your coverage is changing, or you're owed a refund — and asks for your Medicare number to "process" the request. Your Medicare number, once stolen, is used to bill Medicare for medical equipment, procedures, or tests that you never received.

A second variant offers free medical supplies — back braces, knee braces, diabetic supplies, genetic cancer tests — "at no cost to you" in exchange for your Medicare number. The caller may be working for a fraudulent medical supply company that then bills Medicare thousands of dollars in your name. You may never know this is happening until Medicare contacts you about unusual claims.

The DOJ's June 2025 national Medicare fraud takedown charged 324 defendants across the country for $14.6 billion in fraudulent Medicare billing. Your Medicare number is as valuable as your Social Security number to fraudsters. For the full guide: → Complete Medicare Fraud Guide

What to Do in the Next 30 Minutes

✓ If you hung up and gave no information

Do not call back any number from the call.
Report to the HHS Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or oig.hhs.gov.
Also report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you have any concerns about your actual coverage, call 1-800-MEDICARE directly.

⚠ If you gave your Medicare number or personal information

Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and report that your Medicare number may have been compromised. Ask them to flag your account and monitor for fraudulent claims.
Review your Medicare Summary Notices carefully for any services you didn't receive. You can view claims at MyMedicare.gov.
Report to the HHS OIG at 1-800-HHS-TIPS and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Contact the Senior Medicare Patrol at 877-808-2468 — they provide free assistance helping you identify and dispute fraudulent Medicare claims.
If you also gave your Social Security number or banking information, place a credit freeze immediately. → Full recovery guide

Common Questions

Almost certainly yes. Medicare contacts beneficiaries by mail — not by unsolicited phone call asking for your Medicare number or personal information. Medicare.gov states clearly that Medicare will never call uninvited and ask for your Medicare number. Hang up and call the real helpline at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) if you have concerns about your coverage.

Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) immediately and report that your Medicare number may have been shared with a scammer. Ask them to flag your account and watch for fraudulent billing. Review your Medicare Summary Notices for any services you didn't receive — fraudulent billing in your name can affect your coverage limits. Report to the HHS OIG at 1-800-HHS-TIPS and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Almost certainly a scam. Medicare sends new cards by mail automatically — they do not call to request your current Medicare number or personal information before sending a replacement. If you're genuinely unsure about your card's status, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) directly using a number you've verified at medicare.gov.

Medicare communicates changes in writing — through your Annual Notice of Change, the Medicare & You handbook mailed each fall, or official letters. Medicare does not call to inform you of benefit changes or require you to confirm coverage by phone. If you have questions, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or log into MyMedicare.gov to check your actual coverage.

Report to the HHS Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or at oig.hhs.gov — the primary agency for Medicare fraud. Also report to Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The Senior Medicare Patrol at 877-808-2468 provides free help navigating the reporting process and reviewing your claims for fraud.

Official Numbers and Report Links

Verified from official government websites, confirmed April 2026.

What you need	Number / Link
Real Medicare helpline	1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) medicare.gov — type directly
Check your Medicare claims	MyMedicare.gov — log in directly
Report Medicare fraud	HHS OIG: 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) oig.hhs.gov
Senior Medicare Patrol — free help	877-808-2468 · smpresource.org
Report to FTC	ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Report to FBI	IC3.gov

Searching "Medicare phone number" can return fake sites with scammer numbers in paid ads. Use the numbers above or type medicare.gov directly into your browser.

Want to understand Medicare fraud fully?

Our complete guide covers how Medicare fraud operations work, the free equipment and card replacement scripts scammers use, real federal prosecution cases, and what to do if you believe fraudulent claims have been filed in your name.

→ Complete Medicare Fraud Guide