"MEDICARE" SCAMS IN 2026

By Charles W. Forsythe at The Forsythe Firm

I write this post in September of 2026.  Within the last 10 minutes I have received 2 scam calls from the same person (different phone numbers), telling me I may qualify for an extra $250 from Medicare this month.  Totally phony, 100 percent scam.  Hang up immediately if you get one of these calls.

Here is how the scam goes:

 You receive a call from what looks like a local number (It is not).  

A recorded female voice says:  "You may be eligible to receive a $250 bonus from Medicare this month.  Do you have Medicare parts A and B?"

If you answer, Yes, the voice says:  "That's all I need.  My colleague will now take your enrollment."

Then, a male voice with a heavy foreign accent comes on the phone. (The call probably originates in India). He asks again, "You have Medicare Part A and B, correct?"  You answer, Yes.  He then asks for your age, not your birthday, just your age. He is disarming you, making you feel comfortable speaking to him.

As the call continues, he will ask you for more personal information, eventually trying to get your Social Security Number, Medicare Number, date of birth, and possibly your banking information.

When you resist giving this information, he says, "I'm John (or some other American name), and I'm just trying to qualify you for the extra $250 Medicare benefit."

You must hang up to protect yourself.  This is call is NOT from Medicare, it is NOT about Medicare.  This is a criminal trying to steal your identity and steal money from you.  Hang up"  The longer you talk the more danger you are in.  Hang up immediately 

The truth is:  Medicare does not call people.  They do not give a bonus or an extra unexpected benefit.  Neither does Social Security.   Think:  If this really is Medicare or Social Security, they already have all the information they are now asking you for.  100 percent scam.  Guaranteed Scam.  Phony.  Criminal.

If you have a family member, loved one or elderly friend, please warn them about this scam.  People have lost thousands of dollars just by answering a few questions from these criminals.  They are thieves and they only mean to steal from you. This is ALWAYS a criminal scam.