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Slam the Scam: How to Spot & Avoid Fraudulent Calls

A smartphone lying on a desk next to a laptop, displaying multiple scam messages on its screen. The messages have red warning icons and contain suspicious text, such as contract payment alerts and fraudulent beneficiary notifications. The image emphasizes the risk of scam communications and the importance of staying vigilant against fraud.
Slam the Scam: How to Spot & Avoid Fraudulent Calls
Don't Fall for Healthcare Scams—Learn How to Protect Yourself

Why This Matters: The Growing Threat of Healthcare Fraud

In 2024, Americans lost over $290 million to healthcare-related scams, with the average victim losing $1,800. Beyond financial losses, victims often face: 

  • Credit score damage requiring 100-200 hours to resolve 
  • Compromised medical records leading to dangerous treatment errors 
  • Psychological distress, with 68% of victims reporting significant anxiety 
  • Lost access to legitimate healthcare benefits when Medicare flags suspicious activity 

At Monadnock Community Hospital, we want to ensure our patients are informed and protected from these increasingly sophisticated scams. Download our flyer for a quick reference guide.

Knowing what to look for can help prevent fraud and keep your personal information safe. 

A digital graphic with a teal background promoting the "Slam the Scam" campaign. The text reads "Stay Informed. Stay Safe." in a white cursive font at the top. Below, bold white capital letters state "HSlam the Scam." Further down, "STOP, VERIFY, REPORT:" appears in large white text, followed by "Your Action Plan Against Healthcare Scams" in a smaller font. The Monadnock Community Hospital logo, a stylized white and blue mountain icon, is placed on the lower right side. Circular design elements are scattered across the background.

Quick Response Guide: Is This Call Legitimate?

If the caller…  Then you should… 
Pressures you to “act now”  HANG UP IMMEDIATELY 
Requests Medicare/SSN numbers  HANG UP IMMEDIATELY 
Claims to be Medicare/insurance needing to “verify” information  HANG UP & CALL OFFICIAL NUMBER 
Offers free services/equipment in exchange for your information  HANG UP IMMEDIATELY 
Says they’re calling about a bill, but you haven’t received it in writing  HANG UP & CALL YOUR PROVIDER TO VERIFY IF THE CALL WAS LEGITIMATE 
Asks for payment in gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency  HANG UP & REPORT THE SCAM 
Threatens to cut off your benefits  HANG UP & CALL MEDICARE DIRECTLY 

Common Healthcare Scam Tactics

Fraudsters use a variety of deceptive tactics, including: 

  • Fake Billing Calls: Scammers claim you owe money for a medical visit, test, or procedure and pressure you to pay immediately. 
  • Medicare & Insurance Scams: Callers impersonate Medicare or your insurance company, requesting your Medicare Number, Social Security Number, or bank details. 
  • Medical Equipment & Prescription Scams: Fraudsters offer free or discounted medical supplies or prescriptions in exchange for your Medicare information. 
  • Urgent Health-Related Calls: Scammers may claim that a loved one is hospitalized or that you need immediate medical care. 
  • Hospice Enrollment Fraud: Some fraudsters trick individuals into signing up for hospice services when they don’t need them, leading to fraudulent billing under their name. 

Telehealth Scam Alert

With the explosion of telehealth services, new scams have emerged targeting patients: 

  • Fake Telehealth Providers: Scammers create fake websites mimicking legitimate telehealth services to collect your personal and insurance information. 
  • “Verification” Scams: Calls claiming you need to “verify your information” before your scheduled telehealth appointment, even when you don’t have one. 
  • Telehealth Equipment Scams: Offers for “free” or “Medicare-covered” telehealth equipment that require your Medicare information. 
  • Credential Harvesting: Links to “prepare for your appointment” that steal your login credentials for legitimate healthcare portals. 

Red Flags: Be suspicious if a telehealth provider: 

  • Contacts you without you initiating the relationship first 
  • Cannot be verified on your insurance provider’s website 
  • Has a website with spelling errors or unusual URLs 
  • Promises specific prescriptions before any consultation 

Mobile App Scam Warnings

Fraudulent healthcare apps are becoming increasingly sophisticated: 

  • Fake Hospital Apps: Scammers create counterfeit versions of legitimate hospital apps to steal login credentials. 
  • Health Tracking Scams: Apps that claim to monitor health metrics but actually collect personal data for identity theft. 
  • Insurance Card Scanning Scams: Apps claiming to digitize your insurance cards but actually stealing your information. 
  • Appointment Scheduling Fraud: Fake apps that collect your personal details under the guise of scheduling appointments. 

How to Stay Safe: 

  • Only download healthcare apps from official app stores 
  • Verify the developer is your actual healthcare provider 
  • Check reviews and download numbers 
  • Be wary of apps requesting excessive permissions 
  • Confirm with your provider which official apps they support 

How to Recognize a Scam Call

Be cautious if you receive a call where the caller: 

  • Pressures you to act immediately. Scammers create urgency to prevent you from verifying their claims. 
  • Requests personal information. Legitimate healthcare organizations will not call asking for your Medicare Number, Social Security Number, or bank details. 
  • Demands payment in an unusual form. Fraudsters often request payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or cash. 
  • Claims to be from Medicare or your hospital but asks for sensitive details. Government agencies and hospitals will not initiate unsolicited calls asking for this information. 

Steps to Protect Yourself

If you receive a suspicious call, follow these steps: 

  1. Hang up immediately. Do not engage with the caller or provide any information. 
  1. Verify with your provider. Call your doctor’s office or insurance company directly using the phone number from an official website or bill to confirm whether they were actually trying to reach you. 
  1. Do not share personal information. Never provide your Social Security Number, bank details, or Medicare Number over the phone. 
  1. Monitor your medical statements. Regularly check your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or insurance statements for any suspicious charges. 
  1. Report the scam. Notify the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.FTC.gov or call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE if the scam involves insurance fraud. 

Keep our flyer handy for quick reminders.

If You've Already Been Scammed: Act Quickly

If you suspect you’ve fallen victim to a healthcare scam, take these immediate steps: 

  1. Contact your financial institutions to freeze accounts or stop payments 
  1. Place a fraud alert with one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) 
  1. Change your passwords for all healthcare portals, insurance websites, and financial accounts 
  1. Contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE to report potential misuse of your information 
  1. File a police report – you’ll need this documentation for disputing fraudulent charges 
  1. Call the FTC at 1-877-ID-THEFT to create an official Identity Theft Report 
  1. Monitor your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements for services you didn’t receive 
  1. Consider freezing your credit to prevent new accounts from being opened 

Remember: Acting quickly can significantly reduce the damage from a scam. Most financial protections have time limits, so don’t delay. 

Resources

  • Report Medicare Fraud: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) MediCare.gov
  • Social Security Scam Awareness: Social Security Administration – SSA.Gov/Scam  

 At Monadnock Community Hospital, protecting our patients is our priority. If you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from MCH, contact the provider’s office directly using a trusted phone number.