FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :  Friday, October 19, 2012
CONTACT:  Sara Rabern (605)773-3215   

New Medicare Telemarketing Scam Targets South Dakota Seniors

 
PIERRE, S.D.-    The Annual Open Enrollment Period for Medicare recipients to make any changes to their Part D coverage began on October 15th. Unfortunately Medicare scams are now targeting seniors across the state.

The most recent scam involves callers posing as a telemarketing company hired by Medicare to contact all South Dakota Medicare recipients to alert them that new Medicare identification cards will be mailed soon. The caller continues by trying to verify account information to assure that funds will go into the appropriate account.  The callers are relentless, making numerous calls to the same individuals.  They threaten that if the information is not provided coverage will be lost including prescription drug coverage.

“These scammers are being very aggressive, persistently trying to wear down seniors to gain access to personal identifying information. Do not provide this information to unsolicited callers,” said Jackley.

Seniors who have received phone calls such as this should contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-300-1986 or consumerhelp@state.sd.us or contact Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-800-822-8804 East River and 1-800-695-8168 West River.

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