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Most
health care providers are honest and are providing the best care
they can, but the small number who aren't find ways to steal billions
of dollars from the health care system each year. Even more is lost
to errors in billing that are never found. Below you will find current
scams that are happening right here in Iowa.
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 AVOID INCOME TAX SEASON SCAMS: Reports have been received from northwest Iowa and the Denver, Iowa area, that citizens have received e-mails and phone calls identified as originating from IRS. The contacts state that the recipient is due a refund, but you must click on an Internet link or via telephone, give your bank account information. IRS DOES NOT phone or e-mail to advise you of a refund. Be especially wary later this spring and summer when the economic stimulus "rebate" payments are due to be delivered. If you receive a suspicious e-mail, you can give information to IRS at phishing@irs.gov.
Posted: 02/06/2008
MEDICARE SCAM CALLS: Older citizens across Iowa have received calls from persons identifying themselves as Medicare claims or record reviewers. They allege that there are "unused" benefits that can be refunded and bank account information is needed in order to directly deposit the payment. In the Keosauqua area, the caller even had personal information about the person (date of birth and bank name) when they called. Medicare DOES NOT provide "refunds" of "unused" benefits and they DO NOT call you to tell you about a payment you should receive (unless you have called them with a question first). The Iowa Attorney General's office is aware of these calls.
Posted: 02/06/2008
SOCIAL SECURITY SCAM CALLS: The Moberly, MO police department notified their local TV station, KTVO, that their citizens received phone calls from individuals claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. They ask to "verify" information, including date of birth and bank account numbers. When the Social Security Administration calls you, that do not routinely ask for your identifying information, since they have it on record. (If YOU call Social Security, they will ask you to identify yourself.)
Posted: 02/06/2008
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