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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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 Rx Drug Card
A gentleman form Windber, PA (rural southwestern part of the State of Pennsylvania) called our Hotline to report that he had received several calls from an outfit called Med Pro Vision (the caller was not quite certain about the name). The were selling a Discount Prescription Card -- a one time payment and free prescriptions ever after. He did not remember the exact amount they asked for but it was several hundred dollars. They asked for his checking account number. He refused but noted that they were very insistent. He called us because a friend of his had seen one of our flyers at a health or senior fair.
Posted: 01/22/2007
STOLEN CHECKING ACCOUNT in Northwestern Iowa!
The Senior Stated:
I have to start new check books too. Did I tell you that someone got into my checking account to the tune of about $1500? I got it stopped but had to close my bank account and open a new one. I have no idea how this happened as I do not use credit cards and SS is the only direct deposit. Everything else I do my own writing. When I closed my account I gave them a list of the checks that I had written and that it was ok for them to pay them. The bank called the other day and said another check for $395 had come through with the check number 4529. I told them that that particular number was the last one that I had written but it was for about 49 dollars and it was to pay for my cell phone. Needless to say the bank rejected it. They sent me a copy of this check which seems to come out of NJ. I would love to catch the culprit and give them a piece of my mind. When this all started the man I talked to said he was sending me some papers to sign???????????????? He gave me two phone numbers to call if I had a question but when the bank tried these numbers……no answer. The bank said if I do get these papers I should take them to the sheriff or the local police dept. That must be mail fraud. I need something like this about like I need another hole in my head. Still have not figured out how they got my account number and all the rest of the stuff. I am not writing any new checks until after the first of the year. I have to check with the bank again to see if those last three checks have been cashed. The bank has really been a help. According to them I have banked with them for over 25 years and I would not be surprised if it is more than that. I first spotted a problem when I got the Nov. bank statement and there was a check #888 for 395 taken out. It has been years since I was back in the 800 check numbers. Just think of the poor people who do not check their statements and take for granted that all is correct. Well that has been good for a giant head ache. Did you ever hear of any such scams in your area? You work with so many senior citizens that I hope none of them are victims.
Be Careful:
Who knows where her checking account was compromised? Could be somewhere where she wrote a check to and anywhere along the line where checks go. Could be where ever she got her checks printed. Could be that someone who was in her house saw her check number. About 45% of stolen identities are from family or other acquaintances. It is really difficult to say how hers was stolen.
Posted: 01/16/2007
Scam Alert – Regarding Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
The following fraud alert was received from the U.S. Department of Justice, United States Attorney, Southern District of Iowa and Health Integrity, Delmarva Foundation. They have asked that the following information be shared.
Health Integrity. LLC, a subsidiary of Delmarva Foundation, has received credible information that individuals and entities, purporting to be representatives of Medicare sponsored prescription drug plans, are contacting Medicare beneficiaries, offering to enroll them in a Medicare Part D plan. The caller claims that they need personal bank account and other personal data from the beneficiary in order to enroll the beneficiary in a Medicare Part D plan. The callers have typically required initial “Payments” of $299.00 or similar amounts to be withdrawn from the beneficiary’s account. In some instances the callers have prior access to the beneficiary’s personal data such as Medicare related numbers or Social Security numbers.
There have also been reports about similar scams involving individuals identifying themselves as employees of the Social Security Administration (SSA). In these instances, the callers indicate that SSA is sending out replacement Social Security and Medicare cards and they need to verify a beneficiary’s personal and/or direct deposit banking information. These scams have primarily affected beneficiaries residing in Wisconsin. The Inspectors General at SSA and the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the Federal Trade Commission, are investigating these scams.
The status of this scam is currently under investigation by the Office of Inspector General. If you have information about incidents involving callers selling fictitious Medicare sponsored prescription drug plans or individuals involved in any of the activities, described above, contact the Medicare Fraud, Waste and Abuse MEDIC, Health Integrity at 1-877-7 SAFERX or your regional office of the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Posted: 12/20/2006
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