PROTECT YOURSELF
Here's where you can get quick tips on how to prevent Medicare scams.

**June 3, 2008 Warning” Iowa Disaster Victims in Black Hawk, Buchanan, Butler and Delaware Counties:

Protecting Your Personal Information and Financial Security---------------------------
• If you need to replace a missing Social Security card, contact your Social Security Administration office. It is helpful to call the office before your visit, to be advised of the identification required. There is NO CHARGE for a replacement card; don’t pay money to any person or business offering to get a replacement card for you. --------
• If you need to replace a missing Medicare health insurance card, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM. You aren’t required to submit identification if you call and verify your identity verbally. --------------------
• If you need to replace a missing Medicaid (Title 19) or food assistance card, call your county Department of Human Services office. ---------------------
• If you are concerned that your Social Security number and other personal information might have gotten into the wrong hands, request free copies of your credit report. Each of the 3 credit companies must give you an annual free report if you request it. Request a report from 1 company, 4 months later request from another and 4 months later from the third.
o Equifax, 1-800-685-1111, www.equifax.com
o Experian, 1-888-397-3742, www.experian.com
o TransUnion, 1-877-322-8228, www.transunion.com

If you find credit transactions you didn’t authorize, contact the credit company, the businesses listed on your report, all your other banks and credit issuers, and your local police department. --------------------
• If you are concerned that your Medicare claim number is being used by someone else, read your Medicare Summary Notice that is mailed every 3 months. If there are benefits paid to providers that haven’t given you health care, call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227. If you have difficulty resolving the problem, call Iowa SMP program at 1-800-423-2449. ------------------------
• If you cannot receive mail at your usual mailing address, contact your local Post Office to ask what arrangements have been made and whether you need to have your mail forwarded to a different address; if so, choose a trusted person who can receive your forwarded mail. Ask the Post Office for a reminder list of who you should notify. ----------------------------
• Consider signing up for direct deposit for your retirement benefits now. Call the agencies that send your benefits, to give them your bank routing number and account number. ----------------------------


Home Repair Scams ------------------------------
FEMA and the Iowa Attorney General’s office warn that persons recovering from disaster are targets of scam artists for home repair and clean up services. If you don’t know the person offering to perform services , you should:
• Check local references, ask for proof of registration with the Iowa Labor Services division, ask the Iowa Attorney General’s office if complaints have been filed.
• Get several written estimates. When you decide to hire the contractor get a detailed written contract.
• Avoid paying large sums in advance. If you have to pay for materials in advance, make your check payable to the contractor AND the supplier.
• Don’t be a victim of price gouging, which is prohibited by state law in counties with declared disasters.
You can contact the Iowa Labor Services Division at 1-800-562-4692 & the IA Attorney General Consumer Protection Division at 1-888-777-4590. Read the consumer advisories section of the Attorney General website at http://www.iowaattorneygeneral.org. ---------------------------


Be Careful of Telemarketers and Door-to-Door Salespersons--------------------------------
• Scam artists move quickly into and out of the area and know how to target vulnerable people. If someone calls, ask:
o Who’s calling and why?
o What’s their hurry?
o Why am I giving out my bank information or even confirming it?
In fact, DON’T give out your Social Security number, bank numbers or other personal information unless you place the call yourself to conduct some business with a trusted organization.
• Door-to-door salespeople can be very pushy and make you believe you’ll miss out on some services or products you need desperately.
The Iowa Door-to-Door Sales Act requires salespeople to tell you there are 3 days allowed to change your mind or cancel if you are buying a product or service worth more than $25. Always ask the person to show their sales permit, which is required by most towns and cities; check with the city clerk or police department. -------------------


Don’t Fall for Donation Scams-------------------

• Initiate the call yourself, to charities you know and trust.
• If someone calls, stating they are from a charity you know, ask them to send you written information before you send money. On May 28, 2008, Waterloo news media reported that bogus calls have been made in the area, from persons portraying themselves as from the American Red Cross. Be especially careful of callers saying they are from your fire or police department; call your fire or police department to make sure it’s a legitimate fundraiser before you donate. -----------------------

This information has been compiled with resources from:
• Iowa Office of the Attorney General
• Iowa Department of Human Services
• Federal Trade Commission
• Social Security Administration

----------------------If you are working with FEMA, they will provide you much more additional information. If they visit or call they will identify themselves AND have your personal registration number, given to you when you registered for services.





April 11, 2008 Up To Date Information from the Federal Trade Commission on the Do Not Call Registry

Do Not Call Registrations Permanent and Fees Telemarketers Pay to Access Registry Set

Telephone numbers placed on the National Do Not Call Registry will remain on it permanently due to the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007, which became law in February 2008.

The Truth About Cell Phones and the Do Not Call Registry

The Federal Trade Commission today reiterated that despite the claims made in e-mails circulating on the Internet, consumers should not be concerned that their cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketers in the near future, and that it is not necessary to register cell phone numbers on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry to be protected from most telemarketing calls to cell phones.

Are Your Prescription Drugs Counterfeit?

As we age we are more likely to be using prescription drugs. The fastest growing age group in the U.S. is 85 years old and up. In addition, baby boomers are entering the time when the likelihood of using prescription drugs is greater. Drug counterfeiters and fraud artists see these as opportunities to make lots of money in any way they can. They are not concerned that they may be physically hurting people or about stealing someone’s money or our Medicare and Medicaid dollars.

What can you and/or your caregivers do to avoid purchasing counterfeit medications?
•Pay close attention to the drugs you purchase, the size, shape, color, taste and side affects. Look for differences from previous purchases.
•Check the packaging for altered or unsealed containers or changes in the packaging or labels.
•Use only reputable licensed pharmacies for purchasing your prescriptions. Check the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (www.nabp.net) or call 1-847-698-6227 for licensing information.
•For online purchases check the seller for appropriate licensing at (www.nabp.net or call 1-847-698-6227. Also check the state board for where the pharmacy of the online seller is located as well as your own state board. Check the pharmacy website for the accredited seal of the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site (VIPPS) seal. Although this is not a fool proof way to determine if the prescription drugs are counterfeit, it is one check you can make.

What should you do if you suspect you purchased counterfeit prescription drugs?

•Contact the pharmacist from whom you made the purchase.
•Contact the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Medwatch program
at 1-800-332-1088 or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/.
•Report purchases made online at http//www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/buyonlineform.htm

Be sure to contact your doctor if you suspect you have taken counterfeit drugs.

For more information online visit www.msnbc.com “Inside the world of counterfeit drugs.”








Don't buy products or services from people claiming they are from Medicare. The Federal government NEVER endorses the products or services of any individual or company.

Don't give out your Medicare or Medicaid number to strangers.

PHONE:
1-800-423-2449

E-MAIL:
info@stopmedicarescams.org