LAKE COUNTY? A caller identifying himself as a Medicare employee called a Lake County woman and told her that Medicare was in tAhe process of changing “Medicare codes,” according to a press release provided by the Lake County district attorney”s office on Thursday.
The caller requested bank account information. Though the cautious woman refused to supply the information, the same person called back and threatened to turn the woman in to his “boss.”
Following these actions, the woman was called again at 6:30 a.m. This time the caller claimed that the woman”s Medicare would be terminated immediately. When the woman asked for a return phone number, the fraudulent caller hung up on her.
Medicare confirmed that the organization would never ask for bank account information and there is no effort being made to contact Medicare subscribers to obtain any information or change of codes.
“These scams happen frequently,” said elder abuse victim advocate, Denise Johnson. She recommends that people should not divulge any information over the phone.
Lake County victim-witness advocates say that as a general rule it is not a good plan to share personal information over the phone, regardless of the organization which the caller claims representation.
Anyone with questions or concerns, including those who may think personal information was compromised are urged to call law enforcement and contact Denise Johnson at the Victim-Witness division of the district attorney”s office at 707-262-4282
