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Revised Medicare cards are being distributed this month to residents of New Mexico, recalling the inevitable scams associated with deployment.
New cards are required under a federal law that requires the removal of social security numbers as an identifier. This is supposed to be an important protection against the theft of identity.
Instead, the reworked cards include a unique "Medicare Number" consisting of 11 random numbers and letters.
You do not need to do anything to get the card, including paying someone for any type of associated service. Remember, if you start receiving calls from crooks who are trying to collect fees. Some callers falsely claim that you must pay a processing fee for a temporary card until the new one arrives.
Also, ignore Medicare representatives who call and ask for your Social Security number or other personal information.
"Medicare will never call you without an invitation and will ask you to provide personal information to receive your new card," says the agency.
He advises you to destroy your old card when you receive a new one by cutting it into small pieces rather than throwing it in the trash "where a scammer can seize it".
If you have any questions, call the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at 1-800-633-4227.
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If you sell your home, you may be vulnerable to identity theft, not to mention the types of garden-type burglary.
The New Mexico Real Estate Association warns home sellers to put away personal items such as mail or invoices so that this information is not exposed to potential buyers.
"Strangers will be passing through your house during visits or open houses," Association President Connie Hettinga said in a vendor guide. "Make sure you lock your computer and lock your laptop and other expensive and easy-to-use electronic devices, such as iPods, before your projection."
Also remove valuables so they are in a safe place. This applies to keys, credit cards, jewelry and even prescription drugs, Hettinga advised.
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The FBI warns of a new scam that unbalances student debt by promising to reduce or completely eliminate it.
To do this, say the callers, you must first pay a $ 1,500 consulting fee to qualify.
"Once you pay the fees, you will often find that these companies provide no services or provide minimal assistance that you could have received for free from the US Department of Education," the agency warned in a statement. recent alert.
Here are some tips from the Federal Trade Commission:
• No business can offer you this kind of situation that you can not do for yourself for free.
• Avoid any offer that promises a quick loan, especially if the person who contacts you has no idea of the specifics of your debt. Many scammers will promise you to get rid of your debts quickly, but in reality they can not help you.
• Never pay an upfront fee. In fact, it is illegal for a company to charge you a service in advance. "Many of these companies are not keeping their promises to reduce your debt and will not give you back your money."
Report this type of scam to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
Ellen Marks is an assistant editor at Albuquerque Newspaper. Contact her at [email protected] or 505-823-3842 if you are aware of what looks like a scam. To report a scam to law enforcement, contact the New Mexico Consumer Protection Division toll-free at 1-844-255-9210.
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