COVID-19 Alerts

Protect yourself from COVID-19 scams

March 20, 2020

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A scam is a false attempt by a person or organization to get a hold of your personal information or money. Scammers will say anything and use many ways to cheat people out of money. Right now, they are using coronavirus (COVID-19) to take advantage of people.

Watch out for requests for your Medicare ID information.

CCA has become aware that scammers may claim to offer support for seniors to stay safe from COVID-19 or tell you there are updates to your Medicare ID. But the scams can take various forms.

They could reach you through:

Phone calls
Text messages
Emails
Letters
Fake websites
Showing up at your front door

How to Protect Yourself

If you think someone is trying to scam you, remember these key tips, even when you are contacted by people you may know:

Never give out or confirm sensitive information—like your Medicare ID, CCA member ID, bank account, credit card, or Social Security number.
Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know. They could download viruses on your computer or device.
Don’t give your money to someone who demands it, without confirming the person’s identity, organization, and if their request is valid. Don’t send cash by mail, pay with a gift card, or wire money.
Don’t trust a name or telephone number. Scammers often use official-sounding names and spoof phone numbers and email addresses to make you trust them.
Ask questions and for information in writing that you can verify.

If you are unsure, make sure to slow down and give yourself time to think before giving out your personal information or money. Talk to someone you trust and always check out the claim. If you’re comfortable, you can talk to your CCA care partner. They can provide you with guidance to check out the information further.

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