RED
ALERT
Callers Posing as Physician’s Office
Scammers can now use technology to make your office caller ID show when they make a phone call. This is called “Caller ID Spoofing”. They can also “clone” your phone number to steal your information.
One local physician’s office reports it is happening to their patients.
The caller is asking patients to verify their date of birth, Social Security and Medicare number along with other information.
Protect your patients! Let them know to be on alert.
Remember Social Security numbers are no longer part of claim information.
If you have this information in your patient’s file you should redact it for your protection.
Remind your patients that you would not call them for this information, and they should never give their social security information out over the phone.
Medicare nor the Social Security Department call for information.
Tell your patients to hang up as soon as possible, call you and report the call to the Federal Trade Commission.
Report telephone scams online to the Federal Trade Commission. You can also call 1-877-382-4357 (TTY: 1-866-653-4261). The FTC is the primary government agency that collects scam complaints. Report all robocalls and unwanted telemarketing calls to the Do Not Call Registry.