April 16, 2025

Stop the Scam! How to Protect Yourself from Fraud

Scam emails, calls, and text messages about healthcare are happening more and more, including right here in our community. According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, in 2024, people across the U.S. lost $2.95 billion to imposter scams alone. Including “people falsely claiming to be a romantic interest, the government, a relative in distress, a well-known business, or a technical support expert to get a consumer's money.”  

Money isn't the only problem. Scam victims also report: 

  • Lower credit scores, which can take up to 200 hours to fix 
  • Mistakes in their medical records 
  • High stress or anxiety 
  • Trouble getting healthcare when their records are flagged 

Southern New Hampshire Health wants to help you stay safe. 

Common Scams  

  • Fake bills: Scammers say you owe money for a doctor's visit, test, or treatment. They want fast payment or an unusual form of payment like gift card or crypto. 
  • Medicare scams: Scammers pretend to be Medicare or your insurance and ask for personal information. Learn more about Medicare scams and how to prevent them here.  
  • Freebies: Scammers promise free medical gear, prescriptions, gifts, or money in exchange for your Medicare number. 
  • Urgent health stories: Some say a loved one is in the hospital or you need urgent care. 
  • Fake hospice: Scammers try to sign you up for hospice services to charge Medicare in your name. 
  • Verify your information scams: Scammers will ask you to “verify your info” for an appointment you never made, often asking for your login information, social security number, insurance, or Medicare information. 
  • Telehealth scams: Watch for fake websites that look like real telehealth services- use only services you know and trust. Always use telehealth on secure Wi-Fi in a private location. 
  • Fake health apps: Some scam apps look real but are made to steal your info. Watch for apps that collect data such as your insurance information or Medicare number. Use only apps recommended by your provider. 

What to Do if You Get a Strange Phone Call 

Remember to never give personal information over the phone unless you have placed the call to a trusted number. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scam calls can sound real, but there are signs to watch for. If the caller: 

  • Tells you to act fast — hang up 
  • Asks for your Medicare or Social Security number — hang up 
  • Says they need to “verify” your info — hang up and call the real number 
  • Offers free services or supplies — hang up 
  • Talks about a bill you haven’t seen — hang up and call your provider 
  • Asks for gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto — hang up and report it 
  • Threatens to cut off your benefits — hang up and call Medicare or your insurance company 
  • States they are from the DEA or IRS – hang up and report the call 

Protect Yourself Online 

Many scams like identity theft, ransomware, malware, data breaches, and phishing attacks take place online through emails or fraudulent websites. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency suggests you protect yourself with these steps:  

  • Use strong, unique passwords that are at least 15 characters long. Randomly generated ones are best. 
  • Turn on multi-factor authentication whenever you can to protect your accounts. 
  • Never share personal details like your name, address, bank info, or Social Security number with anyone you don’t know—especially on social media, by email, text, or phone. 
  • Delete suspicious texts and emails from unknown senders, and don’t click on any strange links. 
  • Avoid tagging your location in real-time social media posts. It can show others you’re not home or actively watching your accounts. 
  • Back up your important files regularly and set automatic updates and backups if possible. 
  • Use your banking app to get alerts for all in-person and online credit card purchases. 

What to Do if You’ve Been Scammed 

Act fast: 

  1. Call your bank and credit card company to freeze accounts or stop payments. 
  2. Place a fraud alert with Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion and freeze your credit if needed. 
  3. Change your passwords. 
  4. Call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE to report the misuse. 
  5. File a police report. 
  6. Call the FTC at 1-877-ID-THEFT. 
  7. Review your Explanation of Benefits (EOB). 
  8. Visit IdentityTheft.gov for additional possible steps 
  9. Contact the NH Attorney General’s Office and/or NH Consumer Protection Hotline. 
  10. If you know a vulnerable adult was scammed or financially exploited, contact the New Hampshire Bureau of Adult and Aging Services.   

Quick action can limit the damage. Don’t wait. 

Helpful Numbers and Websites 

Southern New Hampshire Health is here to help.
If someone says they’re calling from one of our providers and you’re unsure, please hang up and call your provider’s office using a number you know is real. Together, we can stop the scam! 

Resources: 

 

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