Sequim locals report Medicare scam phone calls
Peninsula Daily News
Print This |
Email This
Recent Headlines
Latest military sex scandal: Women were secretly filmed at West Point, Army says -- 5/23/13 -04:20 PM
State's top salaries go to college coaches -- 5/23/13 -03:52 PM
No pay raise for Washington governor this year, but others, including judges, get increases -- 5/23/13 -03:43 PM
Boy Scouts vote to admit openly gay youth -- 5/23/13 -03:31 PM
“Medicare never calls you,” said Sequim Police Chief Bill Dickinson.
“Just be careful.”
Dickinson advised anyone who receives a call from someone purporting to be with Medicare to not give any personal information.
Larry Wisman, 73 and one of several Sequim residents who told the Peninsula Daily News about the scam, said he received a call last week from a person saying his Medicare card needed to be updated.
His caller ID said the call came from a Texas phone number.
The caller asked to verify Wisman’s area code, then asked which bank he uses.
“Well, that made the wheels in my head start turning real quick,” Wisman said.
The caller hung up when Wisman questioned him.
Dickinson said he hears regular reports of scams targeting the elderly.
Medicare often is a front, he said. Another common scam is to try to get money purportedly to help a grandchild in a foreign country.
“You have to try to be as wise as you can,” Dickinson said.
“Don’t give anybody any information if they call you.”
Last modified: March 09. 2013 5:18PM
To register a complaint about a comment, email moderator@peninsuladailynews.com and refer to the article and offending comment, or click here: REPORT ABUSE.
Peninsuladailynews.com comments are subject to the Peninsuladailynews.com User Policy.