A "free" DNA test to learn whether cancer or another disease is your fate? Not so fast. In the latest ploy, scammers have been calling older Americans, as well as showing up at health fairs and assisted living facilities claiming that Medicare is offering free DNA tests. But are these scammers only after a little saliva? Keep reading to learn what’s really at stake in this week’s TMI.
Threat: Your Medicare Information & Social Security number Do You Need to Worry: Yes! Scammers aren’t interested in the future of your health but they are very interested in your personal information. In this particular scam, fraudsters tell unsuspecting individuals the DNA test is covered by Medicare and that they just need your Medicare card and your Social Security number. With this information, scammers might obtain medical care using your name, sell the information on the dark web or commit other forms of identity theft.
What Can You Do About It: · Hang up if you receive a call offering free DNA testing and never give your Medicare/insurance number or date of birth to anyone for a test not ordered by your own physician. · You might also consider freezing your credit to keep your identity safe. Keep in mind that if you still need to enroll in Medicare and have already frozen your credit, you’ll need to temporarily unfreeze it.
