Senior Citizen Warning
Within 24 hours of getting the cards, senior citizens began getting phone calls. Many thought the calls were legit, only to find out they were from fictitious companies looking to wipe them out. Senior citizens have been using their new Medicare drug discount cards since receiving them the first of this month. The cards are supposed to save them up to 17 % on name brand drugs and up to 30% for generics.
John Palangio, Director Consumer Protection:
�Literally the day these things hit the streets, we were getting calls from elderly consumers.�
A warning tonight from the attorney generals office of consumer protection.
John Palangio, Director Consumer Protection:
�We started receiving calls from consumers questioning some of the practices of companies supposedly involved in this. �
Some of the questionable practices include phone solicitations from people claiming to be a Medicare representative and door to door salespeople offering to help seniors navigate their way through the discount card confusion and then luring consumers into giving up vital personal information.
John Palangio, Director Consumer Protection:
�Don't give up social security number, bank account information, because this is a scam.�
Bottom line is unless you requested a phone call from a legitimate company, no one is supposed to contact you by phone, and certainly not solicit you at your home.
You could tell the scam artists had read the federal law and tried to figure out an angle right away.
Consumers can also tell whether the card they received is a fake. It must have the Medicare Rx seal on the front. If you receive an unsolicited phone call about your discount card, hang up at once.
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