Is AI calling you? We’ve received reports of a new phone scam using artificial intelligence (AI) to inform you (in a cheerful voice) about some “amazing news”. In this scam, an AI bot shares “new Medicare laws” that make you “eligible to receive a flex card, a food card, a reduction in your medical bills AND a $180 cash back reward every month! All at no cost to you!”
Does this sound too good to be true? That’s because it is and it’s a scam.
One of our Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Liaisons from Santa Clara County Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) recently reported this scam to our Senior SMP Fraud Investigative Analyst, Rose Morales.
In this scam, people report receiving phone calls from different numbers several times a day. The number displayed is often a local number, making it more likely for a person to pick up.
When answering, it appears to be a cheerful woman on the line, but is actually AI and not a real person. Sometimes her name is Sarah, Suzy, Ella — the name always changes but it is the same voice. It sounds almost real so it can be easy to be tricked. The AI bot doesn’t identify where it’s calling from initially, but starts the call very cheerfully, saying “Hi! How are you? What’s new?” This may be to confuse the person so that they think it is someone they know.
When a person answers with something like, “I’m fine. How are you?” then, every time the AI bot’s response is, “I know I sound like I’m a bot but that’s because of my microphone. We’re trying to fix it. I am a human. I’m calling you to tell you about some amazing news.” And the AI robot goes into the all the false news of new Medicare laws, the flex card, food card, the $180 cash back, etc mentioned above.
Then the AI bot says, “Now, because you receive Medicare Parts A and B, I will transfer you to our Senior Medical Supervisor who will process this change.” The AI bot transfers the call to a scam call center, many of which are operated abroad. There, a caller says s/he just needs to get you verified for this program that will give you all the things mentioned above. They ask for your name, address and your Medicare number, all the while seeming to imply they are calling you from Medicare.
If you encounter this, just hang up!
There are many types of phone scams out there, and this is just one of many going around.
Remember that:
- Medicare, or any other government entity like Social Security, will never call out of the blue and ask for your Medicare or Social Security number.
- Medicare is not offering flex cards, food cards, or any $180 cash back benefits.
- If you are suspicious about a call, hang up immediately. If you can get the caller’s name and/or organization, write it down to report it.
- Never give out your Medicare number, Social Security number, or personal information to anyone who contacts you through unsolicited calls, texts, or emails.
- Sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry.
If you come across any suspected Medicare phone scams or other healthcare fraud, report it to our California Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) at 1-855-613-7080.
