Beware Of 'The Back Brace Medicare Scam': Westborough Police

WESTBOROUGH, MA—The scams, they seem to multiply.

There's a new one that Westborough police are warning folks about and it's the "Medicare Back Brace Scam."

As police explain, while some scammers pretend to represent insurance or healthcare companies, there's a new twist in that the caller says he or she is from "Medicare" and claims to have your new back brace.

Here's how the scam works, according to Westborough police:

You answer the phone, and a "Medicare representative" con (scammer) has as two typical
patterns: an offer: the scammer will offer you a back brace through Medicare ~~ or claim that a
caregiver previously called about receiving a back brace from Medicare. If you show interest in the brace, the scammer will start asking for personal information, such as your Social Security number or a Medicare number to access the benefits.

"Don't fall for these phony claims, even if the calls are persistent!" said police on its Facebook page. "The
callers offer no company name and may even hang up on you if you ask for further company information.

More tips to Protect Yourself from Healthcare Scams:

• Medicare should already have your basic information: If Medicare or another governmental organization contacts you, they should already have your name, address and other basic info. A call claiming you have been identified for an offer (but doesn't have your name or other information) is probably blasted out to thousands of phone numbers!
• Never share your Medicare number with an unsolicited caller. Treat your Medicare number like your credit card info or other personal details. Do not share it with unsolicited callers.
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