Crime & Safety

Bucks Detectives Alert Residents To Medicare Scam Spoofing DA's Phone Number

A resident reported a suspicious Medicare voicemail after a caller ID showed a Bucks County DA's office number.

The Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown.
The Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Bucks County detectives are warning residents about a Medicare scam after a county resident received a suspicious phone call that appeared to come from the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.

According to the DA's office, the ID showed a phone number at the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, but the call did not come from that office. Detectives said they are sharing the incident to warn residents about scams in which a legitimate official number is spoofed to mislead the public.

The resident who received the call on Tuesday did not speak to the caller, according to DA's office. A voicemail was left on the resident’s machine referring to Medicare benefits. The resident recognized the activity as suspicious, did not engage with the caller, and notified authorities.

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The warning centers on a common tactic in scam calls, where caller ID information is manipulated to make a call appear to come from a trusted source. In this case, detectives said the spoofed number was linked to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, even though the office did not place the call.

County detectives remind residents that government agencies and law enforcement will never contact people unexpectedly to ask for personal Medicare information, Social Security numbers, or financial details over the phone. Detectives urge anyone who receives a suspicious call about benefits to hang up immediately rather than continue the conversation.

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Residents are also advised to contact the agency directly using a verified phone number if they have questions about whether a call is legitimate. That step can help people confirm whether the contact actually came from a government office or from someone trying to obtain sensitive information.

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