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I have tons of numbers blocked on my phone.
As soon as they know that they have a live number they will keep calling.
It’s recommended to not answer numbers that we don’t know. If it is important, they will leave a voicemail.
These scammers always call back with a new number. Do not answer!
Our oldest son was in the Secret Service, and one of their main directives is investigating financial crimes. People would call up saying they had received communication stating that they had won the Canadian Lottery and all they had to do to collect the prize was to send in some money. (No legit contest, sweeps, or lottery requires payment to collect a prize you've won.) Our son would ask them if they had entered the Canadian Lottery, and they would say no. Then he would ask them what made them think they had won the Canadian Lottery.
There was nothing he could do for them, because invariably these scams were being perpetrated by people in other countries. They just had to consider the lost money a painful lesson about scams.
Medicare does not call you, they send letters. You can sign up for covid vaccine when they have it available for people of your age/underlying health. Haven't heard of anyone calling to offer it - there's no need for that yet. You can watch for emails from hospitals or medical centers you may have gone to in the past couple of years. They are reaching out to patients within certain groups to get names on waiting lists.
I will say this - don't fight with the scammers too much. I told them repeatedly to remove my number. It only resulted in more calls from same message/robo during the day, earlier in the morning and later at night. Hang up
Are you sure they said "this is Medicare calling."? If so, must be a scam of some sort.
Although this FTC sample call and warning are from 2019, it does show how the calls can be deceiving, esp to elders, those who might be too trusting, have possible hearing issues or cognitive issues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51I-szr0JEY
If you want to do something like this, you could make up some crazy responses, such as:
You're a pharmacist (or chemist, or something related to the type of pros who research, design and create the vaccines), that you have your own homemade vaccine but would glad to sell it to them, (for an outrageous price), such as a few thousand dollars per dose. Follow with asking them about THEIR credit standing, how they plan to pay, how many doses they want, etc. You'll hear a click fairly soon.
You're a naturalist, don't allow anything foreign to enter your body, and just came back from a trip to an ocean and forest and are ready to make your own organic vaccine. Again, hit on them to buy some. You can also ask them for things like their blood type, age, weight, sex, medical history, etc. Again, that click will come fairly soon.
You've already had Covid 19, and are manufacturing your own antibodies to sell. Again, ask them how many doses they want.
I love turning the issues around and putting these jerks on the spot.
:-D
One time I accidentally did answer (obviously a scammer so I decided to have some fun). He wanted all kinds of personal information, etc. and I played along with it. Told him I had a bad memory and did not take care of my personal affairs and papers. However, he should give me his name, number, etc. and I would have my son or daughter call and give it to him. Told him I was so proud of them. Son was a federal district attorney and daughter was a criminal attorney. Wow, you never heard a phone slam down on the other end faster than that phone call.
Snail Mail is the United States Postal Service mails which are the letters and junk mail that you get inside your outside mailbox. Not any emails on your computer or any kind of phone calls.
Your Private Medical Insurance Company, which would NOT be Medicare or Medicaid may contact you via email or a phone call, but you will know that they are who they are, since they will have your PCP (Primary Care Physician) listed as requesting you to call them just make an appointment.
I use many physicians at the UHealth, which is directly associated with the University of Miami Medical System, and I received an email from them to log on to my personal data access information Chart and check to see if vaccines are available, and what number to call if they are available to JUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. If no appointments or vaccines are available, I must click on a link to check. Daily. PERIOD.
BEWARE!!!!
I DO get legit emails and even text messages from SS and/or Medicare. IF you have an account set up with them, they DO use your email. They wouldn't put any personal info in the messages - mostly they are informational messages (recommending flu shots, etc) OR telling you that you have a message in your secure SS/Medicare account.
I haven't checked to see, but they may have options to negate using email or text. Since they don't send anything compromising out, I have no issue with being notified by email or text.
What they WON'T do is initiate any discussion by phone. If you haven't contacted them first and the call claims to be from them, it isn't.
She does not have caller id or voice mail. We have tried it, but the technology is too new for her. When she could learn things more easily she did not want these as "too complicated" now she finds it too difficult to learn new things. We sisters think that we are lucky that her natural skepticism keeps her from falling prey to the various scams out there.
It isn't likely this will happen. At least one vaccine has to be kept at such an extremely cold temperature that doc offices wouldn't have the capability. Home visits even less likely. The easiest way for gov't to get vaccines to more people is at concentrated sites.
Doc office *might* contact you if 1) you're eligible and 2) they are having a site set up near you. Otherwise, the state is likely your best source for times/locations and tools to sign up.
"In that case they would identify themselves and name her doctor." - yes, they would identify themselves, but see above.
"We sisters think that we are lucky that her natural skepticism keeps her from falling prey to the various scams out there."
This works... until it doesn't. My mother was still fairly skeptical, but then again in the last few years she lived in her own place her hearing was bad, she'd misplace the hearing aid or forget to put batteries in, so many times she would just miss the calls! I wouldn't rely totally on her being skeptical.
Many years ago, before Caller ID and messaging, my son messed with a caller trying to sell newspaper - he told them he was blind...
I do feel bad for those who had legit jobs to call, like this paper caller, but it became such a problem, that it was easier to react nasty to them than just say no, esp when those you say no to nicely continue to push. What part of NO THANKS don't you understand!!!
Thanks to Caller ID being more or less universal (older phones won't have the features needed), better screening tools forced onto providers, etc, it's easier to just ignore calls. For me, not in my contact list, BEGONE call! I dismiss it.
ANY time you get a call and they ask for ANY personal info (SS#, Medicare #, account numbers, DOB, mother's maiden name, birthplace, whatever), something only those you know personally might have any need for (mostly not), clam up or give them SS# 800-46-3968
(800-GO-FYOU!)
If they leave a message with a call back number and you do any kind of business with the "supposed" caller, look up the actual number and call them, as JulianaMoon did. Many will attempt to "spoof" your bank or CC companies, phishing for information. DENY THEM!
(one of my replies to another comment has links for reporting - only report the numbers the person or message provides, as the Caller ID # is probably fake/spoofed.)
I'm in no rush. I've read about people with serious allergic reactions, so my preference at this time is sign me up for the best antibody test to see if I've been exposed. Doesn't negate wearing a mask, etc, but I would skip the vaccination.
For the record, I'm not anti-vaccine, but the last major sting I had, it took about 2 weeks for the all over hives to kick in (large welt remained there the whole time and beyond the hives. Allergist poo-pooed the idea, until they tested me.)
Just staying for a little while after the shot doesn't comfort me. If I had a delayed reaction later, I have no one to help me!
If you still have the phone number in your caller ID, you should report it to the police!