Missouri SMP Fraud Fact – May 2026
Important Message About Medicare Phone Calls
Do you receive a lot of unknown numbers or “spam” phone calls? The Missouri SMP wants to spread the word that Medicare will NOT call you asking to verify your Medicare number, for your personal information or try to sell you anything.
There are a lot of scammers and telemarketers making phone calls right now targeting Medicare beneficiaries. Some callers sound official, saying they’re from the “Medicare Center”, or something similar, to try to gain your trust. Others use a sense of urgency to rush you into giving your information.
Please Remember:
You should only share your number with your trusted health care providers. You can also safely share it with people who work directly with Medicare, like the Missouri SMP.
Medicare already has your number in its system, so they will never call to “verify” it. If you need an official replacement card, call 1-800-MEDICARE. Medicare will not call you (unless they are returning a call you made to them).
- Do NOT give out personal information over the phone.
- This includes your:
- Medicare number.
- Bank account, credit card or Social Security numbers.
- Date of birth.
- Do NOT answer unknown or unrecognized numbers.
- Let the call go to voicemail and call them back if necessary.
Medicare already has your information.
They will not call to ask for it. If you think Medicare may be trying to reach you, call 1-800-MEDICARE.
By following these reminders and sharing this information you can stay a step ahead of scammers, protecting yourself, your friends and your loved ones from being the next target.
The Missouri SMP is here to provide you with the information you need to protect, detect, and report potential Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse. If you think you or a loved one has been a target of a Medicare scam, call the Missouri SMP at 888-515-6565.
This project was supported, in part, by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $638,014 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government