Columnist Warns of Medicare Card Phone Scam

In the Kansas City Star (7/10, 219K), columnist C.W. Gusewelle wrote, “A friend and contemporary received a phone call this past week, notifying her that the current Medicare cards — the ones with the red, white and blue stripes across the top — were being phased out. A replacement card would be issued, the caller assured her, but the old one no longer would be valid.” The caller asked her to verify her address and phone number. Next, the caller asked for the name of her bank. “She hung up and dialed Medicare” and “was told, there wasn’t any plan to issue new cards.” She was able to obtain the number of the caller. Gusewelle wrote, “If you get a call from area code 347, a Brooklyn, NY, exchange, and the number happens to be 418-0489,” hang up and contact the police.