Seniors Targeted in Medicare Scams

Federal officials have charged 35 people with Medicare fraud, reports KVEO News Center 23 . These false recruiters are scamming seniors across the United States to submit DNA samples for a "free" genetic cancer risk test, then charging their Medicare accounts for thousands of dollars. Frequent targets include senior centers, senior housing, health fairs, and even parking lots, where fraudsters try to persuade people to get a mouth swab for the free screening and then get their Medicare data. Texas Senior Medicare Patrol Director Jennifer Salazar says the scam also is perpetrated over the phone. "You'll get a call out of the blue and it'll be someone saying they're from Medicare and they need to update your information and they ask for your Medicare number," she says, adding that Medicare will never contact beneficiaries by phone. Under federal regulations, genetic testing can only be ordered by someone's doctor.