Friday, October 4, 2013

Beware of identity thieves exploiting the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to get personal information

As if buying health insurance isn't confusing enough, the Better Business Bureau has sent out a series of releases warning people to beware of scam artists posing as callers claiming to be from the federal government. The scam is mostly targeting small business owners, and people who are 65 and older or have disabilities.

The caller informs you that you've been selected to receive insurance cards through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but before the card can be mailed, they need your personal information, such as a credit card, Social Security number or Medicare ID. The callers may seem credible, often possessing personal information, such as a bank account number or routing number.

If someone gets such a call, they should immediately hang up, the BBB says. Don't press any buttons and don't return voice mails. The government usually communicates through mail, but if they call, they will already have all the necessary personal information. (Read more)

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