MEDICARE SCAM: THUGS GET BANK ACCOUNT NUMBERS

(06/25/2005)

At least six West Virginians have given their bank account numbers to scam artists claiming to sell the Medicare prescription drug benefit cards. The new Medicare prescription plan goes into effect January 1. One caller said he was from a company called Med Pharmacy Express. He said he needed $300 dollars from the woman's account to cover the cost of a benefit card. Soon after giving her account number, the woman found out from the state Attorney General's Office that it was a scam. When she went to close her account, the woman learned that $398 had been withdrawn. Medicare hasn't contracted with any companies at this point and won't until October. Medicare rules forbid companies from calling recipients unless the person has made a written request for more information. Legitimate companies won't ask for bank information. At least 13 states have reported the scam.

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