Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older. You may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease). More than 66 million people in the U.S. get their health coverage from Medicare.

Avoid fraud and go straight to the source at https://www.medicare.gov/.‍ ‍

Don’t:

• Give your Medicare card, Medicare Number, Social Security card, or Social Security Number to anyone except your doctor or people you know should have it (like insurers acting on your behalf or people who work with Medicare, like your

  State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)

  . Get the contact information for your local SHIP.

  • What do I do if my card is lost, stolen, or damaged?

• Accept offers of money or gifts for free medical care.

• Allow anyone, except your doctor or other Medicare providers, to review your medical records or recommend services.

• Join a Medicare health or drug plan over the phone, unless you called and asked for help.

Social Security is a federal social insurance program that provides guaranteed monthly income and protection for retirees, individuals with disabilities, and the surviving families of deceased workers.

Avoid fraud! Go straight to the source at https://www.ssa.gov/

If you owe money to Social Security, they will mail you a letter with payment options and appeal rights. The US Social Security Administration only accepts payments electronically through their Pay.gov, Online Bill Pay, or physically by check or money order.

Read more fraud safety tips here.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the U.S. government agency responsible for collecting federal taxes and enforcing tax laws. As a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, it ensures compliance with the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) for individuals and corporations.

Avoid fraud and go straight to the source at https://www.irs.gov/

According to the FBI, financial cybercrimes encompass a vast array of illicit, technology-enabled activities designed to unlawfully obtain money, financial data, or assets. Driven by organized crime networks and nation-state actors, these offenses range from massive corporate data breaches to consumer scams, costing billions of dollars annually.

Cryptocurrency is a newer cyber financial crime. You can learn more about it through the FBI at https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/national-crimes-and-victim-resources/cryptocurrency-investment-fraud.

If you are worried about fraud and scams for yourself or a loved one, you can learn more, get alerts, and confidential assistance if you feel you have been a victim at https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/