Medicare 2026

Moreno Valley Medicare fraud: how to guard your number and spot the scam calls

MORENO VALLEY, Calif. — The card in your wallet is small, but the number on it opens a big door. A Medicare number links to years of medical history and, for scammers, to a billing system worth billions. That is why federal officials and California's Senior Medicare Patrol tell beneficiaries in Moreno Valley and across Riverside County to treat that number with the same care they would give a bank PIN.

Fraud calls tend to spike around the Annual Enrollment Period, which runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, and again during Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment from Jan. 1 through March 31. The pitches change every year — free braces, genetic tests, a "new 2027 card" — but the goal is the same: get your number.

Here is what to guard, how to spot a scam, and where to turn locally when something feels off.

Why your Medicare number is a target

Unlike a stolen credit card, a stolen Medicare number is hard to cancel. It can be used to bill Medicare for equipment you never got, tests you never took, or visits that never happened. Those fake claims can eat into your benefits, tangle your medical record, and, in some cases, leave you fighting a bill.

Medicare cards no longer use Social Security numbers — they use an 11-character Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI). But that MBI is still tied to your name, your date of birth, and your coverage. In the wrong hands, it is enough to commit fraud in your name.

Who you can safely share it with

You can give your Medicare number to:

• Your doctor, hospital, pharmacy, or other providers who treat you.
• Medicare itself (1-800-MEDICARE) or the Social Security Administration.
• A licensed insurance agent you contacted, when you are enrolling in a plan.
• Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselor — in California, that program is called HICAP.

If someone else asks — a stranger at a health fair, a caller offering a "free" knee brace, a text about a "new Medicare benefit" — pause. Legitimate Medicare business almost never starts with an unsolicited call, text, or door knock.

Common scam pitches to watch for

Fraud investigators say the same scripts keep circling back. Be skeptical if a caller or visitor:

• Claims your Medicare card is being "upgraded" and they need your number to send a new one.
• Offers free medical equipment, DNA tests, COVID tests, or diabetic supplies "at no cost to you" once you confirm your number.
• Threatens to cancel your Medicare unless you verify personal information.
• Pressures you to enroll on the spot or asks for a bank account or credit card during a cold call.
• Says they are from "Medicare" and already has some of your information — a tactic used to sound legitimate.

Medicare does not make sales calls. Agents licensed to sell Medicare Advantage or Part D plans cannot legally call you unless you asked them to.

What to do in Moreno Valley if you suspect fraud

Moreno Valley is in Riverside County, where beneficiaries have several places to turn:

• California SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol): 1-855-613-7080. Trained counselors help you review suspicious charges and report fraud.
• HICAP (California's SHIP): Free, unbiased counseling on Medicare questions, including whether a call or letter is legitimate. Reach the statewide line at 1-800-434-0222.
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227): Report a stolen number or a suspicious claim directly.
• Medicare.gov/fraud: File a report online and read current scam alerts.

If you believe your number has already been used, keep a written log: the date, the caller's name or number, what they asked for, and what you shared. That log helps investigators.

Simple habits that keep your number safe

A few small routines go a long way:

• Carry your red, white, and blue card only when you need it for an appointment.
• Shred anything with your Medicare number before throwing it away.
• Check your Medicare Summary Notice (Original Medicare) or your plan's Explanation of Benefits (Medicare Advantage or Part D) every month. Look for services, dates, or providers you do not recognize.
• If you use Medicare's online account at Medicare.gov, use a strong password you do not reuse elsewhere.
• Talk with family members about these scams. Many fraud attempts happen by phone in the middle of the day.

A note on 2027 changes scammers may misuse

Real Medicare updates include a Part D out-of-pocket cap of $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, a Part D deductible that can be no higher than $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027, and the continued option to spread drug costs across the year through the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. The old coverage gap, or "donut hole," ended in 2025 and is not coming back.

Scammers love real changes because they make fake pitches sound plausible. If someone calls to "help you sign up for the new $2,100 cap," hang up. The cap applies automatically to anyone with Part D coverage — there is nothing to buy and no number to hand over.