Medical Identity Theft 

& Medicare Fraud

Medical identity theft occurs when 

someone steals your personal information 

(like your name, Social Security number, 

or Medicare number) to obtain medical 

care, buy drugs, or submit fake billings 

to Medicare in your name.

Medical identity theft can disrupt your 

life, damage your credit rating, and waste 

taxpayer dollars. The damage can be 

life-threatening to you if the wrong 

information ends up in your personal 

medical records.

Who to Contact

Department of Health & Human Services

Office of Inspector General Hotline 

Report suspected Medicare fraud:

Phone: 1-800-447-8477 (1-800-HHS-TIPS)

TTY: 1-800-377-4950 | FAX: 1-800-223-8164

E-mail: HHSTips@oig.hhs.gov 

Online: OIG.HHS.gov/fraud/hotline

Medicare Call Center and SMPs

Report questionable charges to Medicare: 

Phone: 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE)

TTY: 1-877-486-2048 | Online: medicare.gov

You can also contact your local SMP: 

SMPs (formerly Senior Medicare Patrols) work locally to empower 

seniors to fight health care fraud and resolve errors.

Find an SMP in your area 

Go to www.smpresource.org or call 1-877-808-2468

If your Medicare card is lost or stolen, report it right away. 

Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 

(TTY: 1-800-325-0778) for a replacement.

Get help reading your Medicare Summary Notice at

www.medicare.gov/basics/SummaryNotice.asp

Get a free credit report each year by calling 1-877-322-8228

Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Hotline

Report misuse of your personal information:

Phone: 1-877-438-4338 (1-877-ID-THEFT) 

TTY: 1-866-653-4261 | Online: FTC.gov/idtheft

To learn more about medical identity theft visit:

www.WorldPrivacyForum.org/medicalidentitytheft.html
DETER

Protect Your Personal Information

Guard your Medicare and Social Security numbers.

Treat them like you would treat your credit cards.

If it’s free, they don’t need your number! Be suspicious 

of anyone who offers you free medical equipment or 

services and then requests your Medicare number. 

It’s illegal, and it’s not worth it! Do not let anyone 

borrow or pay to use your Medicare ID card or your 

identity. 

DETECT

Watch Out for These Common Fraud Schemes

Just walk away if people approach you in parking lots, 

shopping centers, or other public areas and offer free 

services, groceries, transportation, or other items in 

exchange for your Medicare number. 

Simply hang up the phone if someone calls you claiming 

to be conducting a health survey and asks for 

Medicare number. 

Don’t give your information to telephone marketers who 

claim to be from Medicare or Social Security and asks for 

payment over the phone or Internet. They may want to 

steal your money.

DEFEND

Check Your Medical Bills, Medicare Summary

Notices, Explanations of Benefits and

Credit Reports 

Were you charged for any medical services or

equipment that you didn’t get?

Do the dates of services and charges look unfamiliar?

Were you billed for the same thing twice?

Does your credit report show any unpaid bills for

medical services or equipment you didn’t receive?

Have you received any collection notices for medical

services or equipment you didn’t receive?

Report Medicare Fraud and Medical Identity Theft

If you spot unusual or questionable charges, contact

your health care provider. It may just be a mistake.

If your complaint is not resolved by your provider,

report the questionable charges to Medicare.

If you suspect Medicare fraud, contact the Department of

Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General.

If you think someone is misusing your personal

information, contact the Federal Trade Commission.

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