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Three prevalent Medicare scams in 2024 include false billing for diabetes treatment and devices on statements of non-diabetic beneficiaries, fraudulent offers of free products that are either never delivered or of poor quality, and fake free genetic testing solicitations at health fairs that require Medicare numbers. Consumers are advised to carefully review monthly Medicare statements, report false charges, and avoid sharing their Medicare numbers with anyone other than legitimate healthcare providers.

This educational piece highlights World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15), which aims to raise global awareness about physical, emotional, and financial exploitation of older adults. AARP and Florida organizations are hosting multiple virtual and in-person events throughout June to educate seniors and caregivers on fraud prevention, scam recognition, and elder protection resources, with information available on the Florida Fraud Resource Page.

Criminals are targeting Australian Age Pension recipients with social media messages and online advertisements promising non-existent "bonus" payments of up to $1,800 from Centrelink, directing victims to fake websites designed to steal personal information. Services Australia warns seniors to only use official government websites and highlights multiple active scams affecting older Australians, including MyGov impersonation, Medicare fraud, fake disaster relief, COVID-19 schemes, and deepfake investment scams that have caused significant financial losses. The Australian government has allocated $67.5 million over four years to combat scamming, but individuals must remain vigilant about unsolicited messages and suspicious links.

Three trending Medicare scams in 2024 include false billing for diabetes treatment and devices not received, fraudulent offers of free products that are cheap or never delivered, and fake genetic testing schemes at health fairs designed to steal Medicare numbers. Seniors are advised to scrutinize monthly Medicare statements, never share their Medicare number with unsolicited offers, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or the AARP Fraud Watch Network.

Medicare is a frequent target for criminal scammers, with the Senior Medicare Patrol reporting three prevalent scams in 2024: false billing for diabetes treatments and devices that were never received, offers of free products that are either never delivered or of poor quality, and fraudulent free genetic testing at health fairs used to obtain Medicare numbers. To protect themselves, beneficiaries should carefully review their monthly Medicare statements for unauthorized charges, never share their Medicare number with anyone except healthcare providers, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or the AARP Fraud Watch Network.

Medicare Fraud Prevention Week educates beneficiaries, caregivers, families, healthcare providers, and community members on protecting themselves and others from Medicare fraud, which costs the program an estimated amount annually. Key prevention strategies include monitoring Medicare statements for unauthorized services, safeguarding Medicare numbers, reviewing medical equipment shipments, and reporting suspicious activity to the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), which provides free resources and educational services to detect and report fraud, errors, and abuse. Individuals can contact the SMP at 1-800-963-5337 for questions and assistance with potential Medicare fraud concerns.

Medicare Fraud Prevention Week (observed around June 5) educates Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers, families, and healthcare providers on protecting themselves from fraud, errors, and abuse through monitoring statements, protecting Medicare numbers, and reporting suspicious activity. The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program offers free resources like My Health Care Trackers and educational support to help individuals detect and prevent Medicare fraud, which causes significant harm to both beneficiaries and the Medicare program.

**Summary:** Ariell Dix, age 37, was convicted of two felonies related to illegal control of an enterprise and sentenced to three and a half years in prison for her role in an Arizona Medicaid (AHCCCS) fraud scheme. Dix helped establish fraudulent clinics, obtained patient lists for illegal billing, and falsified records to enable the scheme, which defrauded the state of tens of millions of dollars between January 2019 and September 2021.

An Australian businesswoman fell victim to a phishing text scam impersonating Coles supermarket, which lured her to a fake website by claiming her loyalty rewards points were expiring soon. The scam, which has been circulating for months and targeting multiple Australian loyalty programs (Coles, Qantas Frequent Flyer, and Telstra), is designed to steal personal information like passwords and banking details for fraudulent activities. Scamwatch received 209 reports of this scam in four months, with authorities warning Australians not to click links in unsolicited messages claiming to be from major retailers or loyalty programs.

Malachi Mullings, 31, of Georgia was sentenced to 10 years in prison for laundering over $4.5 million obtained through business email compromise (BEC) schemes targeting healthcare programs and companies, as well as romance scams targeting elderly victims, between 2019 and 2021. Mullings opened 20 fraudulent bank accounts under a fake company name to conceal the proceeds and used funds to purchase luxury items, including a Ferrari bought with $260,000 from a romance scam. The case highlights ongoing efforts to prosecute money launderers facilitating cyber fraud schemes.

A Mount Zion woman was charged with stealing over $100,000 in cash and property from an elderly female victim between May 2022 and July 2023. Ali L. Fisher, 31, faces two counts including financial exploitation of an elderly person and obtaining control of property through deception, with the alleged theft totaling more than $40,000 in additional cash. Fisher was arrested on May 14 and released on pretrial release pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 24 in Macon County Circuit Court.

Leslie Smith, a 63-year-old licensed attorney and office manager at an Indianapolis podiatry practice, was sentenced to five and a half years in federal prison and ordered to pay $2,341,655.08 in restitution after pleading guilty to healthcare fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion. Over several years, Smith submitted approximately 288 fraudulent Medicaid claims for oxygen monitoring devices totaling $1.75 million, fraudulently obtained COVID-19 mortgage assistance funds using a deceased relative's property, sold a jointly-owned home without consent by forging her co-owner's signature, and failed to file federal income tax returns from 2018-2

Minal Patel, a Georgia man who owned LabSolutions in Atlanta, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for orchestrating a $463 million Medicare fraud scheme involving unnecessary genetic cancer tests. Patel used telemarketing calls to recruit Medicare beneficiaries, paid kickbacks and bribes to patient brokers and telemedicine companies to obtain fraudulent doctor's orders, and submitted claims to Medicare from 2016 to 2019, resulting in $187 million in actual payouts to his company, of which Patel personally received over $21 million. The case was part of a larger federal investigation that charged 35 people involved in billing billions in fraudulent

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AARP Virginia identifies three prevalent Medicare scams in 2024: false billing for unreceived diabetes treatments and devices, offers of free products (typically cheap or nonexistent) in exchange for Medicare numbers, and free genetic testing at health fairs designed to harvest Medicare information. Seniors are advised to scrutinize monthly Medicare statements, only share their Medicare number with legitimate healthcare providers, and report suspected fraud to local law enforcement or AARP's Fraud Watch Network.

Malachi Mullings, a Sandy Springs man, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for laundering over $4.5 million stolen from romance fraud schemes and business email compromise scams between 2019 and 2021. Mullings operated 20 fraudulent bank accounts under a fake company name to hide proceeds from schemes targeting elderly victims and healthcare programs, using some stolen funds to purchase luxury items including a Ferrari purchased with $260,000 taken from an elderly romance fraud victim. He was ordered to pay restitution and faces three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

Older adults, despite 88% using the internet, are increasingly targeted by scammers who exploit fears and lack of technical knowledge to steal identities and money. The author, a 50-year finance professional, fell victim twice to tech support scams that tricked him into providing sensitive information including his Social Security number and credit card details. FBI data shows elder fraud complaints rose 14% recently with victims averaging losses of $33,915, and common scams targeting seniors include fake tech support calls, Medicare/health insurance fraud, internet pop-up viruses, and telemarketing schemes.

Malachi Mullings of Sandy Springs was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for laundering over $4.5 million obtained through romance fraud and business email compromise schemes between 2019 and 2021. Mullings opened 20 fraudulent bank accounts to hide proceeds from scams targeting elderly victims and private companies, using stolen funds to purchase luxury items including a Ferrari bought with $260,000 stolen from an elderly romance fraud victim. He was ordered to pay restitution to victims and serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

Malachi Mullings, 31, from Sandy Springs, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for laundering over $4.5 million stolen through business email compromise (BEC) scams, romance fraud, and healthcare benefits fraud. Mullings opened approximately 20 shell company bank accounts between 2019 and 2021 to launder the proceeds, which he spent on luxury items including a Ferrari purchased with $260,000 fraudulently obtained from an elderly romance scam victim. His criminal network targeted businesses, healthcare programs, and vulnerable elderly individuals across the United States.

**Summary:** AARP warns of three prevalent Medicare scams in 2024: false billing for services not rendered (such as diabetes treatments for non-diabetic patients), fraudulent "free product" offers that deliver cheap or no items, and free genetic testing schemes at health fairs designed to steal Medicare numbers. Consumers should protect themselves by carefully reviewing Medicare statements, never sharing their Medicare number with unsolicited callers, and reporting suspicious activity to local law enforcement or AARP's Fraud Watch Network.

This is an educational awareness piece announcing a Medicare fraud prevention event scheduled for June 6 at the Pagosa Senior Center, presented by the Archuleta County Sheriff's Office and San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging. Medicare fraud costs the program an estimated $60 billion annually and has devastating impacts on beneficiaries, families, and caregivers through lost time, stress, and compromised medical identities. The article provides practical prevention advice for beneficiaries, caregivers, families, healthcare providers, and community members, including monitoring insurance statements, protecting Medicare numbers, reviewing statements for unauthorized medical equipment shipments, and reporting concerns to the Senior Medicare Patrol program.

Malachi Mullings was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for laundering over $4.5 million obtained through romance fraud scams and business email compromise schemes that targeted elderly victims and companies from 2019 to July 2021. Operating under the fake company name "The Mullings Group LLC," Mullings opened 20 bank accounts to conceal fraud proceeds, including $310,000 diverted from a state Medicaid program and $260,000 obtained from an elderly romance scam victim, which he used to purchase luxury items including a Ferrari. The case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice's Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force and involved investigation by

Georgia resident Malachi Mullings received a 10-year prison sentence for laundering $4.5 million in proceeds from business email compromise (BEC) attacks targeting healthcare providers and romance scams targeting individuals, including numerous elderly victims, between 2019 and July 2021. Mullings used multiple bank accounts under his company name to conceal the fraud, purchasing luxury items including a Ferrari with stolen funds; one romance scam victim alone lost $260,000. He pleaded guilty to eight charges including money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering as part of a larger scheme involving nine other suspects across Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia that defrauded state Medicaid programs

Malachi Mullings, 31, from Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering and conspiracy related to a fraud network that defrauded over $4.5 million from victims through business email compromise attacks, romance scams, and healthcare benefits fraud, including $310,000 diverted from a state Medicaid program and $260,000 from romance scam victims. Mullings was part of a 10-person conspiracy that caused more than $11.1 million in total losses by targeting Medicare, Medicaid programs, private health insurers, and vulnerable individuals. FBI data shows elder fraud complaints increased 14% in 2023

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nebraska identified an impersonation scam using U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr's name, image, and title in fraudulent emails requesting payment from victims; several concerned citizens reported receiving the emails, but no financial losses occurred. The office advises recipients to avoid opening attachments or sharing personal information, and to report such emails to the FBI Tip Line and FTC Fraud Line, noting that the U.S. Attorney's Office only collects money for court-ordered restitution in criminal cases.

**Summary:** Medicare Fraud Prevention Week (June 3-9) educates beneficiaries, caregivers, and families on how to prevent fraud that costs Medicare beneficiaries their medical identity, time, and stress. Common Medicare fraud schemes include charging for services not provided, misrepresenting diagnoses, and prescribing unnecessary tests, which can be prevented by opening and reading Medicare statements, reporting suspected fraud to the NY Senior Medicare Patrol (1-800-333-4374), and detecting unrecognized providers or services. The New York Senior Medicare Patrol provides free resources including My Health Care Trackers and certified counselors to help Medicare beneficiaries and their support networks protect against fraud, errors

This AARP educational article outlines three major scams targeting homeowners and consumers, particularly older adults: contractor fraud involving upfront payment demands and shoddy work; digital package delivery scams using fake text messages from shipping companies to steal personal information and payment details (which cost Americans $330 million in 2022); and Medicare scams including false billing for unreceived services, fraudulent "free" product offers, and genetic testing schemes designed to obtain Medicare numbers. The article recommends getting multiple contractor estimates, avoiding upfront payments, ignoring unsolicited messages, verifying package issues directly with retailers, and carefully reviewing Medicare statements while protecting Medicare numbers from unauthorized parties.

A Florida woman received an unsolicited genetic testing kit with her Medicare information and was contacted by someone claiming to represent the lab offering "free" testing covered by Medicare—a common healthcare fraud scheme. Scammers target seniors at public venues and through mail to obtain Medicare numbers for identity theft and fraudulent billing, with false claims sometimes reaching thousands of dollars; Medicare only covers genetic testing when ordered by a patient's physician and deemed medically necessary. Victims are protected from liability if investigations confirm their non-participation, with the burden shifting to the fraudulent provider instead.

Jeremy Cook, a security officer with Exchange Bank, presented information on financial fraud prevention to seniors at the Jones County Senior Center on April 17, covering common scams including government imposter, grandparent, charity, romance, and technical support scams. Cook advised attendees to ignore unknown callers, never share personal information or send wire transfers, verify charities before donating, and conduct transactions in person when possible, while noting that romance scams alone generated $2.1 billion nationally in 2022. The presentation materials were designed for distribution at churches and other community venues to raise awareness among seniors about financial security threats.

Medicare beneficiaries in Missoula are being warned of a rising genetic testing scam where fraudsters pose as representatives offering free DNA and cancer screenings, then use victims' Medicare numbers to file unauthorized claims that appear on Medicare statements. Senior Medicare Patrol advises beneficiaries to consult their own doctors rather than unknown phone contacts, carefully review Medicare statements for suspicious service codes like "gene analysis" or "molecular pathology," and report suspicious requests for health information to their local Senior Medicare Patrol office.

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is warning Medicare enrollees of a rising scam in which fraudsters offer free services, medical equipment, or gift cards in exchange for sensitive Medicare numbers to commit fraud. The Statewide Senior Medicare Patrol Program advises recipients never to share their Medicare numbers with unsolicited callers and to hang up immediately if approached with such offers.

The FBI issued a warning to Houston residents about a hospice care scam in which fraudsters illegally enroll seniors in Medicare's $22 billion hospice program without their knowledge or consent, then bill insurance thousands or tens of thousands of dollars before victims realize what happened. The scam involves doctors, recruiters, and company employees working together, and can prevent victims from accessing end-of-life care with providers of their choice when they actually need it. The FBI recommends residents avoid sharing personal information with strangers, hang up suspicious calls, and report them to authorities; meanwhile, Medicare has increased oversight in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas, and recently convicted a California hospice company owner who

The Senior LinkAge Line offered two educational classes on May 8 covering health care fraud, waste, and abuse prevention for older adults. Attendees learned to detect and report Medicare fraud and scams, protect their Medicare beneficiary numbers, and review their Medicare paperwork, with instruction provided by the Senior Medicare Patrol federal education program.

Criminologist David Maimon's research team at Georgia State University has documented extensive criminal activity on the dark web, where organized groups anonymously buy and sell stolen personal information, forged checks, and hacked financial accounts at minimal prices. The research reveals that stolen personal identification data is often more valuable to criminals than cash itself, as it enables them to open fraudulent bank accounts, obtain fake documents, and commit various financial crimes. Dark web criminals also engage in romance scams, mail theft using stolen postal keys, and bank fraud, operating through sophisticated networks that steal billions of dollars annually.

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is warning Medicare enrollees of increasing scams where fraudsters offer free services, medical equipment, or gift cards in exchange for Medicare numbers to commit fraud. Aging Services agencies advise Medicare beneficiaries to never share their Medicare number unsolicited, carefully review their Medicare statements for discrepancies, and hang up immediately on suspicious offers, as compromised information can be used in multiple fraudulent schemes.

Congressman Raul Ruiz held a senior fraud awareness seminar in El Centro after his own mother nearly fell victim to a "grandparent scam" in which a scammer impersonated a relative in Mexico requesting $5,000 for bail. The event highlighted that fraud is a national epidemic affecting seniors, with Ruiz noting that 198 fraudulent cases were reported in the prior year (likely representing only a fraction of actual incidents due to underreporting caused by embarrassment and fear), and emphasized the importance of reporting scams to law enforcement and sharing fraud prevention information within communities.

The Association of Health Care Journalists reported that elder scams have become increasingly sophisticated through artificial intelligence, making them harder to distinguish from legitimate interactions. The AARP Fraud Watch Network received nearly 100,000 calls in 2023, and the National Council on Aging documented 88,000 fraud victims age 60+ in 2022 alone, losing $3.1 billion collectively. Common schemes include the grandparent scam (impersonation requesting wire transfers), romance scams (nearly 70,000 reported in 2022 with $1.3 billion in losses), government impersonation, tech support fraud, and voice recording scams, with

Fraud losses reached a record $10 billion in 2023, representing a 317% increase from $2.4 billion in 2019, with seniors frequently targeted through phone, email, mail, and in-person scams. AARP recommends seniors protect themselves by placing credit freezes with all three major credit bureaus using their social security number, birth date, and past addresses, and recording their PIN for future reference. Those who suspect fraud can contact the Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 1-877-908-3360 to report incidents.

Organizations in Montana are warning of increased scams targeting Medicare enrollees, where fraudsters solicit victims' Medicare numbers by offering free services, gift cards, or medical equipment. Scammers then use stolen numbers to bill Medicare fraudulently before disappearing. Montana's Senior Medicare Patrol advises Medicare recipients to never share their numbers with unknown callers and to regularly review their Medicare summary notices for unrecognized providers or services.

Federal and Montana aging services are warning Medicare enrollees of a scam where fraudsters impersonate government officials and offer free medical equipment or services in exchange for Medicare numbers. Scammers use phone calls, emails, and social media to solicit personal, medical, and financial information, which they then use to steal money or commit identity fraud. Victims are advised to hang up immediately if offered free medical equipment in exchange for their Medicare number and to report suspected fraud to the HHS OIG Hotline at 1-800-447-8477.

Lawrence Montgomery, Jr. pleaded guilty to exploiting his 77-year-old mother, Ruth Montgomery, who had Alzheimer's disease, by diverting her social security checks to himself over five months (October 2019–February 2020) while she was in a nursing home, putting her at risk of discharge. He was sentenced to 10 years of probation, ordered to pay restitution, and barred from serving as a guardian or power of attorney. Georgia's Attorney General emphasized that protecting seniors from family-member exploitation remains a priority and noted that the state's Medicaid Fraud Division has secured 90 convictions for elder abuse and fraud since 2019.

Aging services agencies in Montana are warning Medicare enrollees about a scam where fraudsters pose as government officials and offer free medical equipment (such as catheters) in exchange for Medicare numbers, which are then used to commit identity theft and fraud. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General reports that scammers contact victims via phone, email, or social media claiming to represent Medicare or state health departments, requesting personal information under false pretenses like settling debts or providing grants. Medicare beneficiaries are advised to hang up immediately on unsolicited offers of free equipment, never provide their Medicare number to callers, review Explanation of Benefits statements, and report suspected fraud to the H

Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz is hosting a senior fraud awareness workshop on Wednesday in El Centro with representatives from the Federal Trade Commission, Social Security Administration, IRS, and Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program. The workshop will educate seniors on recognizing and avoiding common scams including identity theft and Medicare fraud, while providing guidance on steps to take if they suspect they are victims of fraud.

Scammers are impersonating Medicare and conducting a growing phone scam targeting Medicare beneficiaries, falsely claiming to issue new cards and requesting verification of Medicare numbers and personal information. Victims report receiving numerous unsolicited calls daily, with scammers using professional tactics and detailed personal information to build trust. Medicare clarifies that it does not call beneficiaries, already has their information, and completed distribution of new Medicare cards by January 2019; the public should report suspected fraud to the California Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-855-613-7080.

**Summary:** A free educational program titled "Medicare 101" is being offered on April 25 at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville, hosted by certified counselor John Chicoine. The presentation covers Medicare basics, supplements, Advantage plans, prescription plans, and includes information about Medicare scams to help those approaching Medicare age navigate their options.

Congressman Raul Ruiz, in partnership with the Federal Trade Commission, Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, and Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, hosted a Senior Fraud Workshop on April 24, 2024, in El Centro, California to educate seniors about recognizing and avoiding scams. The workshop covered identity theft, Medicare fraud, and other schemes targeting seniors, with experts providing practical advice on warning signs and steps for reporting suspected fraud to law enforcement.

A 69-year-old Billings resident received a fraudulent Medicare impersonation call from someone claiming to be with Medicare who possessed his personal information including date of birth and address. The scammer was exposed when the caller provided an incorrect date for when Kunnemann received his Medicare card, prompting him to verify with the legitimate Medicare hotline and confirm it was a scam. Kunnemann's warning emphasizes that Medicare and other government agencies will not initiate calls requesting personal information unless the agency has been breached or the recipient contacted them first.

Scammers are using caller ID spoofing to impersonate Medicare, Social Security, and doctors' offices in order to steal seniors' personal and medical identity information. The New York StateWide Senior Action Council highlighted this as its April Medicare Fraud of the Month, recommending seniors hang up on unexpected calls, verify caller identity through trusted numbers, never share personal information with unsolicited callers, and regularly review Medicare statements for suspicious claims. Medicare fraud costs taxpayers over $60 billion nationally per year.

Healthcare providers paid nearly $2 billion to resolve False Claims Act allegations in 2023, marking a historic annual record with 543 settlements and judgments involving federal investigations. The Department of Justice is intensifying efforts to investigate elder abuse and fraud in nursing homes, particularly targeting facilities providing substandard care and engaging in fraudulent billing practices, with notable cases including a $7.1 million settlement against a New York nursing home for worthless services and safety violations. Federal agencies are expanding enforcement actions across long-term care and Medicare Advantage plans, signaling that investigations and recoveries are likely to increase significantly in coming years.

The Senior Medicare Patrol warns that Medicare scams are increasing, with fraudsters exploiting beneficiaries' failure to review account statements by charging for unrequested items like urinary catheters, diabetes supplies, and COVID-19 test kits. To protect themselves, Medicare beneficiaries should carefully review their monthly Medicare Summary Notices (MSN) or Explanations of Benefits (EOB), treat their Medicare card like a credit card, and report suspected fraud to the Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-877-808-2468 or 855-613-7080. Medicare will never contact beneficiaries unsolicited by phone to issue new cards or other services.