Jean Cherni: Many seniors are, unfortunately, too trusting for their own good

Here we are on Palm Sunday with spring and all its accompanying feelings of renewal, happiness with warmer weather and a tendency to reach out in friendship toward our fellow human beings.

But readers, beware! It is also a time of increasing scams and frauds that target vulnerable and trusting seniors. A special fraud alert has been posted regarding Medicare card changes. Congress passed a law that requires the removal of Social Security numbers from all Medicare cards, which commences in April 2018. New beneficiaries will get the modernized cards first and then new cards will be issued to current or existing members.

This is being done to protect people’s identities. Some Medicare members are receiving calls asking for payment in order to receive their new card or asking to verify their Medicare number. Medicare will NEVER call to verify your number and there IS NO COST to get your new card. If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately. Click here to continue reading.