Protect your Medicare number and your Social Security Number

Do not 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.

Review your Medicare Summary Notices for any errors

Compare that with your known appointments and tests. Use a calendar to record all of your doctor's appointments and any tests you get. Report anything suspicious to Medicare.

• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
• Call the fraud hotlne of the Department of Health & Human Services Offices of the Inspector General at
  1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477). TTY users can call
  1-800-377-4950.
• Visit tips.oig.hhs.gov to file a complaint online.
  

Protect yourself from identity theft

• Shred anything with personal information on it including bills, credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers and others. 
• Be cautious of "phishing" emails or text messages from scammers pretending to be financial institutions or companies. If you receive a suspicious email asking you to reset your account or to click on a suspicious link, contact the sending organization directly.
• If someone calls you and asks for personal information over the phone, hang up immediately.

Guard your Medicare card like it's a credit card 

• Medicare will never contact you for your Medicare number or other personal information unless you've given them permission in advance.
• Medicare will never call you to sell you anything.
• You may get calls from people promising you things if you give them a Medicare number. Don't do it.
• Medicare will never visit you at your home.
• Medicare can't enroll you over the phone unless you called first.