Medicare beneficiaries are being targeted by scammers offering free genetic testing in exchange for sensitive information, according to the Better Business Bureau June 11.
The organization reported a surge in phone calls to Medicare members offering insurance-covered testing kits and asking for personal information, including Medicare identification numbers, to commit fraudulent billing or identity theft.
Some members reported receiving bills for thousands of dollars, the Bureau said.
The organization urged beneficiaries to only provide Medicare identification numbers to their physician's offices, and to be suspicious of anyone claiming a cancer screening or genetic test to be free.