Health insurance scam calls are a pervasive issue in the United States, with consumers receiving an average of 15 spam calls per month in the fourth quarter of 2023. (securitymagazine.com) These fraudulent calls often impersonate legitimate health insurance providers, aiming to steal personal information or money. To safeguard yourself, consider the following strategies:
1. Register with the National Do Not Call Registry
Adding your number to the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry can reduce unsolicited calls. As of fiscal year 2023, over 249 million numbers were registered. (ftc.gov) While this doesn't eliminate all unwanted calls, it significantly decreases their frequency.
2. Utilize Call Blocking and Identification Services
Many mobile carriers offer services to identify and block scam calls. For instance, T-Mobile's Scam Shield identified or blocked 19.8 billion calls in 2023, protecting subscribers from spam calls at a rate of 628 times per second. (t-mobile.com) Similarly, Robokiller's technology intercepted millions of spam calls, preventing significant losses. (robokiller.com)
3. Be Cautious with Personal Information
Avoid sharing personal or financial details over the phone, especially with unsolicited callers. Legitimate health insurance companies will not ask for sensitive information via unsolicited calls.
4. Report Suspicious Calls
If you receive a suspicious call, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) through the National Do Not Call Registry website. In fiscal year 2023, the FTC received over 2 million complaints about unwanted calls, with imposter scams being the most reported. (ftc.gov)
5. Stay Informed About Common Scams
Being aware of common health insurance scams can help you recognize and avoid them. According to Truecaller, the top scams in 2023 included credit card fraud, identity theft, Medicare/insurance fraud, Social Security fraud, car warranty scams, and debt collection scams. (businesswire.com)
6. Consider Using Robokiller's Services
Robokiller offers advanced call blocking and identification services that have proven effective in reducing scam calls. In December 2023, Robokiller blocked over 7 million spam calls, intercepting millions of calls and preventing significant losses. (robokiller.com)
Conclusion
While it's challenging to eliminate all health insurance scam calls, implementing these strategies can significantly reduce their occurrence and protect your personal information. Utilizing services like Robokiller can provide an additional layer of security against these fraudulent calls.
Highlights:
- FTC Releases Annual Do Not Call Registry Data Book Showing Consumer Complaints Continued to Decrease in Fiscal Year 2023 | Federal Trade Commission
- T‑Mobile Report: Un-carrier Customers Protected from Over 19 Billion Scam Calls in 2023 - T‑Mobile Newsroom, Published on Tuesday, February 27
- Truecaller Releases Monthly U.S. Spam & Scam Report to Identify the Top Fraudulent Call Categories and States in 2023, Published on Monday, November 27
