SSTOP
Slow down. Scammers rely on urgency. The moment you feel pressured, that's your signal to pause.
Scam Help & Alerts · From an independent NC nonprofit
Is This a Scam? Spot It, Stop It, Stay Safe.
Got a call, text, or email that feels off? Here's how to check, in plain English, confidence not fear. GOLD's S.C.A.M. check is four steps: Stop, Confirm, Avoid sharing, Make a report.
Independent NC 501(c)(3) nonprofit • Sources: FBI IC3 & the FTC
The S.C.A.M. framework
Four steps. Easy to remember. Use them anytime something feels off: Stop, Confirm, Avoid sharing, Make a report.
CCONFIRM
Verify the source. Call the company back using a number you find yourself. Never trust a number from the suspicious message.
AAVOID
Never give out personal information. No Medicare or Social Security numbers, no bank details, no gift card codes. Real organizations don't ask this way.
MMAKE A REPORT
Report the attempt to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Even if you didn't lose money, your report helps protect someone else.
Is this call, text, or email a scam?
Real questions people ask us, answered in plain English.
Does Medicare call you on the phone?
Almost never. Medicare handles nearly everything by mail. It will not call out of the blue to ask for your Medicare number, “verify” your identity, or send you a new card. An unexpected “Medicare” call is the most common scam we’re seeing right now, and you can hang up.
Are calls from Medicare legit?
Treat an unexpected call claiming to be Medicare as suspicious. Medicare already has your information, so it doesn’t need to phone you to confirm it. If you’re unsure, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) yourself, using the number on the back of your red-white-and-blue card, not a number the caller gives you.
Why am I getting calls about Medicare Part A and B?
Because the script works on a lot of people. A common one claims there’s a “problem” with your Part A or Part B, or that you qualify for extra benefits, to get you to read back your Medicare number. Your Part A and Part B don’t change because of a phone call. You can safely ignore these.
Why am I getting so many calls about Medicare?
Scam call centers dial enormous lists automatically, and the volume spikes around open-enrollment season. Getting a lot of them does not mean anything is wrong with your coverage. Don’t press any buttons and don’t call back. Just hang up, and report it if you’d like.
Do “cash back” or free-benefit Medicare calls mean it’s a scam?
Yes, treat them that way. Offers of cash back, a free back brace, free testing kits, or a “new benefit” in exchange for your Medicare number are classic bait. Medicare doesn’t pay you to accept benefits, and it won’t cold-call to sign you up.
Is this call, text, or email a scam? Quick red flags
If you spot even one of these, stop and confirm before you do anything:
- It creates urgency or fear: “act now,” “your account is suspended,” “you’ll be arrested.”
- It asks for your Medicare, Social Security, or bank number, a PIN, or a code they just texted you.
- It wants payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
- It tells you to keep it secret or not to hang up.
- The caller ID or sender looks official. Remember, those can be faked.
Scams that target older adults
Know the tell-tale signs and you’re already ahead. Here’s what we’re seeing most.
Most common right now
Medicare imposter phone calls
An unexpected caller says they're from “Medicare”. There's a problem with your card, a new card is on the way, or you qualify for a free brace, test kit, or cash-back benefit. They just need your Medicare number to “verify.” Medicare communicates by mail and won't cold-call for your number.
- Calls you out of the blue about Part A or Part B
- Offers free equipment, testing, or “cash back”
- Pressures you to read back your Medicare number
- Warns your card or coverage will be canceled
What to do: Hang up. If you're unsure, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) yourself using the number on your card.
Social Security imposters
A recorded or live caller warns that your Social Security number has been “suspended” or tied to a crime, then pressures you to confirm it or pay to “fix” it.
- Your Social Security number can’t be suspended. That’s not a real thing.
- Never confirm your number or send money to “reactivate” it.
IRS & tax imposters
A caller claims you owe back taxes and will be arrested today unless you pay immediately, often by gift card or wire.
- The IRS contacts you by mail first, not a threatening phone call.
- It never demands gift cards or threatens instant arrest.
Grandparent & family emergency
“Grandma, it’s me. I’m in trouble, please don’t tell Mom.” A panicked voice (sometimes AI-cloned) needs bail or medical money fast.
- Hang up and call your family member directly on their real number.
- Ask a question only the real person would know.
Bank imposters
A text or call says there’s fraud on your account, then “verifies” you by asking for your card number, PIN, or a code they just texted.
- Your bank already knows your account, so it won’t ask for the full number, PIN, or a one-time code.
- Call the number on the back of your card instead.
Fake prizes & sweepstakes
You’ve “won” a lottery or prize, but first you must pay a fee or tax to release the winnings.
- A real prize never requires an upfront payment.
- If you didn’t enter, you didn’t win.
Romance scams
An online sweetheart you’ve never met in person grows close quickly, then hits a crisis and needs money or gift cards.
- Never send money or gift cards to someone you haven’t met face-to-face.
- Scammers avoid video calls and in-person meetings.
I think I was scammed. What now?
Take a breath. Work through these steps in order, because you have more options than you think.
- 1
Do not send money, gift cards, or codes
If you have not sent anything yet, stop here. No real bank, government office, or company is ever paid in gift cards, wire transfers, or the codes from the back of a card. Pressure to pay right now, in that form, is the scam itself.
- 2
Stop contact
Hang up, or don’t reply. You don’t owe a scammer a conversation, and pressing buttons or calling back only confirms your number is active.
- 3
Call your bank first
If any money moved, or you shared bank or card details, call your bank or card issuer before anything else, using the number on the back of your card. They are the only ones who can try to stop or reverse a payment, and it gets harder by the hour. If you shared your Medicare or Social Security number, write down what you shared and when.
- 4
Get help reporting it
The National Elder Fraud Hotline, 833-372-8311, is run by the Department of Justice. It costs nothing, and they assign you a case manager who helps you report it and stays with you rather than handing you off. You can also report directly to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or 1-877-382-4357, suspected Medicare fraud to 1-800-MEDICARE, and online crime to the FBI at ic3.gov. Your report is what stops the same scheme reaching the next person.
- 5
Watch for a second scam
Scammers share lists. Be extra wary of anyone who calls offering to “help you get your money back”. That’s often a follow-up scam targeting people who were just hit.
- 6
Talk about it
There’s no shame in being targeted. These schemes are designed to fool careful people. Telling family or friends helps you recover and protects them, too.
GOLD is not an emergency service and we are not always at our desks. When money is moving, the people above can act and we cannot. Come to us afterward, for the part where you get your confidence back.
Recent scam alerts
What we're seeing now. We monitor trusted sources and surface what's most relevant to older adults.
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Read at FTCTake a scam prevention workshop.
In person, online, and hosted by partner organizations across North Carolina.
Find a WorkshopGOLD (Growing Older Living Digitally) is an independent North Carolina 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit. Our our help never costs you anything. We cite authoritative sources like the FBI's IC3 and the FTC.
We are not affiliated with, and do not represent, Medicare, the Social Security Administration, or the IRS.