Seniors warned to beware of fraudulent Medicare calls

The Maine Attorney General’s Office released a statement on Thursday warning senior citizens not to give their Social Security number, bank information or money to callers who identify themselves as working for MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid office.

Several residents recently have reported being contacted and told they must pay $200 to take advantage of the state’s Medicare prescription drug plan.

“While the state is making some outgoing calls to seniors to assist them in qualifying for Medicare Part B premium assistance, the state callers are not asking for money,” according to the statement.

People who receive such a call or who suspect they have been the victim of a scam should report the incident to the Attorney General Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 436-2131.