Greg's Corner

Scammers take advantage of UnitedHealth hack

By Greg Collier

In recent events, it has come to light that a major health insurance provider in our country fell victim to a severe cyberattack and subsequent data breach. Towards the end of February, Change Healthcare, a subsidiary specializing in pharmacy insurance under UnitedHealth, experienced a crippling intrusion into its systems. Regrettably, this breach led to the exposure of personal data belonging to Change’s customers. Reports on the repercussions of this breach for the affected customers have begun to emerge this week.

Scammers are now impersonating healthcare representatives in attempts to obtain financial information. Reports have surfaced of individuals receiving calls from imposters claiming to represent hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. These scammers offer fake refunds or demand immediate payments, often requesting credit card numbers or other sensitive financial details.

To combat these scams, UnitedHealth advises recipients of suspicious solicitations to refrain from responding and instead contact their healthcare provider directly. It’s not common practice for hospitals and medical facilities to request patient credit card numbers over the phone, even in cases where a patient is owed a refund. Typically, when a patient is due a credit, that amount is either refunded directly to the credit card the office has on file or issued to the patient in the form of a check.

If you find yourself receiving such a phone call, regardless of whether you’re insured by UnitedHealth or not, it’s advisable to politely terminate the call and directly contact your doctor’s office or the hospital involved. In many cases, these healthcare providers already possess your personal information and wouldn’t require you to provide it again over the phone. Additionally, it’s essential to remember that caller ID can be manipulated by scammers to falsely appear as if the call is originating from a legitimate medical provider, so it’s unwise to rely solely on caller ID information.

If someone suspects that their personal information has been exposed, it’s crucial to take immediate action to mitigate potential damage. Contact major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit report. This extra layer of security can help prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened in your name.

Consult with legal professionals, especially if the exposure of personal information results in financial losses or other significant consequences. They can offer guidance on potential legal recourse.

And lastly, alert banks and credit card companies about the potential exposure of personal information. Request to monitor accounts for any suspicious activity and consider placing fraud alerts or freezes on accounts to prevent unauthorized access.