Greg's Corner

Tagged: medical expenses Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• 

  Geebo 8:00 am on March 29, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: debt collectors ( 11 ), medical bills ( 3 ), medical expenses, medical records, Scams ( 1,386 )   

  Old medical records could be in the hands of scammers 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Scammers are continually finding new ways to exploit personal information for financial gain. One particularly insidious tactic making headlines recently involves the manipulation of old medical records to trick unsuspecting victims into paying hefty sums of money they don’t actually owe.

  Take the case of a Chattanooga, Tennessee, woman, who found herself on the brink of becoming a victim to a cunning scam. A routine day was disrupted by a distressing call informing her of an outstanding hospital bill totaling a staggering $13,000 for a surgery she underwent back in 2016.

  The scenario painted by scammers is often convincing, utilizing personal details gleaned from defunct medical offices or harvested through data breaches at hospitals. Armed with this intimate knowledge, fraudsters employ scare tactics and coercion to pressure their targets into parting with their hard-earned money.

  Scammers leverage stolen information to establish credibility, creating a facade of legitimacy to dupe their victims. Once they have their foot in the door, they resort to aggressive bargaining tactics, dropping exorbitant figures and offering dubious settlement options in a bid to extract as much money as possible. In the recounted incident, the victim was informed that rather than settling the purported $13,000 debt, she could resolve the matter by paying a reduced sum of $6,600 promptly on the same day.

  Despite the initial panic induced by the alarming call, the victim remained composed and refrained from succumbing to the demands of the scammers.

  From the news report, it sounds like the scammers are posing as medical debt collectors. Armed with a victim’s medical history, they can make the scam even more intimidating than it already is. However, there is a way that people can protect themselves from this scam.

  It’s crucial never to capitulate to these callers’ demands for immediate payment. Instead, insist on receiving a debt verification letter outlining the purported origin of the debt. Legitimate debt collectors are obligated to furnish such documentation, whereas most scammers are unable to comply. Subsequently, you may want to contact the medical office referenced by the scammer to confirm the validity of any charges or debts. Their billing department should be able to provide clarification and verification.

   

  Leave a ReplyCancel reply
• 

  Geebo 8:00 am on May 25, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: debt collectors ( 11 ), medical expenses, Scams ( 1,386 )   

  BBB warns of medical debt scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Medical debt is one of the leading causes of people who declare bankruptcy in the U.S. The cost of medical care in the US is notably high compared to other countries. Even with insurance coverage, individuals may face substantial out-of-pocket expenses, including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. For those without adequate insurance coverage, the burden of medical costs can be overwhelming.

  This has led many medical facilities to employ collection agencies to go after outstanding debts. These debt collectors are often more than aggressive when pursuing these debts. They’re not above resorting to legal action, wage garnishment, or asset seizure. However, not every medical debt is legitimate, as the Better Business Bureau is warning that scammers are posing as medical debt collectors in order to extort money from their victims.

  It makes sense, in a way, that scammers would do this. Scammers often employ high-pressure tactics to trick their victims into giving up their money. Posing as a debt collector, who also uses high-pressure tactics, allows scammers to appear more authentic to their victims.

  According to the BBB, scammers are sending letters and making phone calls to their victims, claiming the victim owes money for a medical bill. The scammers threaten their victims with legal fees, ruining your credit, and even arrest. The scammers are hoping that the victim will be scared into handing over their financial information.

  There are some easy ways to protect yourself from this scam. The first is to never give these callers any money right away. First, ask them for a debt verification letter that will detail where the debt supposedly came from. Debt collectors are required to provide those, while most scammers can’t. Then call the medical office where the bill supposedly originated from, and their billing office will be able to verify any charges or debts.

   
• 

  Geebo 8:00 am on August 19, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Cash App ( 42 ), charity scam ( 36 ), medical expenses, Scams ( 1,386 ), sick children, Zelle ( 67 )   

  Are charity drives for sick children a scam? 

  

  By Greg Collier

  With how expensive medical treatment in our country can be, it’s common to see people or families asking online for financial assistance regarding their medical expenses. According to the crowdsourcing platform GoFundMe, the main reason people open a GoFundMe page is to solicit donations for medical expenses. Unfortunately, scammers will pose as someone in need of financial assistance for medical expenses online. With more and more people becoming aware of these online scams, are scammers going back to asking for money on the street? That very well could be.

  According to a report from the Kansas City area, residents there are saying that people are taking to the streets and holding up signs asking for donations for children with severe illnesses. However, these signs have a modern twist. Instead of just taking cash, the signs also have indicators that you can donate money to various personal payment apps such as Zelle and Cash App.

  The reason authorities around Kansas City may think this may be a scam is because a group of scammers in South Carolina used the exact same picture of a sick child that the sign holders in Kansas City are using.

  Everybody wants to help a sick child if we can, and the scammers know this. Scammers are masters of emotional manipulation and will use every dirty trick in the book to separate a victim from their money. They want your heart to override your head when it comes to giving money. They want that immediate emotional reaction to result in an immediate donation. While an immediate donation might make us feel better, it might not be actually helping a sick child.

  As always, people should research before making any kind of chartable donation, so they’ll know the money is being put to good use. If you feel guilty about not making a donation to a sign holder, or if you just want to help, consider donating to an organization that has a good reputation for assisting those in need.

   
• 

  Geebo 8:00 am on July 25, 2022 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: advance fee scam ( 45 ), grants ( 15 ), medical expenses, medical scams ( 21 ), Scams ( 1,386 )   

  Grant scams target cancer patients 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Very few things are more disheartening than being told you have cancer. Even if it’s a minor form of cancer, if there is such a thing, just the word cancer conjures up images of long and uncomfortable treatments to say the least. It also brings thoughts of financial hardships, as an extended illness like cancer can bring a mountain of medical debt. More people in the United States declare bankruptcy over medical bills than any other reason. Then imagine having a helping hand extended to you only to have it be taken away while taking money out of your pocket.

  A woman from Connecticut recently had surgery to have a cancerous lump removed. She was approached by someone on social media posing as a local non-profit organization. They told her that she was eligible for a $15,000 grant to help pay for her medical expenses. But in order to receive the grant, she first had to pay a $500 fee. After she paid the $500, she realized she had been scammed.

  Grant scams have been plaguing social media for a while now. Typically, victims are approached by people who appear to be their friends. However, their friend’s account has been compromised, allowing scammers to lull victims into a false sense of security. Victims are usually in some sort of financial need. Add a cancer diagnosis into the mix and a victim might be under such emotional duress that they could miss the red flags of a scam.

  Unfortunately, any agency that deals with grants does not approach potential applicants. You need to go to them. They also do not ask for money in advance. That is known as the advance fee scam and anyone who asks you to, is just after your money. You may be a target for this scam if you’ve recently shared a medical diagnosis with your friends on social media.

  The victim in this story has also set up a GoFundMe page if you can find it in your heart to help.

   
• 

  Geebo 8:00 am on March 15, 2021 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: cancer ( 3 ), Cash App ( 42 ), charity scam ( 36 ), Instagram ( 17 ), medical expenses, medical scams ( 21 ), Rhode Island ( 2 ), Scams ( 1,386 )   

  Family dealing with cancer plagued by scammers 

  

  By Greg Collier

  We’ve been writing about scams and scammers for a while now. You’d think we wouldn’t be surprised by any type of scam anymore or how pervasive they’ve become. Yet, we’re about to tell you about one of the most disheartening scams we’ve ever heard of.

  There is a family in Warwick, Rhode Island who are dealing with one of the most challenging things a family can go through. Their two-year-old son is battling a rare form of cancer. The community has come together to support the family. Not only through a GoFundMe but the local police are also collecting donations for the child’s medical expenses.

  Unfortunately, these days wherever there is hardship there’s someone looking to take advantage of the situation. In this case, there have been a few someones who have been trying to profit from this family’s struggle. As we previously mentioned, the only two official places where donations are being collected are GoFundMe and the local police department. However, multiple scammers have used the toddler’s name to try to collect money for themselves. Scammers are said to be using both Instagram and Cash App to falsely claim they’re collecting money for the two-year-old.

  If that wasn’t bad enough, scammers even approached the two-year-old’s father. He says that he received a text message from someone posing as the child’s doctor asking for money for the child’s healthcare. No family should have to deal with the anguish of worrying about both a child with cancer and the expenses that entails let alone having to deal with scammers who are potentially taking money that could have gone to the boy’s medical bills.

  It’s sad that we have to be skeptical about charity, but that’s the world we live in today. I’m certain that has caused many people to stop donating to worthy causes because of the number of scammers who pose as charities. You can still give to charity, you just need to do a little research first.

  If you can afford it and find it in your heart you can donate to the boy’s treatment fund at this GoFundMe.