In a new scam, people are calling seniors and claiming to sell Medicare prescription drug benefit cards. The callers say the card is required, then ask for victims' bank account numbers to cover the cost. One West Virginia woman lost $398, and five others in the state have closed their bank accounts for the same reason, according to an article in the June 23, 2005, Charleston Gazette.

At least 13 states have reported similar incidents--bogus door-to-door or phone sales of drug discount and benefit cards. Please warn the beneficiaries you work with to never give out their bank account numbers or any other personal information to callers or salespeople.

A phone script the federal government created to address beneficiaries' concerns says the Social Security Administration (SSA) may call to clarify answers on the applications submitted for the extra help or to check differences between answers submitted and information federal agencies have on income or resources. However, the SSA will never ask for bank account numbers, credit card numbers, or life insurance policy numbers. SSA will ask for a Social Security Number only if the number on the application is invalid. Anyone who receives a suspicious call should hang up and call SSA at 1-800-772-1213.