Scammers calling for health information

Posted at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, February 5, 2021

The Brillion News

Telephone scams targeting Wisconsin hospital patients are being reported.

The Wisconsin Hospital Association and consumer fraud investigators are warning people not to provide medical, financial information to unsolicited callers.

Wisconsin hospitals and health systems say they're being notified by patients of fraudulent phone calls claiming to be from hospital representatives seeking personal health information and other sensitive data.

The Wisconsin Hospital Association and Wisconsin Department of Trade Agriculture and Consumer Protection (DATCP) are telling people not to respond to such unsolicited requests of personal information, whether they are made over the phone or through text or email.

Examples of information requested in the fraudulent calls include Medicare account numbers, family medical history and recent medical equipment purchases — all of which can be used for identity theft.

The advice from the WHA and DATCP: If you receive such a call, text or email, do not respond. Don’t click on links or open attachments from suspicious sources.

When in doubt, contact the hospital at a verified telephone number or through another legitimate channel to seek clarification.

For more information on what to do if you fall victim to an identity theft scam, visit the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection website: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Publications/Phishing402.aspx