**Medicare Wellness Check Scam Campaign Report**
This scam campaign centers around phone number 9713469225, which has generated 2 Federal Trade Commission complaints classified under the Medical & prescriptions category. The operation primarily targets consumers in Ellicott City, Maryland, though the use of a 971 area code (Oregon) suggests the scammers are operating from a different geographic region than their primary victim base.
The campaign employs text message outreach claiming recipients are "due for Medicare covered wellness check" and requesting they review their current health status and preventative screenings. Community reports indicate the messages specifically reference Medicare benefits and routine care requirements, with callbacks directed to 9713469225. Despite appearing as a landline number in online searches, the cross-state targeting pattern from an Oregon-based number to Maryland residents raises significant legitimacy concerns.
Consumer impact data shows this campaign specifically targets Medicare beneficiaries, a vulnerable population that may be more susceptible to healthcare-related scams. The professional tone of the messages, referencing legitimate Medicare benefits like wellness checks and preventative screenings, makes this campaign particularly deceptive. Recipients report receiving unsolicited text messages requesting callbacks, which is not standard practice for legitimate Medicare communications.
**Consumer Protection Advice:** Before responding to any Medicare-related communication, verify legitimacy by contacting your healthcare provider or Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE. Legitimate Medicare communications typically arrive by mail, not unsolicited text messages. If you receive suspicious calls or texts claiming to be Medicare-related, do not click any links, do not provide personal information, and hang up immediately. Report fraudulent healthcare communications to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the FCC for unwanted calls and texts. To verify if a phone number or domain is safe, check it against the FTC's fraud database and search for consumer complaints online.
This campaign presents a moderate threat level given its targeted approach toward Medicare beneficiaries and professional presentation. The relatively low complaint volume of 2 FTC reports may indicate either an emerging campaign or successful victim targeting that has not yet generated widespread reporting. Recommended next steps include continued monitoring of 9713469225 for complaint escalation and consumer education focused on Medicare beneficiaries regarding legitimate communication channels for health benefit information.