Officials are warning of a recent rise in scam calls, texts, and emails from fraudsters pretending to be Medicare to steal personal information. Michelle Mason from the Better Business Bureau notes that Medicare is one of the most frequently counterfeited agencies, emphasizing that the government agency will typically never call or text you unprompted.

While blocking individual numbers may seem like a quick fix, scammers often use multiple lines to bypass blocks, making the tactic unreliable. Instead, the best practice is to ignore unrecognized numbers, hang up immediately, and verify the communication by contacting the source directly at 1-800-Medicare or checking their official website.

Ultimately, protecting oneself comes down to a few key rules: never share personal information with unknown contacts, always verify the source, and do your research.