CMS is alerting Medicare providers to a phishing scam involving false records requests.
 
Scammers are impersonating CMS and sending phishing fax requests for medical records and documentation, falsely claiming to be part of a Medicare audit, according to a CMS statement.
 
“CMS doesn’t initiate audits by requesting medical records via fax,” CMS notes. “If you receive a suspicious request, don’t respond.”
If you think you have received a fraudulent or questionable request, work with your Medical Review Contractor to confirm its authenticity.
 
Last summer, CMS noted a similar scam and shared an example of a fraudulent request.
 
Other guidance included signs of a scam.
 
When you review any requests, look for signs of a scam, including:
  • Directing you to send records to an unfamiliar fax number or address
  • Referencing Medicare.gov or @Medicare (.gov)
  • Indicating they need records to “update insurance accordingly” 
A scam request may include:
  • Poor grammar, misspellings, or strange wording
  • Incorrect phone numbers
  • Skewed or outdated logos
  • Graphics that are cut and pasted
See the latest alert at https://www.cms.gov/fraud.
 
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