{"success":true,"data":{"id":"fake-medicare-medical-equipment-scam","label":"Fake Medicare medical equipment scam — free back brace/CPAP/knee brace/diabetic supplies for Medicare beneficiaries + provide Medicare ID/SSN/DOB to verify eligibility","description":"Fake Medicare durable medical equipment (DME) scam — cold-email impersonating Medicare or a \"Medicare-approved supplier\" offering free back braces, CPAP machines, knee braces, glucose monitors, diabetic supplies, or wheelchairs to Medicare beneficiaries. The victim is asked to provide their Medicare beneficiary number, Medicare ID, Social Security number (SSN), or date of birth (DOB) to \"verify eligibility,\" enabling identity theft and fraudulent Medicare billing. Real Medicare does not cold-contact beneficiaries offering free equipment; equipment is only provided on physician referral. OIG estimates Medicare DME fraud costs $1–2 billion annually. HHS-OIG 2024: unsolicited medical equipment offers collecting Medicare numbers are the #1 reported Medicare fraud vector among seniors.","tier":"danger","category":"scam","isThin":false}}