Some Medicare scams do not start with a bill. They start with a phone call. A caller offers a free brace, medical test, or new benefit, then asks for Medicare information.
In 2026, HHS OIG reported that Joel Rufus French, a former NFL player and owner of a marketing company, was convicted for his role in a scheme that billed Medicare and CHAMPVA nearly $200 million. According to the government, overseas call centers pressured elderly Americans to provide personal and insurance information and agree to orthotic braces that were medically unnecessary. Some patients had Alzheimer’s or dementia, and in some cases call recordings were altered to make it seem patients had agreed.
This is why “free medical equipment” calls are dangerous. The victim may not lose cash at the register, but their Medicare number can be used to bill the government, create false medical records, and expose private health information.
5 Things You Can Learn From the Medicare Brace Scheme
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1. Free Medical Equipment Can Be BaitScammers may use a brace, test, or kit to get insurance information.
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2. A Real Benefit Does Not Require a Surprise CallMedicare does not need a cold caller to “activate” coverage.
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3. Medical Identity Theft Can Hurt LaterFalse bills and false records can affect future care.
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4. Caregivers Should Watch for PressurePeople with memory problems can be targeted.
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5. Consent Should Be ClearAltered or confusing calls are not normal health care.
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Final Takeaway: A Free Offer Aimed at Your Benefits Is Never FreeThe people pulled into this scheme were not looking for anything they should not have. They were offered medical equipment at no cost and had no reason to suspect their Medicare number was the real target. The habit that protects you is guarding that number exactly as you would a bank card, and checking your statements for equipment you never received. |
Sources & References
- HHS Office of Inspector General, Former NFL Player Convicted for $197M Medicare Fraud
- Federal Trade Commission, Spot Health Insurance Scams
- Medicare.gov, How to protect yourself from Medicare fraud
Keep learning with Lumoset’s free course, Getting Care Online – Level 3: Protecting Health Accounts and Medical Information.
Don’t let this happen to someone you love.
The habit that stops scams like this is simple, and free to learn. Take our free Spot the Scam course, or read more real stories.
Image credit: oh.tinkerer (CC BY 2.0).
