Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a consumer alert regarding a scheme to defraud seniors and people with disabilities. Under this scheme called the "$299 Ring", Medicare beneficiaries are contacted and promised a new prescription drug card for a flat fee of $299. They are requested to provide bank account numbers and other personal information.

Please note it is against Medicare's rules for a company to call a Medicare beneficiary and ask for bank account, other personal information, or cash payment over the telephone. No beneficiary should ever provide that kind of information to someone who calls them. Calls about enrollment and plan selections must be placed by the beneficiaries themselves (or their personal representative) or handled by a follow-up letter to which the beneficiary may choose to reply.

If someone calls asking for personal information, or the call doesn't seem right for some other reason, a beneficiary should hang up the phone and contact Medicare at 1-877-7SAFERX (1-877-772-3379) or his or her local law enforcement or consumer protection agency.