BEND, OR -- A nationwide scam is now using the St. Charles Health System name to dupe victims into turning over their personal information. SCHS Chief Information Security Officer Ron Buchanan says local patients have reported getting an unsolicited call from someone claiming to be from St. Charles or Medicare, offering free or low-cost medical equipment, "Oftentimes they’ll put a sense of urgency behind it also. You know, ‘you need to act now because money is going to run out with Medicare,’ something along those lines." The scammers may offer things like knee braces, back braces, a wheelchair or walker. Buchanan tells KBND News, "Ultimately, what the goal is, they’ll try to get the person to give up their Medicare number and/or their Social Security Number."

Buchanan says Medicare, St. Charles and real equipment manufacturers won’t call you unsolicited, "Part of the definition of ‘durable medical equipment’ to be subsidized or covered by Medicare, is that it’s got to be medically prescribed. So, you have someone coming over the phone and saying, ‘hey, I’ve got this great offer for a free or a reduced price device.’ But, at the end of the day, that person isn’t the one who has prescribed it." He adds, "This is Medicare fraud. So it’s targeting, oftentimes, seniors."

If you get a call from someone offering healthcare products without a prescription, hang up and check with your doctor. "Protect your Social Security Number; protect your Medicare number. Don’t give it out to anybody unless it’s your doctor or insurance company." Buchanan also suggests checking your insurance or Medicare statements frequently to make sure you haven’t been billed for equipment you don’t need or didn’t order. And, if you do fall victim, call the Medicare fraud line.