Fraudsters Used Valid Beneficiary Info to Create Fake Medicare.gov Accounts: What Hawaiʻi Residents Need to Know

In a concerning development, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is alerting 103,000 Medicare beneficiaries that their personal information may have been compromised. Fraudsters reportedly used real beneficiary data to set up unauthorized accounts on Medicare.gov over the past two years.

This breach highlights the growing threat of sophisticated identity fraud—and the urgent need for our Hawaiʻi community to stay informed, vigilant, and empowered.

What Happened?

According to GovInfoSecurity, fraudsters accessed valid beneficiary information—such as names, birthdates, and Medicare numbers—to create fake accounts on the Medicare.gov platform. These fake profiles may have been used to:

• Redirect healthcare communications

• View or change personal data

• Interfere with legitimate Medicare claims

• Exploit the system for financial gain

The breach did not involve a direct hack of Medicare’s internal systems, but rather social engineering and misuse of personal data.

What CMS Is Doing

CMS has:

• Notified affected individuals by mail

• Reset Medicare.gov account credentials as a precaution

• Encouraged beneficiaries to check their Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) for unfamiliar activity

• Provided free identity protection support

If you receive a notice, follow the steps included and call 1-800-MEDICARE for additional help or to report suspicious activity.

What Hawaiʻi Residents Can Do to Stay Safe

Whether you’ve been notified or not, now is the time to take action to protect yourself and your ʻohana:

1. Check Your Medicare Account

• Log in at Medicare.gov

• Review account details and recent activity

• If you see anything suspicious, report it immediately

2. Review Your Medicare Summary Notices

• These documents outline services billed to Medicare

• Look for services you didn’t receive or don’t recognize

3. Create or Secure Your Online Account

• If you haven’t already, create your own official account to prevent scammers from doing it first

• Use a strong, unique password and enable multifactor authentication if available

4. Never Share Your Medicare Number

• Treat your Medicare card like a credit card

• Only give out your number to trusted doctors or verified entities

5. Talk Story with Your Kupuna

• Many kūpuna in our community may not know about online scams

• Share this blog, offer support, and encourage them to reach out for help if anything feels off

Need Help or Have Questions?

You’re not alone. If you’re unsure about a notice, need help reviewing your account, or think your information may have been misused, contact:

• SMP Hawaiʻi: Offers free, confidential help to Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers

• 1-800-MEDICARE: Official Medicare support line

🛡️ Our Mana Is in Our Awareness

Scams may evolve, but knowledge is our first line of defense. Fraud doesn’t discriminate, and there’s no shame in being cautious. By staying alert and looking out for one another, we protect not only ourselves—but our entire community.

Stay informed. Stay connected. Stay protected.

For full details on the breach, visit:
🔗 Feds Notify 103,000 Medicare Beneficiaries of Scam Breach