This Medicare Open Enrollment Season, Stay Alert to Scams – Especially in Hawaiʻi’s Unique Communities

By BCP Staff – Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection (Sept. 30, 2025)
Adapted for Hawaiʻi by Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Hawaiʻi

Scammers Are Targeting Hawaiʻi’s Kūpuna This Medicare Season

Every year, during Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15 – December 7), scammers ramp up their efforts to steal personal and financial information from older adults. This year, they’re more sophisticated than ever — using artificial intelligence (AI), stolen database information, and spoofed phone numbers to deceive people across the islands.

In Hawaiʻi’s tight-knit communities, where many families live in multi-generational households and face high costs of living, scammers are exploiting these realities. They are even reaching into remote areas like Hāna, Hawi, and Ka‘ū with robocalls, fake websites, and AI-generated voices that sound like real Medicare representatives.

But you can protect yourself — and your ʻohana — by staying alert, informed, and cautious.

🛡️ How to Protect Yourself and Your ʻOhana

1. Get Trusted Help
Before making any decisions about your Medicare coverage, seek guidance from reliable, local resources:

• Visit Hawaiʻi State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
• Call Oʻahu: 808-586-7299 | Toll-Free: 1-888-875-9229
• You can also visit Medicare.gov to compare plans safely and securely.

2. Be Suspicious of Unsolicited Contact
If you get an unexpected call, text, or email asking for your Medicare number, bank information, or Social Security details, don’t respond.
Scammers often claim:

• You need a “new” Medicare card, or
• Your benefits are about to be canceled unless you provide information.

👉 Remember: Legitimate Medicare representatives never contact you out of the blue or ask for payment or personal details over the phone.

3. Don’t Trust Caller ID
Technology allows scammers to spoof phone numbers, making it look like Medicare or a trusted organization is calling.
If you’re unsure, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) directly.

4. Report Suspicious Activity or Scams
If someone claims to be from Medicare but seems suspicious:

• Report it to 1-800-MEDICARE, and
• Submit a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

5. Contact SMP Hawaiʻi for Local Support
Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Hawaiʻi helps Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers, and families prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse.
We’re a trusted local resource dedicated to protecting Hawaiʻi’s kūpuna and empowering our communities through free education and outreach.

Why Hawaiʻi’s Communities Are Especially at Risk

Scammers take advantage of Hawaiʻi’s unique demographics and geography. Some of the key challenges include:

• Geographic isolation: In remote areas, it can be harder to verify information or get in-person help quickly.
• Multi-generational households: Younger relatives can be a bridge for support — but scammers may also target them to reach older family members.
• Economic pressures: High costs for housing, food, and childcare can make “too good to be true” offers seem tempting during tough times.

By understanding these local vulnerabilities, we can take action to build stronger defenses across all islands — from urban Honolulu to rural Kauaʻi and the Big Island.

Let’s Protect Our Kūpuna — Together

As scammers grow more sophisticated, Hawaiʻi’s community values of aloha, care, and connection are our strongest defense.

• Share this information with your neighbors, churches, and community groups.
• Encourage kūpuna to talk openly about calls or offers that seem suspicious.
• Remind friends and family: It’s okay to say no, hang up, and double-check.

Together, we can protect Hawaiʻi’s kūpuna — and make this Open Enrollment season safe for everyone.