UPDATE Government Shuts Down Phone Scam – Read here for more information
Be Aware: Unfortunately phone scams are on the rise. Don’t be fooled by phone calls from telemarketers using “Medical Alert,” “MedicAlert” or similar names to fraudulently promote their services and products.
As MedicAlert Foundation and “MedicAlert” is a world famous, trusted brand name, unscrupulous, and in some cases frankly criminal organizations, seek to take advantage of consumers in various ways by using our name and brand. As the market leader in the field of emergency medical identification and information, every day we have to deal with organizations inappropriately trying to use our brand name and position of trust with our millions of members worldwide. They try to sell products with confusingly similar names, and in some cases try to use our good name to fraudulently take advantage of consumers.
We take great measures to protect our brand and the information and privacy of our members. Please let us know when you come across any organization using our name or brand in an inappropriate or fraudulent way.
CURRENT PHONE CALL SCAM
Over the past few weeks, MedicAlert Foundation has been receiving reports from members and nonmembers who have received automated calls posing as “Medical Alert” or “MedicAlert” to inform them that a “medical alert” device, similar to Life Alert, has been purchased for them. The caller claims that the device has already been ordered and asks to schedule an appointment for delivery or installation, or for the consumer’s bank account information. The caller may also tell the consumer that, while there is no charge for the device, there is a “dollar-a-day” fee for the service. Occasionally, the caller provides a call back number. There appear to be several sources of these suspicious calls.
If you suspect you are the target of this or other scams, we encourage you to contact your state’s Attorney General’s Office and provide all pertinent information, including phone numbers of the individuals who contacted you, the company name used, the name of the person who called, and the date and time of the call. Every Attorney General’s Office has a consumer alert program and tracks fraud trends while monitoring those that pose the greatest threat to consumers. They additionally coordinate with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the National Association of Attorneys General, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to protect consumers. Complaints may also be filed with the FTC.
MEDICALERT FOUNDATION SOLICITATION PRACTICES
As a nonprofit charitable organization, MedicAlert Foundation does solicit contributions to support sponsored memberships, education for first responders and other causes related to fulfilling its mission to protect and save lives. However, legitimate solicitation to support the Foundation will be easy to distinguish. In the case of any telephone solicitation made by or on behalf of the MedicAlert Foundation, the operator will give their name and phone number as well as the opportunity to call back to our contact center.
TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOURSELF
If you are in doubt about the legitimacy of any telephone solicitation, don’t give the caller any information and either ask them to send you something in the mail or hang up and call back the organization’s number as obtained from an independent source. In addition, if you suspect you have received a scam call:
- Hang up immediately.
- Register your home and cell phone numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry. This will not stop all unsolicited calls, but it will stop many.
- Report scam calls to your state’s Attorney General’s office, the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission.
For further information, please see the following links:
www.consumer.ftc.gov
www.ftc.gov/complaint
www.fraud.org
www.bbb.org
www.donotcall.gov/
MedicAlert® and MedicAlert Foundation® are registered trademarks of MedicAlert Foundation United States, Inc.