Wise County Sheriff's Department
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09-05-2007

Wise Eyes Alert-Telephone Medicare Scam Information

             The Wise County Sheriff’s Office has received information from several different elderly citizens concerning a telephone scam that has occurred the last couple of days. Complainants are saying they have received telephone calls from what they describe as a “ Middle Eastern “ sounding male that tells them he is with Medicare and that Medicare will be issuing new cards. He says he needs to update their information. He then asks them what bank they use, and if their social security checks are deposited to the same bank.

         The man then advises the complainants he knows their phone number and address and needs to know what bank they use. The complainants hang up on the man who then calls them right back several times, becoming more and more aggressive each time.

             All of the complainants that received phone calls from this man did not give him their banking information even after he was attempting to bully them into giving the information to him. The man could have located their address from the phone book.

         If the man were actually calling on the behalf of Medicare he would not need to ask you about your banking information. As always we want to remind our citizens to never give any kind of personal information to anyone over the phone.  

 Sgt Debbie Denney CPO/PIO  

(09-06-07) Additional Information Regarding Medicare Scam Release 09-05-07       

 The Wise County Sheriff’s Office received numerous calls concerning the information released by the Channel 11 news report regarding the Medicare Scam Information. Wise County Sheriff’s Investigator Jerry DeMoss met with an individual who had scheduled an appointment to speak with a Decatur couple regarding Medicare coverage.

 As it turns out, this man, Cary Blackburn, is an independent contractor attempting to sell supplemental insurance to those persons on Medicare. Investigator DeMoss met with Blackburn, who did not have business cards or any other documentation indicating that he worked for “Care Improvement Plus,” an insurance company in San Antonio, Texas. Investigator DeMoss contacted the insurance company and verified Mr. Blackburn was a field representative, but was advised by them that Blackburn did not receive or request any monies, checks or any other kind of financial information from the individuals he was meeting with. 

 However, we need to remind the public that you could still receive calls from other persons who might request monies for their services. Please do not release personal information to anyone over the phone nor agree to give them money..