Lake County Residents Urged to Guard Against Medical Identity Theft

Medicare fraud is at a record high, with 2025 and 2026 seeing some of the largest fraud losses and most enforcement actions on record. For Lake County residents in Two Harbors, Silver Bay, and communities along the North Shore, that national crisis has a concrete local face: a monthly Medicare statement carrying a charge for a doctor you never saw or a medical device that never arrived at your door.

Medical identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information without your consent for fraud or other crimes, and it takes two main forms: outright identity theft and providers billing for services you did not receive. In late 2025 and early 2026, transnational criminal groups billed Medicare for millions of urinary catheters that were never ordered or received by patients. Scammers also used offers for "free" screenings or fake telehealth consultations to collect Medicare numbers and then bill for unnecessary lab work.

The technology driving these schemes is becoming more sophisticated. Artificial intelligence has helped fraudsters scale their crimes, with scammers now using AI to mimic the voices of loved ones or government officials to trick seniors into surrendering their Medicare numbers. There are no plans to issue new Medicare cards in 2026, and anyone who contacts you claiming you need a new "chip" or "security" card is a scammer who should be reported immediately.

The single most actionable step any Medicare beneficiary can take is reviewing their Medicare Summary Notice every month. "If you find a charge for a doctor you never visited or equipment (like a catheter) you never received, do not ignore it — report it immediately," according to the North Shore Journal. "Failing to act could allow fraud to continue and spread."

Your Medicare number should be treated like a prized credit card: never provide it to anyone who contacts you unsolicited, even if they claim to be from "the government." The Federal Trade Commission has reported a sharp rise in Medicare-related scams, many involving phone calls, text messages, or fake websites claiming to offer "free" services or updated cards.

When a suspicious charge does appear, documentation is critical before making a call. Highlight the date, unknown provider, and "Amount Medicare Paid" on your Medicare Summary Notice. If you received suspicious mail, like a "free" genetic test or a box of catheters you didn't order, keep the packaging and letters. If someone called claiming to be from Medicare, write down the date, time, and the phone number shown on your caller ID.

To report suspected Medicare fraud, errors, or abuse, contact the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), a federally funded program designed to help seniors identify and stop fraud. In Minnesota, the SMP is administered through the Minnesota Board on Aging, and its toll-free helpline is 800-333-2433. SMP investigators will review claims to determine whether they represent simple clerical errors or part of a larger criminal pattern, and if they find evidence of fraud, they act as a bridge to the Office of Inspector General and the Department of Justice. Medicare beneficiaries can also call 1-800-MEDICARE directly or file a complaint with the HHS Office of Inspector General online.

The SMP gives free talks at senior centers and community groups in Duluth, Two Harbors, and across the North Shore to keep people up to date on new local scams. Medical identity theft can harm your health as well as your finances, potentially causing treatment delays, incorrect prescriptions, and misdiagnoses — consequences that make a monthly five-minute review of a Medicare statement one of the most important health habits a Lake County resident can maintain.