This year, Medicare participants have been receiving new cards, which are more secure than the old ones. However, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), reminds people that there are still scammers out there trying to get information.

With that in mind, Medicare officials remind participants of several helpful tips to keep them from getting scammed. First, they emphasize that benefits won’t change with the new cards, and they are being mailed for free. If anyone receives a call saying they need to pay for the new card, that is a scam. In that same vein, you should never give your Social Security number, bank account number, or send cash to anyone who says you need to before you can receive your new Medicare card.

Next, you should never give your Medicare number to someone you don’t know or haven’t initiated contact with. Medicare officials will never call a person asking for their number. If the person insists on getting your number under the threat of your benefits being cancelled, you should hang up and call the official Medicare line immediately. Finally, as soon as you receive your new card, you need to destroy your old one. Since it contains your Social Security number, simply throwing it away could still compromise your information, so shredding it or cutting it into small pieces is advised.

Anyone with questions can call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227, or a SHIIP representative at 1-800-351-4664.