R Scott Bradley, Partner/Agent, Health Insurance Solutions Co., LLC

   Naked disregard for your privacy and home life that is. Telemarketers are calling every day here in WV to sell you something or attempt to take something from you. Spoofing and other psychologically deceptive methods are employed.
   So, what does one do to protect themselves or otherwise take action to severely limit or stop the disruption of your home life? Or potentially your financial life?
   Does Social Security call you uninvited? Does Medicare call you uninvited? Does IRS call you uninvited? Do insurance sales people call you uninvited at Medicare annual enrollment time?
   If you look on the internetyou’ll find a page of FAQ that can aid you in answering these and other questions regarding unsolicited or uninvited telephone calls. Type in Medicare unsolicited phone calls.  All of the agencies that have oversight of these type activities offer advice and guidance to assist you.
   In recent years it has become more egregious especially during what this one calls Medicare season, which is annual election from October 15 thru December 7 each year. Folks are overwhelmed by telemarketers and most that are reported have not requested information.
Recently calls from clients reveal calls to them with bogus insurance company names showing on caller ID and when answered the individual uses misleading words to infer they are someone they’re not, West Virginia area code and telephone numbers showing and when answered they’ve been call forwarded to a call center in Florida or California for example. Worse yet out of the country as some have reported .
Here are just a few FAQ and answers that may assist you and your family.
   Does Medicare make unsolicited phone calls? Medicare will never call you uninvited. FCC.gov
   Does Social Security make unsolicited phone calls? They’’ never call for a social security number, or ask you to pay anything, or threaten your benefits.
   How do I stop the calls? Keep your number private, if you answer ask to be removed, don’t answer, hang up, watch for “spoofing” or disguising a call, get on the do not call registry, file a complaint, use software that blocks robocalls.
   Having worked in the Medicareinsurance arena for over 10 years it is understood that uninvited or unsolicited phone calls from sales agents are prohibited. So, unless you have requested information or a call back,  you should not be disturbed.
  When it comes to existing business relationships this one has suggested that when in doubt about legit calls ring up your trusted advisor and have them attempt to verify on your behalf if in fact the company is attempting to reach you.

   Other resources available to you are: consumer.ftc.gov, ftc.gov/imposters, ftc.gov/calls, ftc.gov/complaint, or call 1-888-382-1222, Medicare.gov,. With enough calls action can be taken.