Nationwide telephone scam affecting TRICARE beneficiaries Published Oct. 17, 2014 FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- TRICARE officials are warning beneficiaries of the need to be aware of a telephone scam affecting beneficiaries older than 65 and on Medicare nationwide. A caller will usually identify themselves as being an official Medicare vendor, and will then offer to sell beneficiaries back braces. The caller may have specific information that makes the call seem official, typically a beneficiary's address, phone numbers and doctor's name. The caller is hoping this will convince people they are a legitimate vendor and that beneficiaries will give them their Social Security number and additional personal information. Officials advise beneficiaries not to give any personal identifiable information, such as birth date, Social Security number or banking information if they receive such a call. TRICARE representatives never ask beneficiaries for this information when calling for an official Department of Defense survey. The Defense Health Agency Program Integrity Office is closely monitoring this situation. Beneficiaries who receive a call of this nature, can contact the DHA Program Integrity Office directly. For more information on fraud and abuse reporting visit, www.TRICARE.mil/fraud. (Courtesy of TRICARE)