The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) is alerting the public about a fraud scheme involving durable medical equipment (DME), specifically urinary catheters. Scammers are targeting Medicare enrollees through phone calls, internet ads, and text messages with offers of free services, medical equipment, or gift cards upon confirming their personal information and eligibility for specific Medicare services. Often, the enticement for the individual is that they are “qualified” for items “at no cost” or “free.” Once the scammers obtain the enrollee’s personal information, monthly billing to Medicare will begin for medically unnecessary urinary catheters that may or may not actually be sent to the enrollee. Read an HHS-OIG press release.