Turning 65 is a major milestone for Medicare and Social Security, but it also makes you a target for data brokers and scammers. Your personal details are already being packaged into age-triggered lists. Here’s your defense plan.
Six Months Out: Scrub Your Data Your profile is already active. Search yourself on people-search sites and start opting out of data brokers. Enlist a data removal service for automation. Let your family know scams are coming.
Three Months Out: Lock Everything Down Enroll only directly at Medicare.gov. Change your bank security questions to nonsense answers. Freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
One Month Out: Protect Your Medicare Card Your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) is gold. Don’t carry the card. Verify any agent’s National Producer Number at nipr.com. Confirm your Social Security status at ssa.gov.
Birthday Week: Final Sweep Log into Medicare.gov to confirm your plan. Run another data broker check. Set up call screening. The targeting continues every fall during open enrollment.
Kurt’s Takeaway: A clear plan gives you control. Start now.