Medicare’s annual open enrollment starts October 15, and health plan shopping season is already underway. That is exactly when scammers get busiest.
On September 28, the Federal Trade Commission issued a warning: fraudsters are building websites that look like the real thing, copying official logos, and even paying for search ads so their fake pages show up at the top of your results.
How the fake sites work
You search for “Medicare sign up” or “health insurance plans.” The first result looks official. It has the right colors, the right logo, and a confident headline. But the web address is slightly off, and the page exists to collect your personal information or sell you a plan that does not actually exist.
The FTC says the damage can go beyond lost money. Victims can be signed up for fake coverage and can also become targets of medical identity theft, where someone uses your Medicare or insurance details to get care or file claims in your name.
The 3-second check
Skip anything labeled “Ad” or “Sponsored.” Scammers pay to sit at the top. The real site does not need to.
Check the ending. Official government sites end in .gov.
Type the address yourself. Go to Medicare.gov or HealthCare.gov directly instead of clicking from a search result, email, or text.
Where to get real, free help
You never need to pay someone to enroll you in Medicare. Free, trusted help is available through your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and Senior Medicare Patrol. The official numbers to keep handy are 800-633-4227 for Medicare.gov and 800-318-2596 for HealthCare.gov.
If you already clicked
Do not panic, and do not hide it. Stop entering information, call the real Medicare or HealthCare.gov line, watch your statements for claims you do not recognize, and report the site at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
The family step that matters most
The people most targeted during enrollment are parents and grandparents. A two-minute conversation now, with the 3-second check above, is worth more than any software. Better yet, sit with them and bookmark Medicare.gov together so they never need to search for it.
Be the person your family calls first.
Forward this to a parent or grandparent today. If you want their phone, tablet, and computer set up with safe bookmarks, scam protection, and a password manager, reply to this email with the word FAMILY or book a conversation at jkcsi.com/contact.
JK Computer Solutions, MSP Today’s Trusted Tech Partner, helps families and businesses stay a step ahead of scams.
Source: Federal Trade Commission, “What to know ahead of Open Enrollment to avoid health insurance scams” (Sept. 28, 2026).