Scammers are criminals who will say and do anything to steal your money. Most older adults find themselves in the hospital at one time or another to deal with the endless list of things that come along with an aging body. If you do find yourself hospitalized, scammers know you are more vulnerable than ever and are more likely to pay for something that you never needed or ordered.

My own elderly mother was recently hospitalized and discharged after treatment. Before she was even discharged, a medical supply company began leaving her pushy phone messages, saying they had a “referral” for medical supplies. I contacted the company and stated she was not interested in buying anything from them.

Several weeks later, she received a bold letter directing her to call the company about her “recent order.” A quick check on the internet revealed the company was a shady organization with a reputation for bilking and overcharging older adults. We didn’t reply to the letter and haven’t heard anything more.

My experience with this slick medical supply business is not unique. Medical equipment and supply fraud is big business, with countless crooked organizations overcharging, or not even shipping needed medical supplies and equipment.

Beware of any organization that calls you “out of the blue,” asking for your Medicare and Social Security number to set up an account. If you get such a call, hang up. If you get a follow-up letter, ignore it.

The Better Business Bureau recommends that you refuse and report any business offering equipment, supplies or services in exchange for your Medicare number. The bureau also recommends the following:

l Never sign a blank form from your health care provider or equipment supplier;

l Protect your Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security card, and keep them in a safe place (not in your wallet or purse). Only get them out if you are going to see a health care provider;

l Read your Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits to look for charges for equipment you do not need or did not receive.

If you have been cheated by a medical supply company, call your doctor to report the scam. Report the company to the Medicare fraud

hotline at 800-MEDICARE. File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau at BBB.org/complain. You can also report the fraud to the FBI at 800-Call-FBI.

The aging process is a part of life and challenging to every older adult going through it. Don’t add insult to injury by falling in with a scammer. Keep your guard up, and remember there are plenty of dishonest folks eager to use your predicament to steal your savings and defraud our medical system.

Dave Long of Poland, a Youngstown State University graduate, is a retired public affairs officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection who later worked as an Elder Scam Prevention Outreach specialist in Rochester, N.Y., before moving back to the Mahoning Valley.