Fake Medical Alert Device Scams via Phone Calls
How callers target seniors and caregivers with free or subsidised medical alert devices that come with expensive hidden monthly monitoring contracts.
Part of: Fake Medical Alert Device Scams
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Medical alert systems serve a genuine and important purpose for elderly and disabled individuals who live alone, providing a way to summon help in an emergency. Legitimate systems are widely available and clearly priced. Fraudulent callers exploit both the genuine value of these devices and the vulnerabilities of their target demographic — older adults and their concerned relatives — to place devices with hidden costs or to collect personal information under the guise of a free device offer.
Calls targeting seniors often use authority cues — claiming to represent Medicare, a hospital, or a doctor's office — to make the offer feel endorsed and safe. The device itself, if delivered at all, may be a cheap consumer-grade item with inflated monitoring fees that are difficult to cancel.
This guide explains how these calls work and what questions to ask before accepting any device.
How this scam works on phone calls
The caller identifies themselves as representing a Medicare programme, a hospital discharge team, or a senior safety initiative, and states that the recipient qualifies for a free medical alert device. No upfront payment is required, which bypasses the primary financial caution that might otherwise deter acceptance.
After agreeing to receive the device, the target is asked to confirm their Medicare number, address, and date of birth for 'eligibility verification'. These details are used for identity fraud or fraudulent Medicare billing. A device may be sent, or the caller may claim it will arrive within weeks.
If a device does arrive, it comes with a monitoring contract agreement — sometimes buried in fine print — that begins charging monthly fees of between $30 and $80. The monitoring service may be provided by a third party or not at all. Cancelling the contract is made deliberately difficult, with high early-termination fees and unresponsive customer service.
Common red flags
- Caller claims Medicare is providing or subsidising a free medical alert device — Medicare does not proactively offer devices this way
- Medicare or insurance number is requested before any device is sent
- Monthly monitoring fee is not disclosed during the initial call
- Contract terms arrive with the device rather than being disclosed before acceptance
- Cancellation requires written notice with a long lead time and may include an early-termination fee
- Device brand cannot be found through any independent consumer review search
How to protect yourself
- Verify any Medicare benefit offer by calling 1-800-MEDICARE directly, not by calling back the original caller
- Ask for all contract terms including monthly fees and cancellation policy in writing before accepting any device
- Research medical alert systems independently to compare genuine options
- Never provide Medicare or Social Security numbers to an inbound caller
- If a device arrives unexpectedly, contact Medicare to verify whether it is legitimate before activating it
How to report it
- Report Medicare fraud to the HHS OIG hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS
- File a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Report to your state's Attorney General consumer protection office
- Contact your carrier to report the number as a fraud call
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare provide free medical alert devices?
Medicare does not typically provide free medical alert devices through unsolicited phone calls. Some Medicare Advantage plans include limited allowances for safety devices, but these are accessed through your plan directly, not through an outbound call offering a free device.
I already accepted the device. How do I cancel the monitoring contract?
Review the paperwork that arrived with the device for cancellation instructions. Submit written notice of cancellation by recorded mail. If charges continue, contact your card provider to block the merchant and dispute prior charges. File a complaint with the FTC.