Gullible suburban mother of four regularly duped in her half-century life. Exploring hoaxes and schemes as the ExSCAMiner, she attempts answering the nagging question: Should I have fallen for that? Got scam tips, email Karin at ScamExaminer@gmail.com.

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Con men check in but they don't check out

Labor Day misnomer?

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Individuality v. uniformity at the DNC

Ordinary people shouldn't speak at the DNC -- they don't deserve it

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Scam Examiner

Calling all Scam Grams

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POSTED July 21, 8:06 AM

Karin Malchow - Scam Examiner

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www.cahealthadvocates.org

With all the election season health insurance talk, there's still the old problem with one current government program, Medicare: Fraud costing an estimated $60 billion annually.

A few examples:

A recent Government Accounting Office report states employers failed remitting to the IRS $2 billion of Medicare taxes withheld from employees in 2006.

A Dept. of Health and Human Services Strike Force initiative uncovered fraudulent claims totaling $258 million in one Florida district during a three month period.

Recently, four people pleaded guilty in West Virginia, scamming $10 million billing Medicaid for special mattresses when the applicants didn't qualify.

Some common provider fraud:

-- "Upcoding" billing (charging for a more expensive procedure than performed.)

-- Suppliers paying kickbacks to doctors prescribing overpriced equipment.

-- Billing for tests not needed or provided.

-- Double billing.

While some providers scam, some scammers pretend to be providers: recruiting people to sign paperwork for cash, stealing Medicare numbers, "selling" the same equipment multiple times. Many of these operators stay in business briefly, only to set up shop again under another name.

Consumers can help by protecting their Medicare information and checking Explanation of Benefits carefully. If you know your provider, contact them with any questions before assuming fraud. Mistakes happen, especially with all that paperwork. However, you can probably skip that step if charged for multiple prostheses when able-bodied.

Medicare recipients can report fraud through the Dept. of Health and Human Services Inspector General. Or check your State Attorney General's office. Both may offer rewards.

If you have insider knowledge of provider fraud, it's probably best to contact an attorney, protecting your rights under the False Claims Act (whistleblower's law).

Topics: fraud , Medicare , Dept. of Health and Human Services

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Con men check in but they don't check out

1 Comment

POSTED September 4, 4:56 PM

Karin Malchow - Scam Examiner

A version of dine-and-dash in the hotel industry is the stay-don't-pay. While most of us have to present credit cards, reserving future charges, sophisticated con artists fool fine hotels by brashly adopting VIP mannerisms: booking expensive... Read More
Topics: Con artists

Labor Day misnomer?

0 Comments

POSTED September 2, 7:27 AM

Karin Malchow - Scam Examiner

Labor Day: Traditionally, school starts right after the United States prematurely celebrates the end of summer with a barbecue. Not much about labor, though, unlike much of the world on May 1, International Labor Day.In 1894, Grover Cleveland... Read More

Voter registration scams

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POSTED August 31, 12:08 PM

Karin Malchow - Scam Examiner

With the national election heating up, phishers use the opportunity to mine identity theft information. The FTC issued a warning not to provide social security numbers or other personal information to unsolicited e-mails or phone calls claiming... Read More
Topics: phishing , voter registration

Individuality v. uniformity at the DNC

0 Comments

POSTED August 27, 11:52 AM

Karin Malchow - Scam Examiner

Everybody understands security concerns at the Denver National Convention, but what about limiting delegate freedom of speech?Why can't delegates bring their own signs into the Pepsi Center? They'd pose no security threat and would certainly be... Read More
Topics: DNC

Ordinary people shouldn't speak at the DNC -- they don't deserve it

1 Comment

POSTED August 26, 8:41 AM

Karin Malchow - Scam Examiner

Ordinary people don't deserve the abuse, that is. Everybody knows they're trotted out to show how democratic Democrats are or maybe providing filler before the main events. Plus, nobody on the floor appears to be listening while walking around... Read More
Topics: DNC

When (Bigfoot) jokes go bad, things get ugly

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POSTED August 23, 9:28 AM

Karin Malchow - Scam Examiner

Applied linguist Nancy Bell asserts that telling a bad joke provokes angry social responses, sometimes even leading to violence. Although her research recorded responses after recruited students told unfunny jokes during conversation, hoaxsters... Read More
Topics: hoax , Bigfoot

The Ponzi scheme school of hard knocks

3 Comments

POSTED August 21, 7:04 AM

Karin Malchow - Scam Examiner

CNN reports a recent Ponzi scheme (where the primary business conducted is paying old investors with new investors' money) ensnared a well-educated crowd: University of Miami employees reportedly duped as accomplices and investors who were... Read More
Topics: Ponzi scheme

Just a gigolo cinema

1 Comment

POSTED August 19, 6:22 PM

Karin Malchow - Scam Examiner

Young men with ulterior motives pursue older or unattractive (by Hollywood standards) women in these acclaimed films.The Heiress (1949) -- Montgomery Clift (earning a Christopher Walken Creepy Factor of 7) woos emotionally abused Olivia de Havilland... Read More
Topics: movies

Monsters coming out of the closet

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POSTED August 16, 9:11 PM

Karin Malchow - Scam Examiner

With Gawker's recent fascination with the likely viral movie campaign Montauk Monster, the Bigfoot press conference by admitted hoaxsters, and the Chupacabra video, one has to wonder: What cultural trends (besides a slow news day) coincide with... Read More
Topics: hoax , myth , Bigfoot , Chupacabra , Montauk Monster