The Polk County Sheriff ’s Office has issued a few warnings for those in the community who are using Medicare or needing a locksmith.
Medicare is not issuing plastic cards. Any communication claiming Medicare is sending out new plastic, metal, or chipped cards is a scam designed to obtain personal information.
Your Medicare card is paper, and Medicare will never call or email to verify your information for a new card. The Medicare card is and will continue to be a paper card.
This is a common scam. Scammers use this ruse to take Medicare numbers and other personal information. Do not give out information, including your Medicare number or other personal information to anyone who calls about a new plastic card.
The PCSO also advises that all exercise caution when searching for a local locksmith.
When you search online for a local locksmith, some of the results may actually feature companies that aren’t local at all. For example, Minute Key often advertises as a local service, but in reality, the locksmith may be dispatched from Houston, resulting in long wait times and significantly higher costs.
The Sheriff ’s Office said there are trusted and reputable locksmiths in Livingston who provide quality service. To avoid surprises, always ask if the locksmith is truly local and request a price estimate up front. If they won’t confirm either, they say it is best to hang up and contact a different company.
