Greetings! May this blog find you in great spirits, with your Medicare insurance keeping you out of the cold🥶.
Troubled by Medicare Supplements rate increases or Medicare Advantage questions? Email Gray@TheBig65.com or book a time on my calendar if you or your friends need answers.
After a super dry winter, we finally got some snow and Miti learned how to shovel.
As we age, it’s easy to get jaded by the winter weather.
So it’s been fun seeing the world through the eyes of our Malagasy exchange student. Miti always dreamed of seeing snow and Plato showed her how to be an angel😆.
But while Miti has been discovering the magic of snow, I’ve been thinking about something far less magical: the very real rise in senior scams.
The sad truth is that today’s scams are more convincing, more personal, and more relentless than ever—especially for older adults.
So here are some simple ways to protect yourself:
Slow down. Scammers want you to panic and act fast. If someone pressures you to send money, share private information, or keep something secret, that’s a major red flag. Take a breath and talk to someone before you do anything rash!
Consider protecting your phone. T-Mobile has ScamShield, Verizon has Call Filter, and AT&T has ActiveArmor. Adding these free apps to your phone will shut down some of the noise.
Verify before you trust.
If the call, text, or email claims to be from your bank, Medicare, Social Security, a grandchild, or even law enforcement, hang up and contact the real person or organization directly using a number you know is legitimate.
Speed is the enemy. Time is your friend. If you over react, you might have a meltdown.
Never pay in strange ways. Gift cards, digital currency, wire transfers, and cash pickups are favorite tools of scammers because they are hard to trace and nearly impossible to recover.
Protect your accounts. Strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and alert settings on bank and credit accounts can add another layer of defense.
Have a family code word. With AI voice cloning on the rise, a simple family password can help confirm whether an emergency call is real.
Talk to somebody. Scammers thrive in secrecy. If something feels off, run it by a spouse, child, friend, or trusted advisor before doing anything.
I’ve had the same trusted advisor for 37 years and Quantz keeps me on track!
If someone is creating urgency, asking for secrecy, or demanding unusual payment, stop right there. A short pause can save a lifetime of savings.
Like my little brother Haas says, “don’t let them hook you!”
Keep asking, “What’s the next big thing?”
If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.
If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.
Medicare questions or problems?
Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.
Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).
Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.
Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
The Big 65 Medicare Insurance Services does not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent 10 organizations that offer 50 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
