THIS WEEK
Callers posing as police or government officials
The FBI is warning again about scammers who pretend to be law enforcement or government officials. Most reach people by phone, but some use texts and emails. They can fake real phone numbers, email addresses, employee names and credentials, and they may even pose as the FBI's own complaint center. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received nearly 61,000 complaints about these scams between January 2025 and July 2026.
The caller usually accuses you of something. It might be a crime, a missed jury duty, a missed court date with a warrant, or an expiring passport or license. They sound urgent and aggressive, and they may keep you on the line the whole time. They often tell you not to talk to family, friends or your bank. Then they demand payment by prepaid card, courier, bank wire, cryptocurrency or cash fed into a crypto kiosk. Scammers are also using AI to appear as officials on video calls.
How to spot it
A call, text or email that demands payment or personal information from you
A threat of arrest, a fine or a warrant unless you pay right now
Being told to stay on the line or not to tell anyone, including your bank or family
A request to pay with prepaid cards, cryptocurrency, a courier or a crypto kiosk
What to do
Hang up, or set the text or email aside. Government and law enforcement agencies do not contact people by phone or text to demand payment or personal information, and they never ask for prepaid cards, cryptocurrency or couriers.
Do not use the phone number or link the person gave you. Look up the agency's number yourself in official, public sources and call to check. If a link was sent, make sure it matches the agency's official web address before you click.
Talk it over with someone you trust before you do anything. A real official will not mind you taking the time.
MONEY THIS WEEK
A $90 Medicare Part B rebate is going out this month
CMS says eligible people will get one $90 rebate toward Part B premiums in October 2026. It is for people in Original Medicare Part B who do not get premium help from Medicaid and do not pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. People in Medicare Advantage are not eligible. Most will get a direct deposit on or around October 8. Others will get a Treasury check later in October marked "Medicare Improvement Fund Payment; $90 Payment to Offset October Premium."
What to do: To check your eligibility, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). To check on your payment, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 starting October 15, and use those official numbers rather than one from a text or email.
LIVING WELL
How to compare nursing homes
Medicare has a free tool called Care Compare at Medicare.gov. It rates every Medicare certified nursing home from one to five stars, based on health inspections, staffing and quality measures. The stars are a starting point, so pair them with a visit.
Search for homes near you on Care Compare at Medicare.gov and look at the star ratings.
Read the recent inspection findings and penalties the tool shows for each home.
Visit in person before you decide. Care Compare covers nursing homes only, not assisted living.
In Florida: For Florida nursing homes, FloridaHealthFinder.gov also lists inspection reports and any facility on the state watch list.
ALSO THIS WEEK
Open Enrollment brings fake Medicare and health plan ads
The FTC says scammers sometimes pay to appear at the top of search results and use web addresses that look like Medicare.gov or HealthCare.gov. Type the site name yourself or call Medicare at 800-633-4227, scroll past anything labeled Ad or Sponsored, look for the .gov ending, and use your State Health Insurance Assistance Program if you want help comparing plans.
Ask your doctor whether every medication is still needed
A geriatrics director quoted by KFF Health News says that at six or seven prescription medications, there is a nearly 100% chance of some side effect or intolerance. Take your full list of medications to your doctor or pharmacist and ask whether each one is still right for you.
Source: KFF Health News, October 5, 2026
Think it's a scam? Ask SAM
Hang up or set it aside first. Then talk it through with SAM before you do anything.