Health insurance exchanges, now known
as marketplaces, are set to launch in October but imposter exchanges can
already be found online and are expected to increase.

There are four common Obamacare scams
you should be aware of. Always contact your local police department or district
attorney’s office if you encounter one of these scams. A con artist calls you
claiming to be a federal employee, offers to sell you a new federal insurance
card under the Affordable Care Act, and needs your personal information. There
is no need for any new national insurance card, do not give out your
information.

Scam artists prey on seniors telling
them they need a new Medicare card because of changes from the Affordable Care
Act and request their Medicare numbers. Medicare numbers are identical to
Social Security numbers and enable scam artists to commit identity theft. There
is no need for a new Medicare card. Never give your Medicare number to a
stranger.

Scammers were also found using a real
health reform provision that allows young adults up to age 26 to remain on
their parents’ health plan. They tried to sell a “new young adult policy from
the ACA.” There is no need for a separate individual policy for children on
their parents plan. This is the point of the provision.

Fake exchanges are already online with
the word “exchange” in a banner on their home pages. Often, these sites collect
personal data that may be used to commit identity fraud. The real health
insurance exchanges aren’t available until Oct. 1.