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FTC Warns Medicare Shoppers That Scammers Are Buying Search Ads to Mimic Official Government Sites
With open enrollment running through December 7, the Federal Trade Commission says dishonest operators are paying to place ads at the top of search results using Medicare.gov-style logos and near-identical web addresses.
By the Goodsurance editorial teamOctober 25, 2026
Each fall, the Federal Trade Commission renews its warning that health insurance fraud intensifies during Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period. This year the agency added a specific caution: scammers and dishonest marketers are purchasing paid advertisements designed to appear at the top of online search results, using government-style logos, language drawn from Medicare materials, and web addresses that closely resemble Medicare.gov or HealthCare.gov.
In September 2026, the FTC published a consumer alert and co-hosted a public roundtable with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program to discuss these tactics. Panelists from CMS, SHIP, and Senior Medicare Patrol described how a person searching online for 2027 plan information during open enrollment may click a sponsored result that leads to an unofficial site, where a request for a Medicare number or Social Security number enables billing fraud or identity theft.
Scammers are buying search ads that look like Medicare.gov. Open enrollment runs through December 7. Here is how to spot the fakes.
The FTC guidance for beneficiaries searching online: look for a small "Sponsored" or "Ad" label next to any search result, scroll past paid listings, and type Medicare.gov directly into the browser. The State Health Insurance Assistance Program offers free local help comparing plans; to find a counselor nearby, beneficiaries can visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Suspected scams can be reported to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs through December 7, with any coverage changes taking effect January 1, 2027.
In plain words
Scammers are buying online ads that look like Medicare's official website. They use the same logos and very similar web addresses. If you click one, the site may ask for your Medicare or Social Security number. They can use that to steal your identity or bill Medicare for things you never got. The government warned about this in September 2026. To stay safe, look for a small word that says "Ad" or "Sponsored" near search results and skip past them. Type Medicare.gov straight into your browser instead. You can get free help choosing a plan by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. Open enrollment runs until December 7. If you think you saw a scam, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Understand the basics first
Source: FTC
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