HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania officials are urging residents to stay vigilant, warning that scammers are increasingly targeting consumers with schemes designed to steal money, personal information, and peace of mind during the busy holiday season.
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department and the Department of Banking and Securities issued a joint advisory reminding consumers that fraud attempts often surge in late fall and winter, especially during health insurance open enrollment. Officials stressed that heightened awareness is the best defense against schemes that can result in major financial losses.
“[It is important] to pause and reinforce vigilance about fraud,” said Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys. He noted that scammers rely on confusion, pressure and emotional tactics to manipulate victims. “Consumers should never feel pressured to make quick decisions or share personal information over the phone, through email or via text message.”
Insurance fraud remains a persistent problem, taking many forms — staged accidents, inflated claims, fake policies, and impersonators posing as government representatives. Fake health insurance marketplaces are also becoming more sophisticated as criminals attempt to harvest payment data and personal information. Officials emphasized that Pennie, Pennsylvania’s official health marketplace, is the only source of financial assistance for insurance plans and can be found at pennie.com or by calling 1-844-844-8040.
The Insurance Department advised residents to reject cold-call sales pitches, question unsolicited offers, verify licenses at pa.gov/insurance, keep thorough records, and avoid rushed decisions that promise “last-chance deals.”
DoBS Secretary Wendy Spicher said consumers are facing increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts. “It’s critical to be informed and always stay alert,” she said. “[It is crucial] to shine a spotlight on simple tips consumers can use every day to protect themselves.”
State officials urged Pennsylvanians to strengthen passwords, shred personal documents, limit the ID they carry, keep virus protection updated, and monitor their credit for suspicious activity. Freezing credit files is also recommended to prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened.
Consumers who believe they’ve been targeted by a health insurance scam can contact the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Health Care Section at 1-877-888-4877. Broader financial or consumer concerns can be reported by calling 1-866-COMPLAINT, visiting pa.gov/consumer, or emailing consumer@pa.gov.
More information about fraud prevention programs and events is available through the Department of Banking and Securities website at pa.gov/dobs.
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