Law enforcement officials continue to remind local residents to keep up their guard against scams, which are showing no signs of slowing.

Local resident Cynthia Dunn was victimized by a Medicare scam recently and she wants to get the word out so others don’t suffer her same fate.

“I know better, but she caught me at a very vulnerable moment,” said Dunn. “I don’t normally answer calls if I don’t know the number, but I thought it might be the pharmacy calling back. She was a slick talker that’s for sure. She was well-spoken and very professional. I knew as soon as I hung up the phone what had happened.”

Dunn said the female caller claimed to be calling about Medicare benefits and asked if she could provide the last four digits of her Medicare number. When Dunn provided the last four digits, the caller told her that didn’t match the four digits she had on file and she would have to issue her a new number. This would require her account to be put on hold temporarily.

Dunn said she didn’t want her account to be put on hold.

The caller said she would try to clear up the misunderstanding and asked Dunn for her entire Medicare number. Dunn provided it.

“I can’t believe I fell for it,” said Dunn. “I know better. Your Medicare number is like a medical credit card so this is the same thing as identity theft.”

Dunn said she has already reported the call and the phone number it came from to the Federal Trade Commission. The number for the FTC is (877) 382-4357.

Law enforcement officials say to never give out personal information over the phone if an unknown caller contacts you because you can never be sure of the identity of the caller.