Customers alerted on potentially hazardous phone calls regarding health insurance policies - proper response guidelines provided
Headline: Warning Issued Against Increase in Fraud Attempts Pretending to be from Techniker Krankenkasse (TK)
In recent times, there has been a significant rise in fraudulent activities, with scammers posing as representatives of Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) through emails and fraudulent international calls.
TK has taken it upon itself to warn its insured against a wave of fraud attempts. The health insurer's employees are being impersonated, and scammers are asking for personal and financial information, or urging immediate actions that seem unusual.
To help combat this issue, TK has provided clear guidelines for dealing with such fraudulent calls and emails. They emphasize the importance of not sharing sensitive information, such as health insurance numbers, bank details, or passwords.
Here are some tips on how to react to suspicious calls:
- If you suspect it's a spam call, hang up and block the number. Do not give out personal or financial information on the phone.
- Fraudulent calls may have suppressed caller IDs, a main identifying feature of such calls. TK states that its employees never call with a suppressed number.
- Automated call systems are also an indication of fraud: If there's a pause after picking up or you're asked to press a certain number, it's likely a spam call.
- If you're unsure if a call is genuinely from TK, end the conversation immediately and call the official TK number instead.
For suspicious emails, TK advises to leave them unanswered and delete them immediately.
Here are some warning signs to watch out for in these communications:
- They come from suspicious or non-official email addresses or phone numbers not matching TK’s official contacts.
- They demand sensitive personal details such as your health insurance number, bank details, or passwords.
- They pressure you to act quickly or threaten you with consequences.
- They contain spelling or grammatical errors or unusual phrasing.
If you suspect fraud:
- Do not provide any personal or financial information.
- Do not click on links or open attachments in suspicious emails.
- Contact TK directly using verified contact details from their official website to verify the communication’s legitimacy.
- Forward suspicious emails to TK’s fraud reporting service (if available) or report scam calls to TK via their customer service.
It is crucial to always use official TK channels for communication and verification. Elderly and vulnerable people are currently being specifically targeted, so it is essential to spread this information far and wide.
Remember, TK only asks for a bank connection if a service or a refund has been requested. Unauthorized marketing calls can be punished as an administrative offense.
Criminals are using various methods in these phishing emails, such as offering a payment for a supposed prevention program or discounted first aid kits. Be vigilant and stay safe!
[1] General best practices for dealing with impersonation scams related to health insurers [3] TK's official advice for fraudulent calls and emails
In the wake of increased impersonation scams, it's essential to remember that TK, your health insurer, never asks for sensitive information such as health insurance numbers, bank details, or passwords over calls or emails. Always be vigilant and follow TK's guidelines for dealing with suspicious calls and emails by not providing personal information, not clicking on links or opening attachments, and reporting any fraud to TK's fraud reporting service or customer service. Additionally, maintaining good mental health in these challenging times involves staying informed about such scams and practicing caution to ensure your health-and-wellness and mental-health remain secure.
