FBI Warns of Hospice Fraud Targeting Medicare Recipients

TL;DR: On June 3, 2026, the FBI’s IC3 warned of an emerging hospice fraud that targets Medicare recipients. Scammers enroll people who are not terminally ill, or bill Medicare for services never provided, sometimes without the patient knowing. The alert gives no dollar figures.

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What happened

In alert I-060326-PSA, the FBI says scammers enroll Medicare patients in hospice care they do not need, or bill Medicare for services that are never provided. Some enroll people without their knowledge and bill for a patient who is not actually at the hospice facility.

The FBI says recruiters are paid bonuses for signing up a set number of patients, some falsify diagnosis paperwork so patients look eligible, and some use door-to-door sales offering free home services such as cleaning or meal delivery if the person uses a particular hospice.

Why it works

Hospice enrollment sounds serious and medical, so people are less likely to question it, and the free-service offers lower resistance. Because billing happens between the provider and Medicare, many victims only learn about it from an odd line on a statement.

The FBI’s red flags include unsolicited door-to-door recruiters, gift cards or cash offered for enrollment, pressure to enroll without a clear medical need, unfamiliar providers on your explanation of benefits (EOB) or Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), low star ratings on Medicare’s Hospice Compare site, and anyone other than your doctor asking for your Medicare details.

Background: our explainers on how to protect elderly parents from phone scams and Medicare card scam calls. See also Fake “Veterans Savings Program” Postcard Scam: FTC Alert and FBI: Couriers Now Collect Cash in Crypto Investment Scams. For wider numbers, see our data page on scam losses by age group.

What the FBI advises

Do not share Medicare or insurance details with anyone other than your doctor.
Decline gifts, gift cards or cash offered in exchange for hospice services.
Check provider ratings on Hospice Compare and avoid low-rated providers.
Review your EOBs and MSNs regularly for providers or services you do not recognize.
Report it at ic3.gov with the company’s name, phone number, address, email and website, and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) with Medicare questions.

If you have already sent money

Contact your bank or card issuer immediately and ask to stop or recall the payment, then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and, for internet-enabled crime, to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Our guides on how to report a scam to IC3, how to reverse a wire transfer scam and US bank impersonation scams walk through the steps, and what to do after a scam, wherever you live covers the first 24 hours. Scammers often start with details taken from past leaks, so run our free digital footprint check to see what of yours is already exposed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is hospice fraud?

Scammers enroll Medicare patients in hospice care they do not need, or bill Medicare for services never provided, sometimes without the patient’s knowledge, according to the FBI alert of June 3, 2026.

What are the warning signs?

Unsolicited door-to-door recruiters, free services offered in exchange for using a hospice, gift cards or cash for enrollment, pressure to enroll without medical need, and unfamiliar providers on your statements.

How do I check if I have been enrolled?

Review your explanation of benefits and Medicare Summary Notices for providers or services you do not recognize, and check provider ratings on Hospice Compare.

Who do I report it to?

File a complaint at ic3.gov with as much detail as you can about the provider, and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for Medicare questions.

FBI Warns of Hospice Fraud That Signs Up Medicare Patients Who Don’t Need Care