If you’re over 65, it’s probably happened to you. You pick up the phone, there’s a momentary pause till the person on the other side responds and then he or she calls you by your first name and plunges right into the pitch.

“Hi, I’m Tom, and I’m calling from the Medicare Service Center.” The caller may then attempt to engage you in casual conversation, to keep you on the phone.

That scenario should trigger an immediate scam alert, says Assemblyman William Colton (D—Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights).

“It is extremely unusual for Medicare to call you unless you have already reached out to them or they have previously written to you,” Assemblyman Colton reminds local residents. “If someone says he or she is from Medicare, and you didn’t initiate the interaction or get a letter from them, you should hang up immediately. If you’re not sure if the call is legitimate, you can call Medicare back on its toll-free number (1-800-633-4227) after you have hung up.”

Don’t be fooled by caller ID information that may indicate that the call is coming from a government agency or someone, such as your doctor, whom you know and trust. “Scammers can spoof trusted numbers,” Assemblyman Colton emphasizes.

The problem is so widespread, says Assemblyman Colton, that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) offers extended advice on what to do if you get one of these scam calls.

On its website, the FCC points out that, “Medicare does not call you uninvited and ask you for personal or private information. You will usually get a written statement in the mail before you get a phone call from a government agency,” and stresses, “Calls requesting health insurance information should not be trusted.”

Never give identifying or sensitive information such as Social Security number, Medicare number, birthdate, your mother’s maiden name or an account number to a caller who asks for it, says Assemblyman Colton. “That information should only be shared with people who have a legitimate reason for having it,” he says. “If you’re not sure, it’s far better to err on the side of caution.”