One of the latest ways that fraudsters have come up with to target older people is to offer free genetic testing. Scammers approach visitors at local health fairs, even canvas senior housing and community centers looking for targets. Supposedly, all you have to do is provide them with your ID, Medicare card, and a cheek swab. They may imply or even promise that your doctor will get the results of your test. Instead, they use your information to bill Medicare for the test as well as other services you never received.
If you want genetic testing for health reasons, be sure to get it through your doctor (who may tell you that it’s unnecessary). If you want genetic testing for learning more about your genealogy, be sure to order a test from a reputable company, such as 23andMe.com, Ancestry.com, or FamilyTreeDNA.com.
