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TALLAHASSEE – Attorney General Charlie Crist today warned Florida seniors to be on the lookout for con artists who may try to take advantage of consumers as they shop for new Medicare prescription drug coverage plans. Beginning October 1, companies can begin marketing their prescription plans to Medicare recipients across the country, although actual enrollment in the new plans will not begin until mid-November.

Crist's office has received complaints from seniors and other consumers who say they were contacted by companies claiming that they were "authorized" or "funded" by Medicare to make telephone or door-to-door contact with beneficiaries to offer assistance with the new Medicare prescription drug coverage. Crist said consumers should be aware that any unsolicited personal contact may represent an attempt to scam a Medicare beneficiary out of money or to sell a product that may not be suitable to meet the beneficiary's needs.

"Sadly, there are those who wish to take advantage of our neediest senior citizens," said Crist. "Our citizens deserve the confidence that the price they are paying for pharmaceutical drug coverage is the fairest possible price, not one that will result in high profits for shady companies."

Crist encouraged Medicare recipients to protect themselves against these con artists, and suggested the following tips for avoiding the scam:

- No payment for a Medicare prescription drug plan should be made before November 15, 2005. Prescription drug plans may begin marketing October 1, 2005, but enrollment does not begin until November 15, 2005.

- Medicare beneficiaries should never give any caller or visitor their Social Security number, bank account number or personal financial information.

- No door-to-door solicitations are permitted unless the Medicare recipient has invited the caller to their home.

- Telemarketers must comply with federal and state Do Not Call laws.

- When prescription drug plan enrollment begins November 15, 2005, Medicare recipients should make sure they enroll with a prescription drug plan approved by Medicare. To verify that a plan has been approved, consumers may call Medicare's toll-free number at 1-800-633-4227.