AG warns of health care reform scam

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- Scammers are using President Obama's health care reform law as a way to commit identity theft, according to the Rhode Island Attorney General's office.

Attorney General Peter Kilmartin says the Federal Trade Commission has received several complaints about the scam, since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act.

Kilmartin says the thieves call victims, claiming to be from the federal government. They say they need to verify information as part of the new health care law, and ask victims for their social security numbers, Medicare IDs, or other personal information.

Kilmartin says people should never give out personal information to cold callers or unsolicited e-mails. He also says government officials will never ask for personal information over the phone.