The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently probing into a massive COVID-19 test fraud scheme that has targeted seniors across the nation. Fraudsters have been exploiting the pandemic to bill millions from Medicare by stealing the identification numbers of seniors in numerous states and ordering COVID-19 tests that the seniors never requested.

According to a health-care fraud prosecutor at the DOJ, the investigation has unveiled that some of the fraudulent billings were done under the names of deceased individuals. The fraud encompasses hundreds of thousands of tests, impacting seniors and their families across at least ten states.

Such scams are not usually this widespread. “With scams, there tends to be some local focus, a focus in a certain city or state,” said John Risler, the volunteer director of Northeast Florida’s Senior Medicare Patrol task force. “These are coming from all over the place.”

The exploitation of the COVID-19 pandemic has been traced back to President Biden’s response to the shortage of tests towards the end of 2021. In an attempt to make tests more readily available, the administration expanded access to free testing. However, the push for quick distribution left gaps in the safeguarding process that the fraudsters took advantage of.

This issue is not isolated. Over the past couple of years, there have been increasing scams targeting seniors amidst the global pandemic. Just this past April, a Florida physician and marketer were charged for buying Medicare ID numbers and sending tests to unsuspecting seniors. The fraud resulted in fraudulent claims to Medicare totaling $8.4 million.

The DOJ, alongside the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, is also investigating similar reports of unsolicited tests being sent to recipients. With the end of pandemic emergency measures on May 11, it is expected that the surge of unwanted tests will decrease, as Medicare no longer covers at-home tests unless they are ordered by a healthcare provider.

Reports of unsolicited COVID-19 test kits have been rampant in New York, New Hampshire, and Illinois, among other states. The issue has been labeled as the “most reported” COVID-19 scam to date in New York.

The prevalence of Medicare equipment scams is unfortunately not a new phenomenon. Prior to the pandemic, such scams typically involved the fraudulent billing of unneeded medical supplies like back braces or wheelchairs. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has expanded the avenues available for such fraudulent practices.

As part of the Biden administration’s efforts to rapidly distribute test kits, Medicare began covering up to eight rapid tests per month for eligible seniors. National pharmacy chains like Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., Walmart Inc., and CVS Health Corp. were involved in the initiative.

However, the scamming epidemic has led to a wave of confusion for seniors who received unsolicited packages of tests from fraudsters, in addition to the free at-home tests offered by the administration.

The ongoing investigations are aimed at uncovering the breadth of this fraudulent activity and taking appropriate measures to ensure the recovery of the stolen funds. As authorities continue to uncover the scale of this operation, it serves as a harsh reminder of the need for more rigorous checks and safeguards in the public health system, especially when responding to a crisis of this magnitude.