Michigan residents are encouraged this week to learn how to combat Medicare fraud, errors and abuse from scammers.

Medicare Fraud Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of June 5, also referred to as 6/5, because most people qualify for Medicare at age 65.

It serves as a reminder that awareness and early reporting are key to preventing fraud and protecting public resources, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services and Michigan Department of Attorney General states in a news release.

Fraud impacts Medicare beneficiaries by creating unnecessary stress and potentially delaying approved health care services. It also affects families, friends and caregivers who may miss work or experience significant worry as they help loved ones recover from fraud.

“Scammers continue to find new ways to target older adults and vulnerable populations,” Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director, said in the release. “We encourage Michigan residents to stay informed, ask questions and report suspicious activity.”

DIFS Director Anita Fox added, “Medicare participants can protect themselves by never sharing any information, especially their Medicare or Social Security numbers, with anyone who tries to solicit their business by phone, online or at their front door.”

Everyone can play a role in fighting Medicare fraud, state officials advise:

— Medicare beneficiaries can monitor their insurance statements to ensure that products and services listed match what they actually received.

— Beneficiaries should never share their Medicare number or personal information with unknown callers. Medicare number should be protected like a credit card number.

— Families and caregivers should be on the lookout for items such as durable medical equipment, like boxes of knee braces, lying around the house that may have been shipped to the beneficiary without their or their doctor’s approval.

— Families and caregivers can help beneficiaries create a gov account to access Medicare statements online or remind them to open and review statements when they come in the mail.

— Families and caregivers can ask beneficiaries to register their phone number on the Federal Trade Commission’s National Do Not Call Registry and opt out of mailings by visiting com.

— Partners can share Medicare fraud and abuse prevention information on social media and refer clients to Michigan’s Senior Medicare Patrol program. Michigan SMP is a statewide program that assists Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers to prevent, detect and report health care fraud, errors and abuse. More information is available at gov/MedicareFraud.

— Health care professionals can talk with patients about common health care-related scams, including those involving durable medical equipment or genetic testing. Patients should be reminded to receive medical items only from providers they regularly see, and never through unsolicited phone calls or TV advertisements.

— Community members can look out for older neighbors by watching for signs of potential scams, such as purchasing large amounts of gift cards.

— Older adults can be encouraged to speak with a trusted source about their Medicare questions and share information with them about recent Medicare scams.

Michigan residents who suspect Medicare fraud or abuse can call —

— Michigan Senior Medicare Patrol at 844-677-6424.

— Michigan Department of Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team at 517-335-7599 or file a complaint online at https://www.michigan.gov/consumerprotection.

— Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services at gov/DIFSComplaints or by calling 877-999-6442 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday to file a complaint.

To learn more about Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, go online to smpresource.org.