Medicare Benefits Office Email · Phishing Alert

Email from "Medicare Benefits Office" — Is It Real?

No. There is no government office called the "Medicare Benefits Office." Phishing emails using this name are reaching seniors' inboxes with fake flex card and grocery allowance claims. This page shows you exactly what these emails look like, why they are fraudulent, and what to do if you received one.

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Documented phishing email from a fake Medicare Benefits Office asking seniors for their Social Security Number to claim a grocery card.
Scam alert: emails claiming to be from a "Medicare Benefits Office" are phishing attempts. No government office by that name sends emails about flex cards or grocery allowances.

The short answer

Real or Scam? Here Is What You Need to Know First.

Lehigh Partners Senior Benefits scam alert: The "Medicare Benefits Office" email is not real. There is no government agency by that name. Medicare does not send unsolicited emails about flex cards, grocery allowances, or benefit activations. Any email asking for your Social Security Number or Medicare ID through a link is a phishing attempt.

✖ What is not real

There is no government office called the "Medicare Benefits Office" that sends emails about flex cards, grocery cards, or refunds. Emails from addresses like benefits@cms-enrollment-center.net or refund@medicare-secure-benefits-gov.com are phishing attempts — not from Medicare or CMS.

✓ What can be real

Real Medicare communications arrive by mail from CMS or your enrolled plan — not by email asking for your Social Security Number. If you want to check what real OTC, flex, or grocery benefits may be available in your area, a licensed agent can do that at no cost using just your ZIP code.

Received this message and not sure what to do? Do not click any links or give out your Medicare number. Check if my message is real — free →  ·  Read the full OTC and flex card eligibility guide →  ·  Medicare Checkpoint →

Quick answer: An email from "Medicare Benefits Office" about a grocery card, flex card, refund, or allowance is not real Medicare communication. Treat it as a phishing email unless you can verify it directly through Medicare.gov, your Medicare Advantage plan, or a licensed Medicare agent you already trust.

The exact message

Here Is What Seniors Are Receiving

Example phishing email based on scam patterns reported to FTC and SMP programs, 2024–2026

Documented scam pattern — consistent with CMS, FTC, SMP, and state insurance department warnings
Email from spoofed Medicare Benefits Office address
Subject: Final Notice: Claim Your 2026 Healthy Foods Grocery Card From: Medicare Benefits Office <benefits@cms-enrollment-center.net> Dear Senior Beneficiary, Our records show you have not yet activated your $900 monthly Medicare Flex Card allowance. This government-subsidized program covers groceries, utilities, and dental care for qualifying seniors like you. To claim your remaining 2026 balance before it expires, enter your Social Security Number and Medicare ID number to confirm your identity. [Activate My Card Now →]
Why it looks believable: The sender name "Medicare Benefits Office" sounds like an official government department. The subject line "Final Notice" creates urgency. The email describes a $900 monthly allowance covering groceries, utilities, and dental — a comprehensive-sounding benefit. The phrase "government-subsidized program" implies official backing.

What is false

What This Email Gets Wrong

The domain cms-enrollment-center.net is not a government address. CMS's real website is cms.gov. No email from a .net, .com, or .org address is from a government agency. Entering your Social Security Number and Medicare number together into an email link provides scammers with everything needed for complete medical identity theft. No government benefit is activated by clicking an email link. Medicare will never contact you unsolicited by email to collect your personal information.

What is actually available

Real Medicare Benefits That May Exist in Your Area

Real Medicare benefit communications arrive by postal mail from CMS or your Medicare Advantage plan — not by email. If you want to check whether any OTC, grocery, or flex card benefits are available through plans in your county, a licensed agent can run that comparison at no cost using your ZIP code.

Read the full OTC card and flex card eligibility guide to see exactly how these benefits work, who qualifies, and what amounts are realistic in different counties.

Check My Message and Real Benefits — Free Read the Eligibility Guide

Official sources

Where These Warnings Come From

Verify a message or report fraud through these official resources:

Medicare.gov — Report Medicare fraud and abuse
Senior Medicare Patrol — smpresource.org
FTC ReportFraud.ftc.gov
IdentityTheft.gov — Personalized identity theft recovery plan
Find your local SHIP counseling program — shiphelp.org

Common questions

6 Questions Seniors Ask After Receiving This Email

Is there a real Medicare Benefits Office that sends emails?
No. There is no government office called the "Medicare Benefits Office," and no legitimate Medicare agency sends emails asking you to claim a flex card, grocery allowance, or benefit by clicking a link. Real Medicare communications from CMS arrive by postal mail only. Any email from an address like cms-enrollment-center.net or medicare-secure-benefits-gov.com is a phishing scam — not from Medicare or any government agency.
Free Scam & Benefits Check — Start Here
How do I tell if an email about Medicare is real?
Legitimate Medicare or CMS emails should come from official government domains, such as .gov addresses, and they should not ask you to enter your Social Security Number or Medicare ID through an unsolicited link. Emails claiming to be from Medicare that come from lookalike .com, .net, or .org domains are a major red flag. Other warning signs include a generic greeting like "Dear Senior Beneficiary," urgency about expiring benefits, and requests for personal information through a link.
The email says my $900 Medicare allowance will expire — is that real?
No. There is no $900 monthly Medicare allowance available to all seniors. Some Medicare Advantage plans include an OTC, grocery, or flex card benefit, but these are plan-specific and vary by county — they are never activated by clicking an email link. The expiration warning is a pressure tactic used to get you to act before you think. Do not click the link or enter any personal information.
I entered my Social Security Number in the email form. What should I do?
Act immediately. First, place a fraud alert with the three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Next, file an identity theft report at IdentityTheft.gov, which will give you a personalized recovery plan. Report the phishing email to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to flag your Medicare account. Lehigh Partners Senior Benefits advises anyone in this situation to also contact a licensed Medicare agent who can monitor for fraudulent plan changes.
Does Medicare send emails about benefit cards or flex cards?
No. Medicare (CMS) does not send unsolicited emails about benefit cards, flex cards, grocery allowances, or OTC cards. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes these benefits, communications about them come by postal mail from your plan — not from a generic "Medicare Benefits Office" email address.
Are real Medicare OTC, grocery, or flex card benefits available?
Yes, but only through specific Medicare Advantage plans and only in certain counties. These are not universal Medicare benefits, and the amounts vary widely by plan and location. A licensed Medicare agent can check what is actually available using your ZIP code at no cost. Never trust an unsolicited email, text, or robocall claiming you have an unclaimed balance — check with a licensed agent using the form below.

What to do next

Not Sure If the Message Was Real? A Licensed Agent Can Check for Free.

We'll check whether the message you received looks legitimate and what real OTC, grocery, or flex card benefits may actually be available in your county — at no cost and no obligation.

Worried about a message?

If you received a text, call, or email about a Medicare benefit card, we can help you check whether it looks legitimate before you respond.

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Looking for real benefits?

Want to know what real OTC, grocery, dental, or flex benefits are available in your ZIP code? Start with our full eligibility guide.

See the Eligibility Guide

Free Medicare Scam & Benefits Check

Enter your ZIP code and phone number. A licensed agent will check whether the message you received looks legitimate and what real extra benefits may be available in your area.

or call directly
833-265-9655 Licensed Medicare agents · Mon–Fri 9am–5pm ET

No pressure. No obligation. Benefits vary by plan, county, and eligibility. Lehigh Partners Senior Benefits is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.