Innovative Partners scam… what should I do now?

Reviews
1

Hey, I recently got scammed by this company called Innovative Partners. They promised me all sorts of things, and I didn’t realize they were scammers until after I had already signed up. When I called to cancel, they hung up on me multiple times. Eventually, someone picked up and transferred me to their ‘cancellation department.’ They asked for my member number, and then weirdly started asking for my name, claiming it was for HIPAA verification. I gave them a fake name, and they still said it matched the one on the account. They asked for my birthday and even tried confirming my fake email address, which they also said matched.

It’s clear they never actually looked anything up or tried to cancel anything. After that, they told me I’d have to pay the full deductible to cancel, which was ridiculous. When I refused, the guy asked if I was just messing with him and wasting his time, and then hung up.

I canceled my card and everything, but I can’t remember if I gave them my social security number. Has anyone else been scammed by these people? If so, did you give them your SSN? What did you do next? I’ve been really scared since then, and even though they didn’t steal much money, it’s still terrifying. I’d rather lose some money than have my identity stolen. Any advice would really help ease my mind right now.

Update: I got a letter in the mail from them with a card, but the whole thing looks super sketchy. The letter seems like a generic form letter that they probably send to everyone. It says:

Dear Fellow Partner,

Congratulations, you have enrolled in Innovative Partners, LP’s Elite 6MD Health Benefit Plan. This is a self-funded limited medical health benefit plan sponsored by Innovative Partners, LP, governed by the Employee Retirement Income Act of 1974 (ERISA) and regulated by the U.S. Department of Labor. As with all insurance plans, there are certain limitations. You’ve been provided the Summary Plan Description document and the Wrap Plan Document. Please read these documents thoroughly to understand your benefits. If you have any questions, contact Partner Services at: 1-866-949-3581 or email us at PartnerServices@InnovativePartnersLP.com. You have 30 days from enrollment to cancel and get a refund of your first month’s premium.

Sincerely,

Your Partnership Team

I emailed them asking to cancel since it says you can within 30 days. Hopefully, that helps cover me. But when I called, it was the same guy who originally scammed me, and he was still giving me the runaround. I’m still not sure if I gave them my social, but I hope I just gave them my card info and nothing worse.

2

If you’re worried about your identity, consider freezing your credit. It will stop anyone from opening new accounts in your name. Keep an eye on all your accounts closely.

3

Same thing happened to me. I thought I was signing up for Blue Shield, but they scammed me too. Charged me $450, and I only realized it was a scam when I got a card in the mail that said Innovative Partners instead of Blue Shield. They’re total scammers.

4

@Keenan
I almost fell for it too when I was trying to sign up for Blue Shield. Glad I stuck with Anthem instead.

5

I got scammed as well. I thought I was updating my insurance info, but it turned out to be them. I called my bank, changed my card, and blocked them from any future payments. If you look them up on the Better Business Bureau, you’ll see tons of complaints.

6

@Tatum
I’ve got my money sorted out, but I’m worried about insurance and if this will come back to bite me later. The thought of collections is stressing me out.

7

These group policies are pretty common, especially if you’re signing up outside of open enrollment. They aren’t great, but they aren’t always scams. Just be careful if you’re asked to pay a lot upfront.

8

@Ellery
I had a life event that allowed me to sign up, but I found them when I was trying to call Blue Cross. I thought I was getting info from them, but it turns out it was this scam company.

9

Send them a certified letter requesting to cancel. That way you have proof if they try to come back at you for payments. Also, monitor your credit in case you gave them your social.

10

Kei said:
Send them a certified letter requesting to cancel. That way you have proof if they try to come back at you for payments. Also, monitor your credit in case you gave them your social.

I never received a policy from them at all. I feel so stupid for falling for this. It’s my first time dealing with insurance on my own since turning 26.

11

@Noel
You can always stick with healthcare.gov for ACA-compliant policies. This scam is a rough experience, but it happens to a lot of people when they’re figuring out insurance for the first time. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

12

Did you get this resolved? I’m in a similar situation and need to cancel within 30 days to get a refund. I already canceled my card, but I’m still trying to get through to their cancellation department.

13

@Ash
I managed to get my money back by disputing the charge through my bank. If you haven’t already, report it as fraud. The scammers won’t help you, but your bank might.

14

Noel said:
@Ash
I managed to get my money back by disputing the charge through my bank. If you haven’t already, report it as fraud. The scammers won’t help you, but your bank might.

You can also lock your social security number. That way, no one can use it to apply for credit.

15

Same thing happened to me! I was told I had 10 days to cancel, but when I tried, they told me I couldn’t for 90 days. I changed my credit card, but now I’m worried they’ll try to send me to collections.