TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – If you or a loved one receives Medicare benefits, it’s time to put your guard up.

That’s because it’s now Medicare Open Enrollment, and that means crooks are ramping up efforts to trick seniors.

Brian Oglesby of the Better Business Bureau said seniors who are scammed typically lose more money than other victims.

“They’re going to imposter the legitimate companies,” Oglesby said. “They’re going to imposter Medicare by text message, by email, leading you to believe there’s a special offer, act now, trying to gather that personal information, that Medicare ID number.”

Con artists want your Medicare number to eventually commit Medicare fraud by ordering products on your behalf and billing the government.

They also could use open enrollment as an excuse to get other personal information from you.

“Never click on links that you receive through email or text message,” Oglesby said. “Don’t answer the phone if you don’t know the number, even if the phone number says it’s coming from Medicare.”