Seniors make an attractive target for healthcare scammers. Not only do older people use healthcare services more often, on average, than younger folks do; some also can be more vulnerable because of cognitive decline. What's more, seniors who have saved and invested carefully have deep pockets to pick. To protect yourself – or your parents, grandparents and other older relatives – be aware of these common scams and what you can do about them.

When your doctor recommends a drug but you can't afford it, it's tempting to turn to the Internet. After all, can't you get perfectly safe but dramatically cheaper prescription drugs from online pharmacies based in countries such as Canada?

The problem is that you don't really know what you're getting. You could be purchasing a drug that contains something that will harm you, or you could be acquiring a pill that does absolutely nothing, meaning that you aren't receiving the medical treatment you need. You might even hand your credit card number over to a company that will never send you what you ordered. The pharmacy may not really be located in Canada but in a country with lower safety standards and fewer legal protections. And importing drugs from abroad could get you in trouble with the law.

If you've been a victim of prescription-drug fraud, let your doctor know, so he or she can adjust your treatment plan accordingly. You may need to take extra steps to compensate for taking something dangerous or ineffective. If you're having trouble affording your medication, also tell your doctor; there may be a less expensive option available or financial assistance for which you can sign up. You should also report the crime to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to help prevent others from becoming victims. (For more, see Keeping Drug Prices Down When You're Retired and 6 Ways Retirees Can Save on Prescription Drugs.)

Unfortunately, there are also fake prescription discount programs that target seniors looking for legitimate ways to save money on medication. In exchange for a monthly fee, you'll get nothing more than a list of fake providers or nonexistent discounts. Before you sign up for any of these programs, read this information from the Federal Trade Commission on how to check out the company.

People of any age can fall victim to exaggerated and false claims of what products can do for their health and longevity. For seniors, who may be facing more health issues, more serious health issues and a more imminent sense of mortality, it can be easier to place misguided hope in a supplement or anti-aging product that promises symptom relief, a miracle cure or a longer life.

Don't trust a product just because it has a celebrity endorsement or testimonials that supposedly come from satisfied customers; that doesn't mean it's legitimate. Be suspicious of products that don't disclose all their ingredients, that supposedly resolve a wide variety of ailments or that claim to be completely safe for everyone with no side effects. Even the best, safest and most widely used FDA-approved medications, such as ibuprofen, have side effects and risks and aren't right for everyone. Discuss any product you want to try with your doctor before you buy it and definitely before you use it.

Also, don't sign up for free product offers that request your credit card number; you're probably being signed up for an ongoing subscription that's going to overcharge you in subsequent months and prove difficult to cancel. If you find yourself in this situation and written requests to cancel your subscription don't work, contact your credit card issuer for help.

According to the FBI some companies offer people free medical equipment they don't need, then charge their insurance companies or Medicare for it, sometimes without even delivering that item. Healthcare providers, real or fake, may also submit false claims for services they never gave you. If you discover that this has happened to you, report it to your health insurer or to Medicare to help get the scam shut down. Fraud like this costs us all because, when insurers pay more claims, they have to raise premiums to stay in business. (For more, see How to Avoid Common Health Insurance Scams and Fraud and Avoid the Most Common Medicare Fraud and Scams.) If you receive medical equipment you don't recall ordering or having prescribed for you, contact your doctor to see if it's legitimate.

Also, review your health insurance explanation of benefit (EOB) statements each month to make sure that you recognize each line item of every claim. If you don't, it could be something you forgot about or something you don't understand (medical billing can be difficult to decipher). But it could also be fraud: You need to do further research with the help of your healthcare providers and insurance company to find out. Keep records of the healthcare providers you visit and the dates of each visit to help when you review your EOBs. (For more, see 5 Money-Saving Reasons to Check Your Explanation of Benefits Statement.)

If someone approaches you in a public place, such as a shopping mall or a health club, and offers to perform a health test that requires you to hand over your Medicare or insurance details, don't do it; it could be a scam. If you think the test sounds like something legitimate that you'd like to do, be patient. Ask your doctor about it and schedule the service yourself through his or her office or through an independent lab in your insurance network. If someone calls you or shows up at your house claiming to be from Medicare, don't believe that person and don't engage with him or her; Medicare doesn't operate this way.

Similarly, be cautious if you receive a phone call or e-mail requesting your health insurance or Medicare information; there's a good chance that it's a phishing scam. Real healthcare providers will want to see your insurance card when you visit their office to verify its legitimacy; don't respond to unsolicited emails or calls. If you think it could be a legitimate call from your doctor's office, ask for the person's name, then hang up. Next, independently look up the phone number of the doctor's office and call back yourself to see if the information request was legitimate.

Other good ways to avoid becoming a victim of health insurance fraud include not signing blank health insurance claim forms, asking your medical providers in advance what services they're going to bill you for and why you need each of those services, and refusing to engage with people who approach you to offer healthcare services.

Healthcare is a major industry, and seniors are some of its biggest customers, so it's no surprise that scammers have come up with numerous ways to commit fraud. If you're a skeptical, cautious consumer and stay aware of existing scams, you're less likely to become a victim. (For more, see Telephone Frauds That Target Seniors.)