State officials say scammers are trying to steal Ohioans' personal information by claiming to be representatives of the new online insurance marketplaces under the federal health care law.
Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, who is also the state's insurance director, is issuing a consumer alert after reports of scammers offering to help navigate consumers through the so-called health insurance exchanges.
Taylor says the scammers are trying to capitalize on confusion around the federal Affordable Care Act.
Open enrollment in the exchanges does not begin until Oct. 1. Taylor says marketing of plans offering coverage through the exchange hasn't started.
She's urging Ohioans not to provide Medicare, Social Security or bank account information.
Ohioans who have been contacted by a suspicious caller can contact the state insurance department's fraud hotline at 1-800-686-1527.