How to Spot and Avoid Mobility Scooter Scams: A Guide for Seniors

It feels like determining what’s real from fake online these days requires the skills of 007 or at least a software engineer. Maybe 007 is an exaggeration because I’ve been reading a lot of Ian Flemming lately. Either way, we put on our spy hats and did some internet sleuthing, so you don’t have to. What did we find? Mobility scooter scams are aplenty. Their target? Seniors looking specifically to save money, mostly on social media. Keep reading to learn more about what we found regarding these mobility scooter scams and how you can avoid them.

Facebook Ads for $39 Scooters

• The Scam – Scammers lure people in with ads offering high-quality mobility scooters for an incredibly low price (e.g., $39).
• Red Flags – These ads often feature stolen or stock images of scooters (sometimes our SmartScoot & HandyScoot!), vague product descriptions, and unrealistic shipping times.
• How to Avoid – As a rule, it’s best to just not click any ads from Facebook unless you’re familiar with the brand. Even if you’ve heard of the brand, it’s still a good idea to research the brand or seller, read reviews, and verify contact information. Legitimate companies rarely, if ever, offer such steep discounts without a clear reason.

Medicare Scams for “Free” Scooters

• The Scam – Scammers may ask seniors to provide personal information or payment details to supposedly receive a “free” Medicare-approved scooter.
• Red Flags – Medicare does not and will not ever offer free scooters without a medical process, and no third party should be asking for upfront fees.
• How to Avoid – Check out our blog about Medicare’s legitimate process for paying for mobility scooters, which includes evaluations and prescriptions from doctors, as well as a very limited list of types of scooters permitted to be covered by Medicare and/or insurance.

“Clearance Sale” or “Going Out of Business” Scams

• The Scam – Scammers create urgency by saying scooters are on clearance or being liquidated, often advertising at bargain-basement prices.
• Red Flags – Limited-time offers with major discounts are typical, especially from companies you’ve never heard of before.
• How to Avoid – Research the company, check for reviews, and ensure they have legitimate customer service channels.

Fake Customer Support Scams

• The Scam – This one can happen via email or phone. Scammers might pretend to be a customer support agent, requesting personal information or money for “processing fees” for a scooter order.
• Red Flags – Calls or emails claiming urgent account issues, especially if you didn’t initiate contact.
• How to Avoid – Always use official contact details listed on a company’s verified website. It’s usually a safe bet that if they’re reaching out to you unsolicited, it’s not a legitimate company.

• Verify the Seller – Buy from trusted brands, preferably directly from the manufacturer or an authorized distributor. Google has a process to become a verified seller.
• Look for Contact Information and Return Policies – Scammers often avoid including clear contact details. Legitimate companies typically have phone numbers, email addresses, and published return policies on their websites. These can usually be found in the footer (on the bottom) of most websites.
• Check for Secure Payment Methods – Do not pay by wire transfer or any method that can’t be tracked. Credit cards often have protections in place, so using them for payment is safer. Look for the little lock symbol on the payment page when entering any payment information.
  
  
  Read Customer Reviews – Search for reviews on third-party websites to gauge the authenticity of the company. Sites like the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot can be helpful.

• Understand Medicare’s Legitimate Process – If you didn’t click through to our Medicare blog already, give that a read and follow only the official steps to qualify for mobility equipment under Medicare.

We encourage seniors and their families to stay vigilant when purchasing mobility aids, whether it’s a scooter or any other type of aid, online. It is a big scary world online, but we feel safe taking our spy hats off now after letting you know that taking time to research, reading reviews, and never feeling pressured into “act-now” deals that seem too good to be true are steps you can take to feel comfortable that you won’t get scammed. Don’t forget to give our Medicare blog a read if you haven’t already. We’re here if you have any questions!