Ohio Department of Aging warns of Golden Buckeye phone scam

The Ohio Department of Aging is warning Ohioans about a phone scam in which callers falsely claim to represent the Golden Buckeye program in an attempt to steal personal information.

Residents across Ohio have reported receiving unsolicited calls from scammers seeking protected data, including Social Security numbers.

The calls are not from the Ohio Department of Aging, which runs the Golden Buckeye program. The initiative connects Ohio businesses with older adults and people with disabilities by offering cardholders special savings such as discounts, waived fees, and free products or services.

“This is a phishing attempt. Do not share your personal information with anyone who contacts you claiming to be from the Golden Buckeye program,” Department of Aging Director Ursel J. McElroy said in a statement.

Ohioans who encounter suspected scam attempts can report them to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at inquiries.ohioattorneygeneral.gov.

Anyone who believes they have fallen victim to the scam should contact their local law enforcement agency.

 

By Mary Frances McGowan, cleveland.com, The Plain Dealer

 

Mary Frances McGowan is a statehouse reporter for Cleveland.com covering politics and policy with a focus on heath policy, abortion and reproductive health policy, LGBTQ issues, cannabis policy and Cuyahoga County politics. Prior to joining the team in 2025, McGowan was most recently a staff correspondent at National Journal, where she covered political campaigns for all 50 U.S. governors, state legislatures, and state legislative policy. She has also worked for NBC News, both as Tim Russert Fellow for the public affairs program Meet the Press, and as a researcher for the Washington bureau. McGowan has also been published by the University of Virginia Center for Politics as a contributor to their books detailing the 2020, 2022 and 2024 elections. She is a proud graduate of John Carroll University, where she studied political science and journalism.