| Despite their service to our country, current and former military service members are preyed upon by shameless criminals who seek to steal their money, their identity, and the benefits they’ve earned. Not only are they targeted more often than civilians, but veterans, active-duty service members and their families are 40% more likely to lose money to fraud, according to an AARP Survey. These attacks against our nation’s heroes continue to climb at an alarming rate. The Federal Trade Commission saw a 75% increase in fraud reports by the military community from 2021 to 2022 with $414 million in reported losses. Here’s what to know to help combat fraud against veterans. |
| How It Works• Phone calls, emails or text messages from “officials” with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may seek sensitive personal information to update records or to apply for health services, such as through the new PACT Act.•Offers for “free” or discounted devices for veterans abound in ads, by email, text and online.•Investment “advisers” approach veterans with promises to help grow retirement funds or obtain extra benefits from the VA.•Service members needing quick cash may be approached with offers to buy out future disability or pension benefits with a lump-sum payment. What You Should Know• The VA will never contact you out of the blue and ask for sensitive personal information or require payment upfront in exchange for health or other services.•The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. Scammers are misleading veterans into “applying” through them for a fee. To learn more, visit VA.gov/PACT or call 800-698-2411.•”Free” medical devices aren’t free—not only will you receive nothing or an inferior version of what was offered, but the VA will be overbilled for the device.•Anyone can claim to be a financial adviser. Always check them out at brokercheck.finra.org.•Any offer for payment upfront for future benefits will likely be pennies on the dollar. What You Should Do• If someone contacts you claiming to be from the VA and requests personal information, hang up and contact the VA directly at 800-827-1000.•Ignore unsolicited offers related to your VA benefits. Use VA-accredited representatives to help you instead. The VA maintains a searchable database of attorneys, claims agents and veterans service organizations.•Stay on top of veterans scams. AARP’s Veterans Fraud Center is an online hub with information on the latest scams targeting the military community, tips for spotting other types of consumer fraud, and specially-tailored resources to help protect veterans and military families. |