Protecting Veterans from Scams

Scam: Con artists lie and claim to be a veteran or service member who is collecting charitable donations to support other veterans and veteran causes.

Tip: Verify all charities before making a donation and never send cash, wire money, pay in gift cards or use other untraceable methods of payment. Donors who are not familiar with a charitable organization can verify official organizations on CharityNavigator.org. Visit the Attorney General's website to find additional research tools, including a list of active charitable giving campaigns in Kentucky.

Scam: From discounts on taxes, burial services, rent, prescription drugs and even medical bills, scammers target veterans by claiming to offer military discounts or access to free goods and services through special government programs. These special programs are typically a disguise for a scam.

Tip: If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Research offers online and with the Better Business Bureau to ensure they are legitimate. Never provide personal or financial information in exchange for a "discount."

Scam: A variety of veteran-specific scams appear as someone who pretends to be a U.S. soldier and claims they need financial help or are looking to sell goods and services for a discounted price. The scammers even go as far as opening up fake social media accounts and use stolen names and photos of U.S. soldiers.

Tip: The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command recommends soldiers and their families actively search social media sites to see if a scammer is using their name and information. Soldiers should also conduct a Google image search of their social media profile pictures. If a soldier or a family member is being impersonated, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command offers a flyer that provides resources to help you report and stop fake profiles.

Scam: Scammers try to collect personal and financial information by pretending to be an employee of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offering to improve the terms of a service member's current VA home loan.

Tip: The VA does helps service members, veterans, and eligible surviving spouses become homeowners and provides a home loan guaranty benefit and other housing-related programs to help buy, build, repair, retain, or adapt a home for personal occupancy. If you did not initiate contact with the VA and suddenly receive a call, email, or text from someone saying they are a VA employee, it is most likely a scam. Verify all VA home loan information directly with the legitimate VA Home Loans Division.

Scam: A scammer claiming to be a deploying service member, posts an online classified ad to sell a very expensive item at a deep discount. The scammer asks for upfront payment with a wire transfer or gift cards.

Tip: If a deal sounds too good to be true it probably is. Always research the seller and attempt to view the product in person, and only use verified methods of payment. 

Scam: Veterans, active duty soldiers, and their families may receive a call or email request for someone claiming to be with the Department of Veterans Affairs and asking to upgrade or update a military record. The scammer is really just trying to collect personal and financial information.

Tip: Updates to your official military records should only be provided to the appropriate and legitimate government organization or the Department of Veteran Affairs. If you receive this type of call, hang up, or discontinue contact with anyone asking for this information, and directly call the appropriate contact to verify the request.

Scam: Veterans and active duty military are often targeted by scams that offer free tuition, books, computers, and other discounts to go back to school.

Tip: Many service members are eligible for GI Bill benefits while attending classes at higher education institutions; but the benefit also makes many the target of scam artists. The Office of the Attorney General recommends making sure the college or university is accredited and credit hours are transferable before committing. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has a comparison guide that may assist with locating a school and determining your actual GI benefits.

Scam: Scammers pose as financial advisors and offer to help veterans, their widows, and family become eligible for VA pensions and related benefits. Many of these phony advisors offer to "buyout" veterans pension benefits in exchange for a fee. In this scam, con artists are looking to steal veterans' personal and financial information, as well as their benefits, and even their life savings.

Tip: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is available to help veterans and their family file a VA pension claim, free of charge. A searchable list of VA-accredited representatives, including Veterans Service Organizations, agents, and attorneys is available at the VA Office of General Counsel website. To get more information about VA pensions, visit www.benefits.va.gov/pension or call 1-800-827-1000.

Scam: Veterans and active duty military members may be promised an immediate, large sum of cash in return for signing over current and future monthly VA or disability benefits. The scam gets veterans to pay excessive interest rates and finance charges on the lump-sum advances, which can range between 25 percent and 47 percent. Ultimately, con artists cheat veterans out of their benefits using this scam.

Tip: This type of financial scam is illegal. Any veteran who receives this solicitation should report it to the Office of the Attorney General.