As Veterans Day approaches, it’s an important time to recognize the service of our nation’s veterans and raise awareness about scams targeting the military community. Criminals may impersonate government agencies, offer assistance with VA benefits for a fee, promote fake military discounts, or solicit donations for bogus veteran charities.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will never charge fees to apply for benefits or access official military records, nor will they demand personal details out of the blue. Scams targeting veterans may focus on their military benefits, offering a lump-sum cash offer – be wary. Verify any suspicious contact directly with the VA at 800-827-1000 or by visiting va.gov.
Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.