AARP: Veterans regularly targeted by scammers
Table of Contents
Veterans and their families are being targeted by scammers, with reported fraud costing them $477 million in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The actual impact is likely much greater, since many cases are not reported.AARP is warning veterans and their families to be vigilant against these scams, especially given that more than 85% of veterans reported encountering service-related scams in the past year.
One common scam involves criminals impersonating officials from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, threatening to terminate benefits unless veterans provide personal information or pay fictitious fees.
Investment fraud is another prevalent tactic, with criminals offering seemingly attractive opportunities with low fees or special offers exclusively for veterans. Scammers also may claim to be veterans themselves.
In response to this growing threat, the White House and VA have launched new fraud prevention resources, which veterans can access online at Vsafe.gov or by calling 833-38V-SAFE (833-388-7233).
