JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On Monday, the nation will honor the men and women who fought to keep the country free, and regrettably, those same people are most likely to fall victim to a scam, according to AARP.
To keep veterans aware, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and AARP launched Operation Protect Veterans. These are some of the scams they're warning about.
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Benefits scams
Buyout scam: Scammers offer upfront payment of cash in exchange for a veteran's future disability or pension payments.
Investment/pension scam: Scammers say veterans may be able to claim additional government benefits by overhauling their investment holdings.
Veterans Choice Program scam: Veterans call a fake number that's nearly identical to the actual number and a message tells them to leave their credit card information for a rebate. (The correct number is 866-606-8198.)
Charging for records: A scammer tries to charge for access to a veteran's military records or government forms. (All information is free through the VA.)
Identity theft
VA phishing: Scammers call veterans and pretend to be with the VA. They ask for personal information to update records. (Just hang up.)
Employment scams: Bogus jobs are posted to recruit veterans online, typically on job boards. The scammer may use or sell personal information from the job application. (It's likely a scam if you're paying to get a job.)
FULL LIST: Scams targeting veterans