Shielding Our Military Heroes: Recognizing and Avoiding Scams

In the digital age, where information can be both a resource and a weapon, scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Alarmingly, our military heroes are among their prime targets. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), these heartless criminals stole an astonishing $477 million from veterans, military personnel, and their spouses last year alone—a concerning increase of $63 million from 2022. The data reveals that around 30,948 military members reported financial losses due to scams, marking a 7% rise in incidents.

The Scamming Landscape: Common Tricks Targeting Veterans

Scammers employ a range of tactics to exploit the vulnerabilities of veterans, from fraudulent benefit claims to deceitful romance scams. Below, we highlight five of the most prevalent scams affecting our military community and provide essential tips on how to avoid falling victim to these malicious schemes.

1. The Illusive Romance Scam

Romance scams have become a painful reality for many veterans, who are often targeted through fake online relationships. Scammers create false identities, portraying themselves as compassionate and understanding individuals on dating apps, social media, or veteran support forums. They invest weeks or even months building a relationship, using emotional manipulation to gain the victim’s trust.

Once trust is established, the scammer typically concocts a fabricated emergency—be it a medical crisis or a sudden financial need—prompting the victim to send money. This emotional exploitation can lead to devastating financial losses, with veterans and their families losing over $40 million to romance scams in 2020 alone. The trend has only escalated, especially among individuals aged 50-69, who lost a staggering $179.65 million in the first three quarters of 2022.

2. The Veterans’ Benefits Ruse

Another common scam involves fraudsters posing as representatives offering assistance with veterans’ benefits. They lure victims with promises to increase benefits or expedite claims while seeking to obtain personal information or upfront fees. These scammers often make unsolicited calls or send emails claiming eligibility for additional benefits. Remember, if an offer seems too beneficial to be true, it likely is.

3. Phishing Expeditions

Phishing scams are a prevalent form of social engineering, where scammers send emails that mimic official communications from government agencies or financial institutions. These emails are designed as bait to steal banking or personal information. Often, they include links or attachments that can install malware on the recipient’s device.

Among these, the IRS scam is particularly notorious. Although it targets a broad audience, military personnel are often singled out. Scammers impersonate IRS agents, threatening legal consequences unless immediate payment is made. They may even spoof caller IDs to make these threats seem credible.

4. Fraudulent Rental Listings

Scammers also exploit individuals searching for rental properties by posting fake listings that appear too good to be true. They often claim to be unavailable for in-person meetings, pressuring potential renters to send deposits or rent payments upfront to secure the property. In some instances, they provide fake lease agreements or assert that the property is already rented but offer to help find similar options.

5. Deceptive Car Sales and Financing Offers

Car sales and financing scams are yet another prevalent threat targeting veterans. Unscrupulous scammers take advantage of limited experience with complex financial deals, presenting unrealistic offers that can lead to significant financial loss and stress for victims.

Proactive Measures: How to Protect Yourself

Understanding these scams is the first step toward safeguarding yourself. Here are some essential tips for veterans to avoid becoming victims:

• Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Offers: Always verify the legitimacy of any unsolicited communication regarding veterans’ benefits through official channels.
• Guard Your Emotions in Online Relationships: Be cautious when forming relationships online. Avoid sharing personal or financial information, especially if requests for money arise early in the relationship.
• Confirm Government Communications: If you receive threatening messages claiming to be from government agencies, do not respond. Instead, contact the agency directly to verify the message’s authenticity.
• Scrutinize Rental and Car Sale Deals: If a rental listing or car sale appears too favorable, it likely is. Always visit in person and refrain from sending money without a signed agreement.
• Enhance Your Online Security: Avoid clicking on unknown links and ensure your devices have up-to-date security software to protect against malware and phishing attacks.
• Consider Data Removal Services: Protect your personal information by using data removal services to reduce the risk of identity theft.