SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California.

A Free Public Service

November 15, 2023

VETERANS SCAMS

Attribution: US Fed Trade Comm

We thank our veterans for their service and sacrifice. But not everyone has a vet’s best interests in mind. Scammers will try to get a veteran to send money or share personal information.

 Scammers also want to get their hands on the valuable benefits a veteran earned through military service.

 What are some ways to know you’re dealing with a scammer?

Scammers call, text, email, or reach out over social media and pretend to be someone you trust to convince you to send them money. They may pretend to be from a government agency and say you need to pay a fine. Or they may pose as an online love interest who needs you to send money for an expensive medical procedure. They may offer you a job, but say you need to pay a fee before you get hired. To gain your trust they may claim to have some affinity with the military.

Second, know how scammers ask you to pay. No matter what the story is, only scammers will insist that the only way you can pay is by cash, gift card, cryptocurrency, payment app, or a wire transfer service. These methods make it almost impossible to get your money back, which is why scammers insist you pay that way. Stop. Don’t pay.

Report any attempted scam to http://www.ftc.gov/fraud.

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