Veterans: Avoid These Scams

It’s as Easy as 1, 2, 3!

Three Popular Scams

1. Fake Benefits Assistance: Imposters claiming to be from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will charge high upfront fees to help you apply for benefits, disability compensation, or claims. By law, individuals must be accredited by the VA to assist with claims, and initial filings are always free.
2. Overpaid Benefits: Scammers send official-looking postcards, texts, or emails claiming you owe a significant debt for an overpayment of government benefits. They demand immediate payment and pressure you for your Social Security Number (SSN) and banking details.
3. Pension Poaching: Fraudsters offer to help you manage or qualify for VA pension benefits for an upfront fee, promising higher monthly payouts. They may convince you to hide your assets in trusts or annuity products so that your income appears low enough to qualify for benefits. These tactics can disqualify you from receiving benefits and may require you to pay back the government.

Three Ways to Protect Yourself

1. Don't Pay for Help: The VA, Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), and accredited representatives will never charge you to apply for benefits. The VA will help you gather evidence to support your initial claim for free. 
2. Verify Before Acting: If you receive unexpected communications about benefits, debt, or extra payouts, do not call the number provided or click on links in a suspicious text message. Call the official VA benefits line at 1-800-827-1000.
3. Guard Personal Information: Don’t share personal or financial information over email or text. Only share required information over the phone if you initiated the call to a legitimate service. Never share your VA or military login credentials with anyone.

Three Resources to Get Help

1. Veterans, Service Members, Families Fraud Evasion (VSAFE): Call 833-38V-SAFE or visit VSAFE.gov 
2. VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) Hotline: Call 1-800-488-8244 
3. Accredited Representative Search Tool: Visit VA.gov