Top scams targeting our military heroes and how to avoid them

Cyber scammers are some of the most heartless people out there. They don’t even spare our military heroes. Last year, these criminals stole $477 million from veterans, military personnel, and their spouses, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). That’s a $63 million jump from 2022, showing that the military community is a big target for scammers. The number of military members who lost money to these attacks went up by 7 percent to 30,948, per the FTC’s latest data.

These scammers use all kinds of tricks to get veterans to hand over personal info or hard-earned cash, including veterans’ benefit scams and IRS scams. I break down five of the most common scams targeting our military heroes and how to stay safe from them.

 

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Romance scams

Romance scams have become an increasingly painful reality for veterans, as scammers target them through fake online relationships to exploit their emotions and financial stability. Often, these scammers pose as attractive, understanding individuals on dating apps, social media platforms, or even support forums specifically tailored for veterans. They’ll build a relationship over weeks or months, using flattery and fabricated stories to create a strong emotional connection with their target.

Once the scammer believes they’ve gained enough trust, they’ll ask for money, typically by inventing a sudden, urgent situation. It might be a “medical emergency,” a supposed travel expense to come to visit, or even a claim that they need help with a legal matter. The requests start small but can quickly escalate as the scammer continues to manipulate the victim’s emotions.

This continues to be the most common fraud targeting veterans, costing them and their families over $40 million in 2020, according to Aura. Among all romance scam victims, those aged 50–69 were hit the hardest, losing $179.65 million in just the first three quarters of 2022. That figure has almost certainly surged in 2024.

 

NEARLY 1 MILLION MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES FACE DATA BREACH

 

Veterans benefit scams

Some scammers pretend to offer help with veterans’ benefits. They promise to help increase benefits or expedite claims, but they’re really after personal information or a fee. A scammer might claim you’re eligible for new or additional benefits, contacting you by phone, email, or text. When dealing with unsolicited advice, remember—if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

 

Phishing scams from fake government agencies

Phishing scams are a social engineering trick where scammers send emails that look like they’re from official places, like the government or your bank. These legit-looking emails act as bait, but the real goal is to grab your banking or credit card info.

Sometimes, these scam emails will ask you to click a link or download an attachment, which can install malware on your device. Scammers are also known to send phishing links through LinkedIn, Facebook, or other social media.

One classic example is the IRS scam. Though it targets everyone, military members are prime targets. Scammers pretend to be IRS agents, threatening jail time, fines, or other penalties if they don’t get immediate payment. They even spoof IRS caller IDs to make their calls look real.

 

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Rental property scams

Rental property scams are a common way scammers try to exploit people looking for a place to rent. In these scams, fraudsters often post fake listings for apartments or houses on popular rental websites or social media platforms. The listing might look too good to be true—like a beautiful place at an unbelievably low price.

The scammer will usually claim to be out of town or unavailable to meet in person, asking potential renters to send a deposit or rent payment upfront to “secure” the property. In some cases, they may even send fake lease agreements or claim that the property is already rented, but they can still “help” find a similar place.

 

BEWARE OF THIS SOCIAL SECURITY SCAM BY CROOKS TRYING TO TRICK YOU

 

Car sales and financing scams

Car sales and financing scams targeting veterans are unfortunately common. Scammers know that veterans may have limited experience with certain financial deals, so they exploit that by offering unrealistic car sales or financing options. These scams can take various forms, and the result is often financial loss and stress.

 

6 ways veterans can protect themselves from scams

1) Be cautious with unsolicited offers

2) Watch out for emotional manipulation in online relationships

3) Verify government communications

4) Be skeptical of rental or car sale deals that seem too good to be true

5) Protect your personal information

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6) Invest in data removal services

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Kurt’s key takeaway

Do you think more needs to be done to protect military personnel from these types of scams? Let us know in the comments below.

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1 comment

Linda A. November 11, 2024 - 4:21 am
Thank you for posting this. I hadn't heard about any of these. The Veteran's Administration always sends out letters to notify you of anything. You can sign up for a newsletter, but if they communicate personally to you, it will always be a letter. The worst part of the benefit scams is that scammers pray on hope. You have a military related injury; the VA has turned you down three times (i.e., it wasn't documented enough in the medical records); you need the money. Be wary also of friends or family members volunteering someone they know of who can help you with the benefits package. Two veterans has mentioned recommendations to me. Now I wonder where they got the names. Was it someone they actually worked with? Was it someone who contacted them? Or another veteran that I can't ask questions? If you need help with the package, check your state to see if they offer the service (what I used). Also probably won't cost you anything.
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