AARP Fraud Watch


US Veteran Scams

Dear Ben,

In the "how low can you go" category, scammers often target veterans   either 
in direct scams offering bogus services, or in charity scams that closely
mimic 
the names of legitimate organizations helping veterans and military families. 
Warn your loved ones of these top tricks:

-Bogus sales  A scammer claiming to be a deploying service member posts a
large 
ticket item on a classified ad website that he needs to sell right away and at 
a steep discount. The scammer asks for upfront payment with a wire transfer or 
gift cards.

-Real estate rip-off   A scammer posts a fake rental property on a classified 
ad website offering military discounts. You just need to wire transfer a 
security deposit to the landlord.

-VA phishing  A caller claiming to be from the Department of Veterans Affairs 
calls to update your information.

-Fake charities  Fake charities use names that are close to the names of 
legitimate charities, often referencing Armed Forces, veterans, or military 
families.

-Benefits buyout scam  Scammers will target veterans in need of money by 
offering cash in exchange for their future disability or pension payments. 
These buyouts are typically a fraction of the value of the benefit.

-Dubious investment advice  An "adviser" will tell the veteran she is missing 
out on benefits, and wants to review her investment portfolio. He'll then want 
to put the veteran's investments in a trust, to appear to have fewer assets
and 
to therefore be eligible for an additional pension.

Here's how to avoid falling for scams like these:

-Be suspicious anytime you are asked to pay by wire transfer or gift cards.

-Know that the VA will never call, text or e-mail you to update your 
information.

-Check out the charity on www.give.org or www.charitynavigator.org before 
giving any money.Make donations directly to the veterans' organizations you 
know.

-Only work with VA-accredited representatives when dealing with VA benefits; 
you can search for them online at the VA Office of General Counsel website.
http://action.aarp.org/site/R?i=61UyAIcVhELwIbhgAuU9WA

Be sure to share this alert with friends and family.

Kristin Keckeisen
Fraud Watch Network

P.S. Spotted a scam?  Tell us about it.  Our scam-tracking map gives you 
information about the latest scams targeting people in your state.  You'll
also 
find first-hand accounts from scam-spotters who are sharing their experiences 
so you know how to protect yourself and your family.
http://action.aarp.org/site/R?i=dd6tZ_1g4CzseAZMk_Sp0A



The AARP Fraud Watch Network connects you to the latest
information about ID theft and fraud so you can safeguard your
personal information and your pocketbook.

Visit the site >
http://action.aarp.org/site/R?i=DNkVVQJkc03qK2fWfUzj9Q

Get help:
If you or someone you know has been a victim of identity
theft or fraud, contact the AARP Foundation Fraud Fighter Center at
877-908-3360.

FORWARD TO A FRIEND:

Share this alert with your family and friends so they know
how to spot the common strategies scammers use and have the tools they
need to defend themselves against their tricks.

Forward this alert >
http://action.aarp.org/site/R?i=0hRcG6wPr-N4H-rZdyxzDQ

http://action.aarp.org/site/R?i=xYFMte4p_CRzyGDNpMC-_g

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Keep the faith   :^)

   Ben  aka cMech  Web: http|ftp|binkp|telnet://cmech.dynip.com
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