With Veterans Day coming up, it is a good time to remind people that fraud cost veterans, service members, and their families $477 million in 2023, according to the latest Federal Trade Commission (FTC) data, and this only includes fraud that was reported. With over 85% of veterans having encountered service-related scams in the last 12 months, now is a great time to review some of the most prevalent scams targeting current and former service members. 

Scammers employ vet-focused twists on impersonation scams, investment fraud, and more. Criminals frequently impersonate the VA, often threatening to cut off benefits if you don’t provide sensitive personal information or pay bogus fees. They may also contact you about investment opportunities, with low fees or special offers just for veterans. They may also claim to be a veteran themselves.

The White House along with the VA unveiled new fraud prevention resources for veterans. Visit Vsafe.gov online or reach out to the new call center at 833-38V-SAFE (833-388-7233).

Beware of Solar Scams

The sun might be shining on solar energy, but buyers beware – costly solar panel scams could leave you in the dark with massive loans and higher bills. Here’s what you need to know to stay in the light against this scam.

The sales pitch often starts with a solar salesperson knocking on the front door, calling on the phone, or connecting on social media, offering promises of lower energy bills, reduced emissions, and increased resale value. They’ll likely push a special deal – but only if you sign right away.

Be suspicious and don’t share sensitive personal information with anyone who calls, emails, or visits you out of the blue promoting a solar panel deal, and always read the fine print before signing any document. Know that the government does not have any program that installs solar panels on the houses of Americans for free. If you are interested in solar, research providers, get multiple estimates, and check for complaints and issues with installation companies by visiting the Better Business Bureau national business directory at bbb.org/search.

Be a fraud fighter!  If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.