Scammers Specifically Target Military Members, Veterans
Nov 5, 2019
Legal Help for Veterans is a law firm helping veterans get the benefits they deserve.
Northville, MI (Law Firm Newswire) November 5, 2019 – As the prevalence of social media and other online communication channels has grown in popularity over the last couple decades, so has the number and variety of scams that attempt to bilk unsuspecting victims out of their money.
Anyone can be fooled by a scam; however, military service members and veterans are targeted by scammers more than the general public and they lose more money to scams than do other groups. A recent study from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) found that veterans who were successfully targeted lost an average of $200 to scams, which is 32 percent more than the $152 a member of the general public loses.
“Scammers are clever and unscrupulous,” says James G. Fausone, lead attorney at Legal Help for Veterans in Northville, Michigan. “Veterans are attractive victims for criminals looking to take advantage, which is why they are always looking for scams that will specifically appeal to veterans.”
Employment scams are common and dangerous because they often appear to be legitimate. For example, a work-from-home job offer may come with a check to purchase equipment or training. However, the check will almost certainly bounce and leave the veteran responsible for the funds. Moving scams, in which a person posing as a moving company will pack and move household belongings then refuse to return the items until a fee is paid, are sometimes perpetrated on or near military bases, as there is a huge need for moving services in these areas.
Veterans are vulnerable to other forms of fraud too, including identity theft and are often targeted by online bots and fake foreign accounts on social media in an attempt to spread misinformation and influence opinion. Schemes trying extort veterans via romantic online relationships are out there, as well as fake fundraising attempts surrounding veterans causes.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) currently has no protections in place for elderly and disabled veterans who are particularly vulnerable to scams and financial predation. “It is important to stay vigilant at all times, especially whenever money is involved,” continued Fausone.
Legal Help for Veterans is a law firm for veterans, run by veterans and focusing on disability claims. For more information on the firm visit them online at https://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/
Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC
41700 West Six Mile Road, Suite 101
Northville, MI 48168
Toll Free Phone: 800.693.4800
- Can PTSD be contagious?
Post-traumatic stress disorder could be “contagious.” Although it is not transmitted via shared fluids, research shows that those who care for or regularly interact with a person who has experienced trauma are potentially at risk of developing secondhand PTSD. Although they did not experience or witness the trauma themselves, being in close contact with the […] - Navy family awarded $11.5 million in medical malpractice suit at Guam Military Hospital
A medical malpractice lawsuit against a U.S. Naval hospital brought about by a Virginia couple whose son sustained serious injuries during birth has been settled by the federal government. The couple will receive $11.5 million for the care of their son, who is now five years old. The couple were both Naval officers and were […] - Veterans Who Served After 9/11 More Likely to Benefit Financially From Service
Findings from a study conducted by Pew Research Center showed that combat veterans who served in the military after the September 11th terrorist attacks reported benefiting financially from their service more than those who served before 9/11. Sixty-eight percent of the post-9/11 veterans reported that being deployed in the military had a positive impact on […] - VA moves toward modernization with several updates
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is implementing several highly anticipated changes to modernize its systems and processes and increase efficiency for the veterans it serves. The agency will soon have updated the rating schedule, modernized the appeals process, implemented an electronic health records system and streamlined the materiel acquisition process. Rating Schedule Update The […]
