AARP Virginia Fraud Alert: The Latest on Veteran Scams

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),, .

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.