Reported cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs raises the risk that scammers will double down on scams that target veterans with the promise that they can help veterans with the red tape and speed up the process to use the benefits available to the veterans.
Scammers have long victimized veterans with a variety of scams. Typically,
they will call, email or text veterans offering to help with acquiring benefits
owed to them, for a fee. They might claim that you are missing out on benefits
and that you need to act fast. They might also claim that they can speed up
your claim or that they help you achieve 100% disability.
They will charge fees for actions that you can accomplish for
free. They will charge fees for bogus services such as speeding up your claim
or for actions that are out of their control. If a scammer pressures you to
sign over a portion of your VA benefits, just say no, hang up, delete the email
or text message. That is a scam! VA accredited attorneys, claims agents, and
Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representatives can help you with your
claim for free.
The best thing you can do is to go directly to the VA at https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/Applying.asp to apply for your benefits.
If you need help, only work with a VA accredited representative!
You can find a representative by using the VA Accreditation Search tool- https://www.va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative/find-rep/
Remember, scammers will want to pressure you to act fast to “solve
your problem” and will want you to pay for their so called “help.”
Like with disasters and other major news events, fraudsters try to
take advantage of the publicity to scam the public out of their hard-earned
money. Please pass this information to any veterans that you know.
Federal Trade Commission:
https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/02/sign-over-portion-your-va-benefits-nope-thats-scam
Department of Veterans Affairs:
USA Today:
Reuters:
Steve Moller
South Snohomish County
Crime Watch
Email: snohomishcrimewatch@outlook.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ssnoccrimewatch
Blog: https://ssnoccrimewatch.blogspot.com/
Crime Mapping for Snohomish County: http://communitycrimemap.com/
You can also report suspicious activity or information
about past criminal activity by calling:
The Sheriff’s Tip Line at (425) 388-3845.
Or going to the Sheriff’s
Office web page at:
http://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/303/Anonymous-Tips
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