Post by TonyV on Jul 7, 2018 22:11:53 GMT -5
There is a new post published on the UAWLAP.org Site.
Details of the post follow.
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Beshear Issues Alert for Military Consumer Month
Veterans, military families be wary of top three veteran-specific scams
FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 6, 2018) – July is Military Consumer Month, and Attorney
General Andy Beshear is warning veterans and military families to be on the
lookout for the most common veteran-specific scams.
Beshear said the alert is part of his office’s “Mission Veterans
Protected” (MVP) program aimed at helping Kentucky’s veteran community
combat the findings in an AARP study where veterans are twice as likely to fall
victim to fraud when compared to nonveterans.
“My office is currently working to help two widows of veterans who lost more
than $43,000 to scammers pretending to be active duty soldiers,” Beshear said.
“It is a disgrace that con artists target military families, and we are
working to prevent these crimes by making sure Kentucky veterans, active duty
service members, reservists and their families can identify the most common
veteran-specific scams.”
Beshear said three of the top veteran-specific scams identified in the AARP
study are:
Charitable Donations Scams – When con artists lie and claim to be a veteran
or service member who is collecting charitable donations to support other
veterans and veteran causes.
Tip: Verify all charities before making a donation and never send cash, wire
money, pay in gift cards or use other untraceable methods of payment. Donors who
are not familiar with a charitable organization can verify official
organizations on org. Visit the Attorney General’s website to find
additional charity research tools.
Military Discounts and Free Programs Scams – Scammers target veterans by
claiming to offer military discounts or access to free goods and services
through special government programs.
Tip: If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many legitimate
organizations do offer genuine discounts for veterans, but first research offers
online and with the Better Business Bureau. Never provide sensitive personal or
financial information in exchange for a “discount.”
U.S. Soldier Impersonation Scams – A variety of veteran scams appear as
someone who pretends to be a U.S. soldier and claims he or she needs a friend,
financial help or to sell goods and services for a cheap price. The scammers go
as far as opening up fake social media accounts and use real names and photos of
U.S. soldiers that they have stolen from real U.S. soldiers.
Tip: If anyone you do not know contacts you and quickly asks for money it is
most likely a scam. The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command recommends
soldiers and their families actively search social media sites to see if a
scammer is using their name and information. Soldiers may conduct a Google
image search of their social media profile pictures. If a soldier or a family
member is being impersonated the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command offers
a flyer that provides resources to help you report and stop fake profiles.
Beshear said for additional information and a complete list of the top 10
veteran-specific scams visit the MVP website, which also provides a list of
upcoming community events and a printable awareness poster. The MVP program has
more than 30 community partners, including AARP Kentucky, who work to serve the
nearly 300,000 veterans who call Kentucky home.
“Mission Veterans Protected” is the latest step Beshear has taken to both
stop con artists and help protect veterans.
Most recently, Beshear announced his office assisted in shuttering the doors of
a charity, VietNow National Headquarters Inc., that misled thousands of donors
by claiming contributions supported local veterans.
Beshear recommends all Kentuckians stay ahead of scammers by signing up for his
office’s Scam Alerts. To enroll text the words KYOAG Scam to GOV311 (468311)
oronline at ag.ky.gov/scams and select text message or email alert.
Link to the post:
uawlap.org/national-politics/commonwealth-of-kentucky-office-of-the-attorney-general.php
Link to UAWLAP.org: uawlap.org
Details of the post follow.
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Beshear Issues Alert for Military Consumer Month
Veterans, military families be wary of top three veteran-specific scams
FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 6, 2018) – July is Military Consumer Month, and Attorney
General Andy Beshear is warning veterans and military families to be on the
lookout for the most common veteran-specific scams.
Beshear said the alert is part of his office’s “Mission Veterans
Protected” (MVP) program aimed at helping Kentucky’s veteran community
combat the findings in an AARP study where veterans are twice as likely to fall
victim to fraud when compared to nonveterans.
“My office is currently working to help two widows of veterans who lost more
than $43,000 to scammers pretending to be active duty soldiers,” Beshear said.
“It is a disgrace that con artists target military families, and we are
working to prevent these crimes by making sure Kentucky veterans, active duty
service members, reservists and their families can identify the most common
veteran-specific scams.”
Beshear said three of the top veteran-specific scams identified in the AARP
study are:
Charitable Donations Scams – When con artists lie and claim to be a veteran
or service member who is collecting charitable donations to support other
veterans and veteran causes.
Tip: Verify all charities before making a donation and never send cash, wire
money, pay in gift cards or use other untraceable methods of payment. Donors who
are not familiar with a charitable organization can verify official
organizations on org. Visit the Attorney General’s website to find
additional charity research tools.
Military Discounts and Free Programs Scams – Scammers target veterans by
claiming to offer military discounts or access to free goods and services
through special government programs.
Tip: If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many legitimate
organizations do offer genuine discounts for veterans, but first research offers
online and with the Better Business Bureau. Never provide sensitive personal or
financial information in exchange for a “discount.”
U.S. Soldier Impersonation Scams – A variety of veteran scams appear as
someone who pretends to be a U.S. soldier and claims he or she needs a friend,
financial help or to sell goods and services for a cheap price. The scammers go
as far as opening up fake social media accounts and use real names and photos of
U.S. soldiers that they have stolen from real U.S. soldiers.
Tip: If anyone you do not know contacts you and quickly asks for money it is
most likely a scam. The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command recommends
soldiers and their families actively search social media sites to see if a
scammer is using their name and information. Soldiers may conduct a Google
image search of their social media profile pictures. If a soldier or a family
member is being impersonated the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command offers
a flyer that provides resources to help you report and stop fake profiles.
Beshear said for additional information and a complete list of the top 10
veteran-specific scams visit the MVP website, which also provides a list of
upcoming community events and a printable awareness poster. The MVP program has
more than 30 community partners, including AARP Kentucky, who work to serve the
nearly 300,000 veterans who call Kentucky home.
“Mission Veterans Protected” is the latest step Beshear has taken to both
stop con artists and help protect veterans.
Most recently, Beshear announced his office assisted in shuttering the doors of
a charity, VietNow National Headquarters Inc., that misled thousands of donors
by claiming contributions supported local veterans.
Beshear recommends all Kentuckians stay ahead of scammers by signing up for his
office’s Scam Alerts. To enroll text the words KYOAG Scam to GOV311 (468311)
oronline at ag.ky.gov/scams and select text message or email alert.
Link to the post:
uawlap.org/national-politics/commonwealth-of-kentucky-office-of-the-attorney-general.php
Link to UAWLAP.org: uawlap.org