Protecting Veterans from fraud
Providing you with information about Veteran targeted fraud
Get trusted help to file for VA BenefitsWhy this matters to you
Veterans are the targets of many of the same types of fraud as the rest of society, including mail, telephone, and online fraud. We take fraud allegations and the security of Veterans’ information seriously. Learn how to protect yourself and your family, find helpful resources, and where to report to help keep others safe.
This page is for
- All Veterans
- Family members and caregivers
- Service members
What you can do
How you can fight back with knowledge of common scams against Veterans
Claims sharks, or unaccredited service representatives, are taking thousands of dollars from Veterans for services that should be free or lower costs.
Get help filing a VA claim
Be aware that there are individuals and organizations that are targeting Veterans, particularly elderly war-time Veterans, by offering to provide claims assistance as a way to promote their other business interests. Generally, these individuals or organizations are not accredited or recognized by VA; others could potentially be misusing their VA accreditation.
Protection for you and your family
Scams against Veterans are on the rise. This toolkit is a partnership amongst several agencies to arm our Veterans about common schemes we're seeing, where to report fraud, and how to get help.
Video
Protect yourself from financial fraud
30 seconds • April 6, 2023
Veterans and their families are popular targets for financial fraud. Scammers may try to defraud you through misleading emails, texts, cold calls, or online ads. Do not provide your personal information to anyone other than a VA-accredited representative. To learn more or find a representative near you, visit va.gov/disability/get-help-filing-claim/
Stories
Read stories about protecting yourself from fraud
Learn how you can protect yourself from scammers.
Downloadable resources
Understanding Veteran Fraud prevention
Learn more about Veteran Fraud prevention. View the additional resource below for more information about what you can do to protect yourself.
Fraud prevention tip sheet
Read our do's and don'ts list to help protect yourself from fraud attempts by scammers.
Download (PDF)Fraud prevention tips for natural disasters
Learn how to protect yourself against scammers during a natural disaster and emergency.
Download (PDF)FAQ
Frequently asked questions
For healthcare-related fraud, please contact the Veterans Health Administration, Office of Integrity and Compliance Helpline at 866-842-4357 (VHA-HELP).
For suspected VA Benefits fraud call the VA Benefits Hotline at 1-800-827-1000.
For all non-Veteran Affairs-related fraud, reach out to the Federal Trade Commission. Phone: (877) FTC-HELP 877-382-4357.
Imposter scams account for up to 40% of the total fraud reported by military members. For more information, visit AARP's blog on Top Scams Targeting Veterans.
Scammers may pressure you to act immediately or share sensitive information. Scammers pretend to be from an organization or person you know. They may use payments that are hard to trace like gift cards or electronic banking apps.
Resist the pressure to act immediately. Stop and talk to someone you trust. Protect your personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn’t expect, even if the caller has some of your personal information.
Activate multi-factor authentication on your accounts. Update your software. Do not click. More than 90% of successful cyber-attacks start with a phishing email. Use strong passwords. Vary your login information.
- Stop all contact with the individual(s) who contacted you.
- Save all information or messages about the individual(s) who contacted you pretending to be in case you need to take legal action.
- If you provided financial information, like your credit card number or bank account information, contact your bank or credit card company right away. They may be able to help you cancel the transaction or get your money back.
- If you sent funds via gift card or money transfer, report the scam to the issuer. They might be able to help you stop the transaction. Find their contact information by visiting their website.
- If you provided personal information, like your Social Security number, you may be at risk for identity theft. Report identify theft and get a recovery plan at https://www.identitytheft.gov
- Keep an eye on your credit report and financial accounts for any unusual activity and consider placing a freeze on your credit.
Our fraud prevention tip sheet is available in Spanish and Tagalog.
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