Protect Veterans Against Identity Theft

​On Independence Day many of us think about our veterans and the sacrifices they and their families have made for our nation. Unfortunately some scam artists are so warped that they target our veterans for identity theft and other scams. 
 
A recent post from the New Jersey Office of Consumer Affairs described a recent identity theft scam targeting veterans. 
 
“Veterans receive a phone call from a fraudster posing as a representative of the Department of Veterans Affairs, DFAS, or a Veterans Affairs Hospital. Veterans then are asked to provide personal information, including social security number, in  order to ‘update their files.’”
 
Legitimate health care providers and facilities will never call or e-mail a veteran and ask for sensitive personal information such as a social security number, Medicare number or a financial account number. Veterans and their family members should hang up on such calls and delete any e-mails seeking that type of information.
 
The New Jersey Office of Consumer Affairs also noted a “Phishing Scheme” targeting active-duty military.
 
“Cyber criminals are attempting to pose as members of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (‘CID’) or some other military investigative organization, and are e-mailing members of the military or their families, telling them that they have discovered supposedly fraudulent activities with a company the victim had contact with. These criminals then ask the victims to provide personal information so these 'investigators' can determine whether a person’s identity or financial security has been ‘compromised.’”
 
No law enforcement agency, civilian or military will ever call or e-mail seeking personal information to 'check out' a potential crime. Members of the military and their families sacrifice so much for us, but scam artists will take advantage of any opportunity and have no scruples when it comes to who they target. 
 
Finally, in 2016 Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller announced that his office was taking additional action to help veterans who are victims of consumer scams such as identity theft. Today, the forms used by Iowans to complain to his office include a spot to indicate if the individual is a veteran or active duty military. His office website also has a link: (www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/for-veterans-and-service-members/) to specific advice for veterans and active duty military to help them learn to avoid scams. In addition a volunteer and Vietnam War veteran assists with consumer complaints and inquiries specifically from service members and veterans.