New COVID-Related Scams Target Veterans
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Legal Help for Veterans is a law firm helping veterans get the benefits they deserve.
Northville, MI (Law Firm Newswire) July 06, 2021 – Veterans have long been popular targets for scammers. Now the U.S. Postal Service and the AARP warn veterans to beware of new, COVID-related scams that they might encounter. Officials have seen a marked increase in these scams over the last few weeks.
Most of these new tricks involve veterans and servicemembers being offered a “fast pass” for getting a COVID-19 vaccination in exchange for money paid to a third party. Others offer cash and incentives for getting vaccinated. All veterans, their spouses and caregivers are now eligible to receive a vaccine at no cost through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Anyone who takes advantage of veterans and members of our military should be ashamed of themselves,” said James G. Fausone, lead attorney at Legal Help for Veterans in Northville, Michigan. “It is important for veterans and their families to understand how often this happens and how scammers try to steal from people. Protecting oneself or a loved one from falling victim to this type of crime requires vigilance.”
According to a survey conducted by the AARP, veterans are twice as likely as civilians to be targeted by scammers. One in six vets reported losing money to a fake offer of benefits or other services in 2017. Most criminals who commit this type of fraud understand that veterans tend to implicitly trust other military members and pose as such to swindle them successfully. Others take advantage of the frustration many veterans experience when dealing with government benefits programs with immense backlogs and tons of red tape.
The best way to prevent being scammed is to stay educated. Attorney James Fausone recommends veterans do a few things to protect themselves. Stay critical of unsolicited offers and ask questions. Typically, anyone who demands immediate payments or decisions is being disingenuous. If you are unsure of something, check in with local VA offices or friends or family members. Never give out any personal information to a person over the phone or internet, including social security numbers, bank account information or credit cards.
Legal Help for Veterans is a veteran-owned and operated law firm specializing in VA disability claims. To learn more or to contact James G. Fausone, visit https://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/.
