Recently, a 78-year-old Washington man was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for stealing a Vietnam veteran's identity and using it to obtain Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. Shockingly, the perpetrator was able to carry on this ruse for decades.

In 2025, a man in New Hampshire was indicted on bank and mail fraud charges for defrauding an older veteran of $225,000, which he squandered on luxury items and other personal purchases.

These are just two examples of countless scams targeting our nation’s military veterans. Unfortunately, such schemes are on the rise. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), fraud reports from servicemembers, veterans, and their families totaled roughly $584 million in 2024.¹

Why do scammers target veterans?

Scammers follow the money. These bad actors know many veterans receive predictable benefits like pensions and disability payments. They also know veterans may be more likely to trust someone claiming to be from the VA or a veterans charity, and they’re all too willing to exploit that trust for their own financial gain.

Social isolation and financial stress can also make veterans easy targets for unscrupulous predators.

What are some common scams targeting veterans?

Veteran scams take many forms, originating from phone calls, emails, text messages, social media, and even online job ads. Often, these schemes are so convincing that even the savviest consumer can be caught off guard.

Below are six pervasive scams affecting veterans and steps you can take to avoid them.

1. Disability and pension benefit scams (“pension poaching scams”)

One of the most rampant veteran scams involves fake offers to help veterans prepare or file their application for disability compensation, pensions, or Aid and Attendance benefits. Often posing as financial planners, lawyers, or claims agents, scammers may say they can “guarantee” approval for VA benefits or dramatically increase your monthly payments—for a large upfront fee. They may even refer you to doctors who encourage you to exaggerate or falsely report medical conditions on official paperwork.
 
Others may pressure you into moving your assets into trusts or financial products to supposedly qualify for additional benefits.

With the benefits buyout scam, a fraudulent “pension expert” or financial advisor promises to give you a lump-sum payment in exchange for the rights to your future VA disability or pension payments.

Any of these schemes can put your finances and your future eligibility for assistance programs at serious risk.

🚩 Red flags to watch out for:

• Promises of guaranteed approval or higher benefit amounts
• Requests for upfront payment
• Pressure to act quickly
• People claiming special VA connections or insider knowledge

💡Keep in mind: A real financial advisor or VA representative will be honest and upfront about their fees, credentials, and what they can and cannot do for you. They also will not try to push you into making hasty decisions.

2. VA home loan scams

If you have a VA home loan, you’ve likely received refinancing offers that promise benefits like extremely low interest rates, cash back, skipped mortgage payments, or guaranteed approval. Some may claim there are no upfront or out-of-pocket costs or waiting periods between refinances.

These offers can sound convincing and may appear to come from the company that handles your monthly mortgage payments. But with VA home loan scams, the real goal is often to collect fees, steal your personal information, or pressure you into costly or risky loans that don’t benefit you in the long run.

🚩 Red flags to watch out for:

• Pressure to act quickly
• Requests for upfront fees
• Unsolicited calls or mailers that look “official”
• Promises that sound too good to be true

💡Keep in mind: Many home loan “savings” offers may actually increase the amount you owe on your loan. That’s why it’s important to carefully consider both the short- and long-term costs of refinancing before moving forward.

3. Job scams

With job scams, fraudsters target veterans looking for work after military service or during retirement. Posing as employers or recruiters, they might contact you by email, phone, text, or social media, claiming they found your resume online or through a veterans job board and offering an exciting job opportunity. Some even post fake job openings on sites like LinkedIn.

In many cases, these “employers” use bogus job applications to collect Social Security numbers and bank account information. Many request upfront payments for training, certifications, background checks, or equipment before you’ve even had an interview.

In one common tactic, a scammer may send you a check and ask you to deposit it, then send part of the money back to cover “equipment” or other expenses. Eventually, the check bounces, leaving you responsible for repaying the full amount to your bank.

🚩 Red flags to watch out for:

• Employers asking for money upfront
• Job offers without interviews
• Extremely high pay for little work
• Requests for sensitive personal information early in the process

💡Keep in mind: Legitimate employers generally will not ask you to send money or purchase equipment before being hired.

4. Romance and friendship scams

Romance scams can be especially devastating to veterans because they target their emotions as well as their finances. Many criminals specifically target older people who may be lonely or socially isolated. They may even impersonate veterans or active-duty military members themselves. In 2024, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 17,910 reports of romance scams, with losses reaching a staggering $672,009,052 nationwide.²

With a romance scam, someone reaches out to you online (usually through social media) and slowly nurtures a connection over weeks or even months. They may message you regularly and share personal stories in an effort to earn your trust and affection. They may shower you with affection and seem eager to rush the relationship along. Eventually, they ask for money to help with a fabricated crisis like displacement from their home, trouble with the law, or a health emergency.

These scams can be hard to spot because the relationship can feel very genuine and emotionally real.

🚩 Red flags to watch out for:

• Someone professing their “love” quickly
• Refusing to take part in phone or video calls
• Repeated personal emergencies requiring money
• Requests for gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers

💡Keep in mind: Anyone who avoids live video chats or keeps bowing out of opportunities to meet you in person deserves extra scrutiny.

5. VA overpayment scams

In this growing type of scam, a fraudster posing as a VA representative contacts you by letter, email, or text message and claims you received an overpayment of benefits. The scammer may say immediate repayment is required to avoid hefty financial penalties or legal action. They may pressure you to pay quickly through gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps, or cryptocurrency.

VA overpayment scams tend to use realistic-looking VA logos, letterheads, and language to make the messages appear legitimate and harder to spot as fraud.

🚩 Red flags to watch out for:

• Unexpected messages claiming you owe the VA money
• Pressure to pay immediately
• Demands for payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
• Requests for sensitive personal information

💡Keep in mind: Government agencies like the VA generally communicate official overpayments through formal mailed letters—not email or text message. The VA will also never demand payment through gift cards or cryptocurrency.

6. Charity scams

Many veterans take pride in supporting charities that help other veterans and military families. But there are charity scammers ready to prey upon that generosity.

Charity scams can arise through phone calls, emails, text messages, social media, or even in person. You might notice these types of communications ticking up around the holidays or patriotic events. Fraudsters may use names similar to legitimate charities and tell stories that tug at your heartstrings to pressure you into donating.

🚩 Red flags to watch out for:

• Unsolicited messages or calls requesting donations
• Impersonation of well-known charities
• Pressure to donate money immediately
• Vague information about the organization

💡Keep in mind: Legitimate charities will not ask you to donate through gift cards or wire transfers. This is a common tactic for scammers since these methods of payment are difficult to track.

How can veterans identify and avoid scams?

As scams continue to evolve, a few simple habits can greatly reduce your risk. Below are 10 tips to help veterans steer clear of fraud:

1. Apply for benefits directly through the VA: You can apply through the VA online or at a local regional office. Filing a claim is free, and the VA can help you gather supporting documents for your application.

2. Do not share your VA account details: The VA will not call to ask for your ID.me login credentials.

3. Verify the organization that contacted you: If someone claims to represent the VA, a charity, a hiring organization, or a financial institution, contact that organization directly using an official phone number or website. You can also:

• Visit ftc.gov/charity to learn how to identify sham charities.
• Use the VA’s online tool to check the credentials for attorneys, VSOs, or claims agents.

4. Be wary of high-pressure tactics: If you’re being urged to “act now” or sign a contract immediately, take a step back. Reach out to a family member, caregiver, close friend, or financial advisor before making any big financial decisions.

5. Be skeptical of promises that sound unusually generous: If an offer sounds too good to be true, like guaranteed benefits approval or large payouts, it likely is. And generally speaking, it’s wise to steer clear of any offers that involve signing away your VA benefits.

6. Protect your personal information: The VA generally will not call unexpectedly to ask for your Social Security number or details about your finances, medical records, or benefits. If this happens, it could be a phishing scam, where scammers try to steal your sensitive information and use it in illegal ways.

7. Watch for suspicious emails, texts, and websites: Messages from government agencies usually end in “.gov” and don’t originate from Gmail or Yahoo accounts. Poor grammar, hyperbolic or high-urgency language, strange-looking links, and unexpected attachments are also warning signs.

8. Be careful what you share on social media: Personal details posted online can make it easier for fraudsters to steal your identity or target your VA accounts.

9. Don’t ignore that uneasy feeling: If something seems off and your “Spidey sense” is tingling, trust your instincts. End the conversation, delete the email, or toss the questionable mailer into the trash.  

10. Report fraud: If you think you or a veteran you care about has been scammed, call the VSAFE Fraud Hotline at 1-833-388-7233 or the VA Benefits Hotline at 1-800-827-1000.

Scammers are skilled at manipulating our emotions and crafting believable and compelling stories. But you can fight back by being informed—and sharing what you learn with others. Awareness is one of the best ways to protect yourself and the veterans you care about from fraud.

Want to become even more scam-savvy? Visit NCOA’s Scam and Fraud Prevention resource page.

Sources

1. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Help Your Military Patrons Avoid Scams. July 15, 2025. Found on the internet at https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/events/2025/07/help-your-military-patrons-avoid-scams

2. Federal Bureau of Investigation – Chicago Field Office. FBI Chicago Releases Public Service Announcement Raising Awareness on Romance Scams and Confidence Fraud. February 13, 2026. Found on the internet at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/chicago/news/fbi-chicago-releases-public-service-announcement-raising-awareness-on-romance-scams-and-confidence-fraud