New York AG’s Office warns about scams targeting veterans

New York AG’s Office warns about scams targeting veterans Evan Bourtis News10NBC Ceremony for veterans (WHEC file photo) ALBANY, N.Y. — The New York Attorney General’s Office has a warning about scams targeting veterans, active military members, and their families during the Veterans Day season. AG Letitia James says some scammers offer false military discounts, lure veterans to give up their pension money, or ask for donations for phony charities. She’s reminding people to never share their Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) myPay login, VA.gov login, or other sensitive information. Here are some of the most common scams targeting veterans: Scammers offer active-duty service members “special deals” on products and financing, often with per-pay-period pricing and low-quality, overpriced products. Scammers fraudulently charge veterans to “help” prepare their initial claims with the VA, promising faster processing times or increased benefits while charging high fees. Scammers lure veterans into forwarding their pension money with overstated or false promises of instant cash. Scammers pretend to be an official government agency, family member, or business to get veterans to send money or personal information. Scammers create fake profiles on dating websites or social media to build trust before requesting money or sensitive personal information. Scammers ask for donations to fake or predatory charities that claim to help veterans or service members in need. Scammers offer deployed, active-duty service members credit monitoring to protect against identity theft, then use their information to open accounts and make purchases. How to avoid getting scammed If you believe a call from someone claiming to be from a veterans’ agency is a scam, hang up and verify the information by checking with an official source, like calling the VA hotline. Be suspicious of high-pressure sales tactics that create a sense of urgency, and review your credit report regularly. You can learn more about reporting a scam targeting veterans or active military members here . You can also call the Attorney General’s Office complaint hotline at 1-800-771-7755.