Veterans and Military Families Are the Target of a New Scam

Veterans and military families are often the target of scams. In fact, according to the AARP, they are twice as likely to be scammed when compared to the general public.

Red Cross officials are currently warning this audience of an ongoing scam in Maine. Military families have been receiving calls that they must pay $750 to the Red Cross for luggage to be shipped home from a deployment.

The Red Cross does not ship luggage, nor do they charge for anything. A spokesperson for the Red Cross stated, “The Red Cross does not contact families asking for money on behalf of their deployed military loved ones. Scams like this rise to the surface from time to time and, in our experience, are not specific to any one state.” To mitigate this scam and many others alike, “anyone receiving one of these phone calls [should] contact their local law enforcement agency and report it as quickly as possible.”

How can you avoid being scammed?

There are many precautions you can take, with the most fundamental being to never give money over the phone. Always ensure you know where, and to whom, your money is going. Legitimate organizations will be forthcoming with their information, and you should not be afraid to ask. If the person soliciting your money claims that they do not have a website or are hesitant to provide you with more information, this should be an immediate red flag.

Furthermore, this information should not be taken at face value. Take the time to research the organization and their claims before you hand over any money. This search will likely reveal if you are about to fall victim to a scam.

Veterans interested in applying for Social Security disability benefits with the help of Victory Disability should call 1-866-350-7229 or take our free evaluation to find out if you qualify now.