CONNECTICUT, USA — July is Military Consumer Month and Connecticut’s Attorney General William Tong is warning military servicemembers, veterans and their families about scams targeting them.
Last year in the U.S., scammers got almost $400 million from military service people and their families, and around 16% of veterans describe losing some money to fraud.
“Every one of us is a target,” Tong said at a press conference Monday. "Every one of us is a mark and people are always trying to scam us and focus on who we are and what we're concerned about.”
Consumer scams are common, but Tong said military service people and veterans are even more at risk of being targeted.
“Nothing is more repugnant and offensive than taking advantage of people who spend much of their time and make incredible sacrifices to take care of us,” he added.
There are 170,000 veterans in Connecticut, but with active duty, national guardsmen and reservists, the VA said hundreds of thousands of residents are at risk.
“170,000 quickly blows up to over 200,000 and let's think about all their families because… those are the ones that typically get scammed when they are the most vulnerable,” said Ronald Welch, Connecticut Dept. of Veterans Affairs commissioner.
Officials said the most common scams are fake military charities, car loan and credit payment scams, and fake VA benefit programs.
“No legitimate or government agency will pressure you to make a decision immediately for fear of losing your benefits,” Bryan Cafferelli, commissioner of the Connecticut Dept. of Consumer Protection said. “So watch out for that.”
“Don't fall for high-pressure tactics,” Tong warned.
They also said to be on the lookout for deals that seem too good to be true and not be pressured into giving money.
Tong said don’t respond to solicitation–instead take a name, number, website, or email and then on your own research into the business or service later.
“The best way to deal with this scam is not to be a victim in the first place,” said Tong.
Officials also recommend actively checking bank accounts and signing up for transaction alerts, keeping personal and bank info private, and enrolling in credit monitoring.
If you do suspect you've been a victim of a scam, report it to local law enforcement, the FTC or the attorney general’s office.
Emma Wulfhorst is a political reporter for FOX61 News. She can be reached at ewulfhorst@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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