ALL NEWS

Utah officials warn of new scams targeting veterans

Dec 21, 2020, 5:56 PM | Updated: 6:17 pm

A combat veteran recently won Alignable's 2023 Local Business Person of the Year award for West Val...

A small American flag waves in the wind after bering placed on the Veterans Memorial at the Memorial Redwood Mortuary and Cemetery on Sunday, May 24, 2020. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)

(Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)

SALT LAKE CITY — Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, various scams have popped up in an effort to steal money and personal information from innocent civilians. Now, the state of Utah is warning the public of new scams targeting military veterans. 

The Utah Division of Consumer Protection and Department of Veterans and Military Affairs said it will raise awareness and get the word out to military veterans and their families about the scams. 

“Our veterans have already done so much for their communities, they deserve better. Scammers have no low they won’t stoop to in their schemes,” said Daniel O’Bannon, director of the Division of Consumer Protection, in a statement Monday. “Veterans and their families need to be wary to protect themselves.”

The veterans’ scams to look out for 

There have been two different scam reports from the same person aimed at veterans, according to O’Bannon.

“The first one she got a phone call from someone claiming to be with the FBI calling on behalf of a veterans charity,” O’Bannon told KSL NewsRadio. That’s considered an immediate red flag because government agencies will never ask for money, according to O’Bannon. 

The second scam specifically targets veterans with governmental benefits. A scammer called the same woman who received the first call stating her spouse qualified for some additional benefits.

O’Bannon said the only information scammers need to steal someone’s identity is their social security number, date of birth and veterans identification number. However, someone asking for all of that information is a sign it’s a scam. 

“First of all, that’s stuff [personal information] the government would already have, right? Second of all, that’s just not how it works,” said O’Bannon. “You don’t get a phone call from the government saying we have an extra benefit for you [and] all you have to do is give us all this information.” 

O’Bannon said the only thing most scammers are looking for is money. 

“So the first example, donate to this charity, that’s a way to get money directly,” said O’Bannon. “The second thing scammers often look for is information because they can turn that information into money.”

Why veterans scams? 

It’s not totally clear why a person would swindle money from a veteran, because it’s largely unheard of to target that population, according to O’Bannon. However, it’s a convincing cause when many people have a soft spot for supporting veterans.

“We all want to support those who have sacrificed on our behalf to give us what we have, right?” O’Bannon said. “That could be one component of it. Finding a charitable cause that is of importance to people that may tug at the heartstrings a little bit, for good reason.”  

But it’s a different story when it comes to targeting VA benefits.

“There’s a little bit of built-in credibility there to say, ‘You’re a veteran, we have information for you about benefits,'” O’Bannon said. 

For example, the scam report relayed to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection said the veteran was able to access more benefits in exchange for personal information.

“The report we received was that the scammer said something along the lines of you’ll receive an increase in your compensatory benefits of $400,” O’Bannon said. “Yeah, sounds pretty good, right? Sign me up.” 

Stopping the scammers 

Tracking down and putting a stop to scammers turns out to be a pretty hard task. Those involved in scamming have the ability to hide their identity well and it’s difficult to track their whereabouts. 

According to Bannon, the people facilitating these scams usually live overseas and use technology to make them untraceable. 

“Oftentimes what we find is people committing these types of scams are overseas,” he said. “Or, even if they are domestically located in the United States, they may be using spoofing technology can be very hard to find scammers like this.”

He said the best way to learn about scams is for people to report them.

“We want to hear from people if they’ve given money to a scammer. That could make it a little easier, potentially for us to track,” O’Bannon said. “But sometimes the way to stop this kind of scam is just to get the word out because it can be hard to know where they are.” 

Additionally, the Utah Division of Consumer Protection isn’t able to prosecute scammers. 

“Our agency, specifically as a civil enforcement agency […] can’t prosecute anybody and put them in jail,” O’Bannon said. “We can issue fines. We can also go to a court and ask a court to stop the conduct from happening. Other agencies could potentially criminally enforce. The big question is: Can we find them?” 

And it’s not easy to discover scammers. Most scammers use a “spoofed” number, which is essentially a fake phone number that is untraceable. Due to advanced technology, scammers are able to cover their footsteps unless someone gives them money.

“Unless they [the scammer] take money from someone using a credit card or a check or something that’s traceable,” it’s difficult to find the scammer, according to O’Bannon. 

“If it’s a phone number that people can call back, that’s the actual phone number the scammer is using that gives us something to go on,” O’Bannon said. “And we can use the investigative tools we have to try and take action as appropriate.”

‘Do your research’ 

The biggest piece of advice O’Bannon can give is for people to do their homework before forking over money or personal information.  

“Don’t act in the moment. Take the time to do your research,” advised O’Bannon. “If somebody asks for money, hang up. Do the research. Scammers will try and use fear. They’ll try and use greed and they’ll try and make things happen right now to get money.”

For more information on possible scams visit here. To report a scam, visit here. If you have questions about your veterans’ benefits, visit here. For information about military benefits, call 801-326-2372.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

All News

12 year old driver shown driving erratically on freeway...

Sam Herrera

WATCH: Police release dash cam footage of 12-year-old driver

The Utah Highway Patrol said the 12-year-old driver stole her mom's car. The girl was briefly arrested before being released to her parents.

38 minutes ago

A bus carrying Easter worshippers fell off a cliff, killing 45 people in the Mamatlakala mountain p...

Amy Cassidy, CNN

Bus carrying Easter worshippers falls off cliff killing 45 people in South Africa

An eight-year-old girl who survived the bus crash in South Africa has been airlifted to hospital according to local media.

46 minutes ago

(Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio)...

Simone Seikaly

Possible carjacking in West Valley City leads to car fire, ramp closure

The UHP said a car was following another car eastbound on the 201 and moved onto the ramp toward NB I-15 when one car rolled and caught fire.

1 hour ago

(Loren Richardson via KSL.com)...

Simone Seikaly

Brighton resident charged for confronting snowboarder with shotgun

According to court documents, and based on witness accounts, Keith Robert Stebbings threatened a snowboarder with a shotgun.

2 hours ago

Four cats relaxing on chairs and a cat tree at Fawn's Family Rescue...

Heather Peterson

Fawn’s Family Rescue provides lounge to relax with adoptable cats

Fawn's Family Rescue recently opened its doors in Bountiful. The new cat lounge provides a comfortable way for people to hang out with feline friends.

5 hours ago

A n3-year degree may be an option...

Amie Schaeffer

Utah students could soon earn bachelor’s degrees in 3 years

College students may be able to graduate with a bachelors degree in three years in some industries.

7 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Utah officials warn of new scams targeting veterans