Scammers targeting veterans and active-duty service members
May 22, 2025, 12:41 PM
Military scams targeting veterans and active-duty service members can take many forms, according to the Better Business Bureau. (Canva)
(Canva)
SALT LAKE CITY — Consumer advocates are warning that scammers are targeting veterans and active-duty service members.
Rental military scams
Military members often move from place to place, and the Better Business Bureau said scammers are taking advantage.
How the scam works is that the person committing the fraud takes information and pictures from a legitimate listing, but they change the contact information to get the prospective renter to submit a deposit to the scammer.
Timothy Johnston with the BBB encouraged people to inspect the property in person or have someone else in the area inspect it for them before sending any money or personal information.
The BBB also encouraged military members being deployed to alert the credit bureaus that they are going on active duty.
Donations to military organizations
With more than 28,000 veterans and military organizations to which people can donate, it can be difficult to spot a scam.
Johnston said that before you give an organization your hard-earned money, you can check to see if they’re legitimate at Give.org.
“If you are thinking about giving to a charitable organization, we encourage you to do your research. Make sure you know the exact name. Don’t feel pressure to donate; I mean, a charity will take your donation today just as much as it will in two months, giving you time to do research.”
Scammers taking benefits
The BBB also reported some vets have been tricked into turning their benefits over to fraudulent companies.
Scammers offer a Veteran’s Benefit Buyout, a cash payment given to a veteran in exchange for future ongoing benefits. These payouts are well below what veterans are entitled to.
“We just encourage individuals that these buyout plans can be structured in several ways, so they really need to do their research thoroughly before signing anything over. You definitely don’t want to be giving away what is rightfully coming to you,” Johnston said.
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