Each year, the holidays tend to bring out the best in people. Charities work extra hard to take advantage of the seasonal goodwill, and opportunities for charitable giving are plentiful.
Many charitable organizations donate money to veterans organizations and fund services for military families. However, many unscrupulous organizations use the military as a ruse to get people to donate, and this money never sees a legitimate purpose.
Make sure that you and your family avoid scams targeting veterans this holiday season by staying up-to-date on the techniques criminals use to defraud service members and their families.
Charitable Giving Scams
Just because an organization has the word veteran in its name does not mean that the group is legitimate. Many people are trying to line their own pockets by creating organizations that prey on peoples sympathies for the armed forces.
If you want to donate to charity this holiday season, stick to established organizations with a good track record of using your money to help veterans. Check out the organization before you give by visiting the Better Business Bureaus Wise Giving Alliance site, or Charity Navigator, which evaluates the effectiveness of charitable organizations.
In addition, try not to donate cash, which can be lost or stolen. By giving with a check or credit card, you can keep a record of the transaction for your taxes.
Credit Monitoring and Records Scams
Soldiers who are being deployed are often targeted for scams which promise to monitor your credit and prevent identity theft while overseas. If you or your loved one is being deployed, know that you can create an active duty alert on your credit reports for free, which will put increased security on your accounts and prevent new and unauthorized charges.
To create an active duty alert, contact each credit bureau and provide proof of your identity. The alert will last for one year, and can be renewed if needed.
Additionally, many organizations which purport to serve veterans may try to charge you for requesting copies of your discharge paperwork or other documents. Dont pay these fees! You can request your service-related paperwork for free directly from the National Archives.
Veteran Pension Scams
Older veterans are often the target of pension scams. Brokers or attorneys may promise pensioners that they can help them qualify for additional VA benefits, by transferring retirement assets into a trust so that the family appears to be impoverished. This helps it meet eligibility requirements for a VA pension programs such as Aid and Attendance, which pays an additional benefit to veterans who need assistance with everyday living.
What these brokers fail to mention is that these trusts can cause veterans to lose access to their money, and lose their eligibility for other government programs like Medicare. In addition, these scammers often take tens of thousands of dollars from these trusts as fees, even though they did very little work for minimal help to the veteran.
If you need additional income or believe you may qualify for more veterans benefits, work with a veterans advocate that you trust, and make sure you know the consequences of any investment decision you make.
At Vets National Advocates, we will make sure that your long-term financial health is protected, and help you make the best decision possible for you and your family.
Call 877-777-4021 or use our case evaluation form to set up your free initial consultation today.
