Scams

FTC warns veterans are losing millions to fake VA benefits

Veterans are being warned to stay vigilant and take steps to protect their private data © Image Credit: Unsplash / Lance Reis

It looks like scammers have new targets, and they are veterans. Scammers are using military records and data to target veteran benefits, defrauding them of hundreds of millions of dollars, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Scammers are gaining access to sensitive private data

Well, it looks like scammers have found their latest mark, and it's as vile as you'd imagine.

By targeting veterans' data, they gain access to their full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, branch of service and rank, discharge type, home address, next-of-kin information, disability ratings, and much more.

The fraud is piling up

According to the FTC, veteran benefit fraud is adding up fast. The median fraud loss for each veteran was $700 in 2024. This is much higher than the median across all FTC complaints, which stands at $497.

Digging deeper into the numbers, military consumers, which includes veterans, service members, and their families, reported a shocking $584 million in fraud losses in 2024 alone. Also alarming was that the total was 25% higher than the year before.

2025 didn't go much better for veteran benefit fraud

Data from 2025 shows that 39% of veterans have received solicitations from an individual who claimed to be from the VA or a government agency. Statistics also showed that 28% believe their military status painted a target on them for scammers.

All of this has prompted the VA to put out warnings to veterans and their families to be aware of scams that involve phishing, direct deposit fraud, government imposters, identity theft, social media scams, and payment redirection.

Veterans are being warned to stay vigilant, do online research on themselves to see what's public, opt out manually, don't verify information on inbound calls, set up a family code word, change their passwords and security questions regularly, and file a report if things seem suspicious.

An uncomfortable truth of today's times

Online and digital fraud isn't new, and unfortunately, it seems to be growing. Staying vigilant, no matter your age group or profession, is the best way to protect yourself.

Source: Fox News

'80s cartoon classic ThunderCats is roaring back as a movie

If you grew up in the '80s, there's a good chance you were a fan of the popular animated ThunderCats show. Now's your chance to relive the fun of your childhood as a new ThunderCats animated movie is announced. The era of animated television shows

Popular Tex-Mex chain On the Border closes all 60 company-owned restaurants

If your favorite restaurant is On the Border, you're going to want to sit down for this, as the popular Tex-Mex chain has closed all 60 of its company-owned restaurants despite moves to stage a comeback. The comeback that never happened It was just last year

Consumer Cellular launches phone plans for seniors 75+ from $14.95

Smartphones have gotten incredibly powerful over the years. But they have also gotten more complicated. Tiny icons, endless menus, constant updates, and increasingly crowded screens can make staying connected feel more frustrating than helpful, especially for older adults. Now, Consumer Cellular is betting that simpler might be better with SpeakEasy,

Aldi is giving away free mystery grocery boxes this week

Between rising grocery prices and the internet's obsession with surprise boxes, Aldi has found a way to combine both. Starting this week, the discount grocer is giving away free mystery grocery boxes filled with themed products, and shoppers won't know exactly what's inside until