To help mark National Consumer Protection Week, the Postal Inspection Service is offering USPS employees who served in the military tips to avoid common scams.
These scams include:
• The benefits buyout offer. Scammers take advantage of veterans in need by offering a quick, upfront buyout of future disability or pension payments, usually at a fraction of the value.
• The fake charitable giving request. Scammers make fraudulent claims about charitable giving that benefits veterans or wounded service members.
• Fraudulent records offer. Scammers try to charge veterans a fee to access military records or government forms. This information is available for free through local U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offices.
• The VA phishing scam. Scammers, who claim to work for the VA, call veterans to “phish” for Social Security numbers and personal financial information.
• The bogus employment scam. Scammers post fake job descriptions to collect personal information from a veteran’s job application or to charge an employment fee.
The Inspection Service is offering these tips through Operation Protect Veterans, a joint national campaign with the AARP Fraud Watch Network to highlight vet-related scams and fraud schemes.
National Consumer Protection Week runs through March 9. More information is available from the Inspection Service’s site, AARP’s site and the AARP free helpline at 877-908-3360.