Military scams are a serious and growing problem. Scammers often pretend to be soldiers to trick people. They target those who deeply care, trust and respect the military. This includes people looking for love online, wanting to donate to military charities and even veterans searching for jobs or financial help. These scams can hurt your feelings, take your money and break the trust we have in real soldiers.
The good news is that you can protect yourself by learning the warning signs and taking a step to #BeFraudSmart.
Common types of military scams and tips to identify them.
Fraudsters use different tricks to scam people. Many of these scams are designed to look real and appeal to your kindness. Below are some of the most common military scams to watch out for:
Romance scams
Scammers often use social media and dating websites or apps. They might say they live in another country. Once they gain your trust, they might ask for money. The often have excuses like
- Return home to visit you or their family.
- Pay for medical bills.
- Send a package.
- Fix a problem with their bank account.
Tip: Real soldiers do not need help paying for leave, medical cost or travel.
Fake military charities
Scammers create fake charities and may contact you to raise money to help wounded soldiers, veterans or military families. These scams are more commonafter a war, disaster or during holidays when people are more likely to donate. To identify if it’s a scam, look for these signs:
- The charity name may sound real, but you can’t find it on official charity websites.
- They ask for donations in cash, gift cards or money transfers.
- They create a sense of urgency, pushing you to act quickly and send money before you can think.
Tip: Always check if a charity is real before donating. You can search for charities on websites like Charity Navigator, Charity Register or official charities in your country. .
Impersonation scams
Scammers steal photos and personal information from real military members and use them to create fake social media profiles and email accounts. They may contact you through these fake profiles and accounts and tell sad stories to get your hard-earned money or personal information. Here are some signs to identify the scam:
- The person refuses to meet in person or video chat.
- They ask you to keep the relationship a secret.
- They have an unusual story about why they need the money.
Tip: You can check when the profile was created, if it is recent, it’s best to avoid talking to them.
Job offer scams for veterans
A scammer may offer you fake jobs that sound great but with a twist that requires you to pay money upfront. They might say it’s for training, uniforms or background checks. But after you send the money, it’ll disappear.
Tip: A real employer will not ask you to pay for a job.
Military loan and pension scams
A scammer reaches out to veterans and offer fast loans with high interest rates or offer to buy out their pensions for a full payment in cash. These deals are often unfair and leave veterans with little to no future income.
- Never agree to sell your pension.
- Be careful with loans that have high interest rates or fees.
Tip: Talk to a trusted financial advisor before making any big money-related decisions.
Phishing scams
Scammers send fake emails, messages or phone calls pretending to be from the military or the government. They may say there’s a problem with your military benefits or ask you to confirm personal information like your ID or bank account details. Here’s how to identify a military phishing scam:
- The message will have spelling mistakes or looks strange.
- You are asked to open a link or an attachment.
- They ask for personal information that official agencies already have.
Tip: Read the message carefully, check the email ID or the number before responding.
How to protect yourself from military scams?
Scammers can be very convincing but there are ways to protect yourself. Here are some simple steps to stay safe and #BeFraudSmart:
- Do not send money to someone you’ve never met in person.
- Take your time, do not rush into decisions.
- Be careful with your personal information online.
- Check a charity is real before you donate.
- Watch for urgent requests or a sad story that seems fake.
- Never pay with gift cards or crypto currency.
What to do if you’ve targeted or scammed?
If you think you’ve been contacted by a scammer or if you’ve already sent money, act fast by reporting it. . Scammers are skilled at gaining trust and can fool anyone. Remember, it’s not your fault. There are steps you can take right now to protect yourself and help prevent scammers from hurting others.
- Report scams to your local authorities.
- File a report on your national cybercrime website.
- Contact your bank or credit card company immediately to stop the transaction.
- Spread the word, your story can help others stay fraud-smart.
Trust your instincts! If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Take your time, ask questions, and verify everything before you send money or share personal information. Scammers rely on fear and emotion, but you can stay one step ahead by staying informed.
For more tips on protecting yourself or to report a scam, visit our fraud awareness page and stay one step ahead of scammers. #BeFraudSmart
