There is a new "odious" scam targeting veterans, warns Aarp
The organization says that bad players want to enjoy a "new set of advantages".
Scams are nothing new, of course, but these stratagems Fry yourself always seem to take steam. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of the United States, consumers have almost lost $ 8.8 billion in fraud In 2022, an increase of 30% compared to 2021. The bad players often turned to older adults , who they believe they have " Lots of money at the bank "But everyone can be the victim of a scam, says the FTC. Now AARP warns that the crooks focus on another specific group: veterans. Read the rest to discover the new" odious "scam to be The lookout.
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The PACT law provides assistance to veterans exposed to toxic chemicals.
In a press release on July 27, Aarp warned That the crooks target the veterans by taking advantage of the promise to address the complete Toxics law, which offers assistance through the American department of veterans (VA). Also known as PACT law, the law provides benefits for more than 5 million veterans exposed to toxic substances (or survivors of deceased veterans).
But AARP stresses that almost two thirds of veterans do not know that they can benefit from the PACT law, where the crooks come into play. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB
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It is a lucrative ensemble of advantages, so the crooks want to "hang on".
As Jamie Hard With AARP Alabama told the WSFA affiliated to the NBC, the PACT law covers a big pool Veterans, including those exposed to toxins decades ago.
"It goes back to the Vietnam War, when they were exposed to Agent Orange, to burn tanks in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Harding.
But because it is a "new set of advantages so important", Harding added that the crooks are much more likely to "try to hang on it".
Complete things even more, veterans are also considered an ideal target because they are considered "a stable income and advantages, frequent movements and deployments and a united culture that criminals can exploit to gain unjustified confidence" , indicates the AARP version.
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If you are assured of a big salary, it is a scam, warns Aarp.
According to the AARP press release, the veterans were approached by bad players - and one in 10 which was offered for registration aid was promised "a lucrative payment, which is a revealing sign of 'a scam".
The AARP has not provided data for the number of veterans victims of this specific program, but they are warning while scams linked to the veterans continue to increase. In 2022, veterans saw an increase in loss of fraud and scams, losing $ 414 million (an increase of 50% compared to 2021), according to the FTC.
Harding told WSFA that Aarp believes that veterans scams are "a particularly odious thing to do", stressing the importance of knowing "exactly what you put your signature".
"The veterans of our country should not have to worry about being exploited by financial predators". Troy Brushwood said the main veterans' main advisor and families of the AARP soldiers and a veteran of the Storm of the US military desert, in the press release. "The crooks have a game book to bring us into an increased emotional state that bothers our ability to think logically. Knowing these specific scams makes it much less likely that anyone is committed to them."
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Take some precautions to protect yourself and your money safe.
If you are a veteran - or have a family member who served in the army - AARP has some recommendations to protect you from crooks.
First of all, keep in mind that veterans do not have to pay for the services won or service files. According to Aarp, if you are told something else, you are scammed.
The organization also warns against trust advertisements or telephone calls from law firms who claim to offer help and recommends registering for National does not call registration.
Finally, be aware of everything you sign, and never put your signature on "a virgin form or an agreement with a lawyer or a company without fully understanding what it is".