Protecting Our Elderly Veterans Against Fraud

Have you or a loved one received a suspicious call from an organization claiming affiliation with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA)?

166,235

The number of Veterans VA provides pension benefits to as of January 2022 (65+). Vulnerable populations are frequently targeted for elderly scams by fraudsters.

The A, B, Cs of Pension Poaching

A financial scam targeting Veterans, survivors, and their families

Becoming a preferred method by criminals to defraud the elderly

Commonly involving financial maneuvers to defraud claimants

Tips to Share with Veterans in Your Community

Don’ts:

  • Don’t share your personal information (e.g., VA.GOV, eBenefits), or other VA login Credentials with anyone.
  • Don’t sign a blank form to be filled out later without seeing the contents.
  • Don’t deposit VA benefits directly into a family member or caregiver’s bank account unless the person is court appointed or a VA accredited fiduciary.

Do’s:

  • Do be alert! Identity theft is not always committed by strangers.
  • Do frequently change and maintain strong passwords and never use Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in the password.
  • Do be vigilant if someone offers to hide or rearrange your assets to qualify for VA pension. You may be required to repay benefits to the government.
  • Do know VA does not charge for processing a claim or request a processing fee.

How BDP&R Helps

When a fraudulent payment redirect case is reported or suspected, Veteran Benefits Administration’s (VBA) Benefits Delivery Protection and Remediation (BDP&R) team investigates the incident and confirms the fraudulent activity.

  • BDP&R determines the necessary actions to protect the Veteran’s benefits
  • BDP&R reports those responsible for the alleged fraud
  • BDP&R immediately reinstating the Veteran’s benefits, making the Veteran whole again.

BDP&R works diligently to serve America’s Veterans and remains committed to protecting all Veterans and beneficiaries, specifically the most vulnerable, from fraud and abuse.

How to Report Fraud or Pension Poaching

To report suspected fraud, please email BDP&R or contact the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) (800)-488-8244.

You may also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by visiting consumercomplaints.fcc.gov

How Can You Help

VA is committed to defeating fraudsters who target elderly Veterans by educating all advocates on the fraud targeting and pension poaching tactics being used against Veterans. Please join us in making VA a hostile environment for fraudsters by encrypting emails when using Veteran information, ensuring antivirus computer updates, and locking your computer when away.