Tips for Fraud Protection and Prevention

Have you or a loved one been contacted by someone claiming affiliation with a government agency? Scammers often see older adults as easy targets due to their perceived vulnerability and trusting natures. To combat this issue, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is committed to helping protect older adults by sharing information on how to identify and report scams.

What are Government Imposter Scams?

Common government imposter scams involve scammers pretending to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Medicare, VA, utility companies or even charities. These scams are a growing threat and can result in significant financial loss, identity theft and emotional distress. Scammers may use the following tactics to gain access to financial information and personally identifiable information (PII).

Tactics:

  • Pretending to represent an official government agency or someone they trust.
  • Mentioning there’s a problem or offering a prize.
  • Pressuring individuals to act immediately.
  • Telling them to pay in a specific way (i.e., gift cards, PayPal, etc.) or provide personal information.

Guidance To Help Protect Older Veterans

To avoid government imposter scams and other fraud schemes, it is important to follow these helpful tips:

  • Hang up or ignore suspicious calls or messages. Government agencies will never demand immediate action or payment. If in doubt, contact the government agency directly using their official contact information.
  • Do not click on links in unexpected emails, texts or social media messages. Government websites always use a .gov domain.
  • Do not respond to, pay, or share personal or financial information with anyone via social media, email or the telephone.
  • Avoid sharing PII (e.g., eBenefits, VA.gov, or any other VA login credentials, Social Security Numbers, claim numbers, mother’s maiden name, etc.) or verification codes with anyone.
  • Be wary of requests to move money from bank, investment or retirement accounts.
  • Install strong antivirus software, utilize multi-factor authentication, and frequently change and maintain strong passwords.

The Federal Trade Commission reported Individuals age 70 and above reported significantly higher median losses from fraud compared to other age groups in 2024.

How to Report Fraud

If a Veteran is missing a VA benefits payment, identifies a discrepancy in payments, or finds suspicious activity with their direct deposit account, contact the VA immediately at 800-827-1000.

Veterans can learn more about fraud prevention by visiting https://www.va.gov/initiatives/protecting-veterans-from-fraud/.