Memorial Day Scams Target Military, Families & Supporters Better Business Bureau | |
go to original May 23, 2012 |
Memorial Day is a time to honor those who serve and remember those who have died in war. But sadly, it has also become a key opportunity for scammers to target those who are serving or have served their nation, especially elderly veterans. BBB is urging consumers and donors to be on the lookout for deals that seem too good to be true, and for disreputable charities.
The unique lifestyle of our service members makes them prime targets for scammers. It’s imperative that we educate our service members and ensure that the support we give to them equals the effort they make every day on behalf of us. Scams can include those that target service personnel and their families directly, but also those that appear to be helping military members via charities.
Donors need to watch out for questionable charities that raise funds on behalf of military organizations. When you make a donation, always check www.bbb.org first to see that the group meets BBB charity standards, especially around Memorial Day. Too many solicitors that fail to meet BBB standards call and say they help veterans, service members or their families, and little of the money donated will serve that purpose.
Among the scams to watch out for:
BBB advises service members, veterans and all consumers never to give personal identification information (Social Security, bank account, military identification or credit card numbers, etc.) to anyone who contacts you by phone or email, and to be wary of any solicitations that involve purchasing something or transferring money. Consumers can check out businesses and charities for free at www.bbb.org.
For more information, visit www.bbb.org/us/military-line.
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