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Scammers know that applying for veterans benefits is at the top of the to-do list when you’re getting ready to leave the military. That’s why they pretend to be with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and offer to help you apply for benefits if you pay them — even though it’s free to apply with the VA. So if you’re applying for veterans benefits, get the help you need while avoiding scams. Here’s how.

Let’s say someone contacts you unexpectedly and says you have to pay to fix a problem, get a prize, or something else. But then they say the only way to pay is by bank transfer, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, payment app, or gift card. Well, reports to the FTC show that’s a scam.

As a veteran, you’ve worked hard to protect our country. And if you’re a veteran-run small business, you know how important it is to have protections against scammers and cybercriminals. Your best defense is an informed workforce, so here are some free resources to help you start the conversation with your team.

Looking for health insurance? Sometimes shady companies will try to make you think you’re buying health insurance when it’s really a medical discount plan. Watch this video to find out what to know to avoid the scams.

We’ve written about this scam before, but like a bad sequel, it’s back. People are telling the FTC they’ve gotten letters in the mail from law firms about unclaimed life insurance money. Have you gotten one of these? The “lawyer” says that one of their clients, with your same last name, died and you’re the heir to a life insurance policy worth millions. (Spoiler alert: you’re not.) The letter then explains that they’d like to split the proceeds between you, some charity organizations, and their law firm. But what’s really happening here?

Whether you’ve been planning a move for months or you’re dealing with last-minute orders, military moves can be both exciting and stressful. The last thing you need is a rental scam to raise that stress level, so here’s how to spot them.

Scammers promise to solve your debt problems to trick you into paying them instead of your actual lender. If a caller offers to help you enroll in a special “military debt forgiveness” program, pause. That’s probably a scam. Learn how debt relief scammers might target the military and how to avoid the scam. Scammy debt relief companies call out of the blue and use official-sounding names and phrases to suggest ties to the military. They might...

At the FTC, we know talking about scams helps people avoid them. Military Consumer Month is a great time to talk about ways scammers target the military community to steal their money, benefits, and personal information. Here’s how you can encourage the servicemembers and veterans in your life to share their scam stories.

Scammers have been taking advantage of how much people love animals. They’ll steal and manipulate pet images, videos, and even use AI-generated deepfakes to help them trick you into giving them your money or personal information. Fortunately, there are ways to help you detect and avoid these kinds of scams.

As summer approaches, your kids might be looking for downtime (and screen time). To keep them safe while they’re spending time online, start with a conversation about your family’s rules and expectations — then consider setting parental controls to help.