SERVING
Those That
SERVED
Scams
Beware of Veterans Choice Program Scam
June 15, 2017
Another devious telephonic scam has surfaced, and it is targeting veterans throughout the country who are in the process of making decisions about their own personal medical care.
The scammers have set up a bogus telephone line, which mimics or resembles the actual telephone line used for the Veterans Choice Program.
The Veterans Choice Program allows certain veterans to use approved healthcare providers outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system by calling a toll-free number to see if they are eligible. At this point, the scammers step in to attempt to defraud veterans. This is where the bogus telephone number comes in handy for the scammers. The only difference between their bogus telephone number and the real telephone number used by the VA is the area code.
The real telephone number used by the VA has an “866” area code, while the scammers use the more common “1-800” area code telephone number.
Veterans who answer the bogus (1-800) telephone number will get an automated message.
The phony message states that veterans may qualify for a rebate, usually a $100 - $500 rebate if they are willing to update their information using the telephone key pad and by giving their credit card information or checking account information using the automated telephone system. The message also indicates that veterans will receive quicker responses from the VA regarding their healthcare choice if they update their information via the automated system. Which, asks for the veterans’ credit card information.
There is no rebate, and the cons then have a person’s financial information.
It is important to remember that neither the VA, nor any government agency, will not ask for a veterans’ financial account information over the telephone.
Death Benefit Scam
July 14, 2017
Another egregious scam is making its way around the country, and this scam is targeting family members of deceased veterans. The scammers are using very sophisticated technology to create the kind of ruse to make it look as if they are the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or local Funeral Home.
Here’s how the scam is carried out.
Shortly after a veteran passes away, a family member, namely a spouse, is seemingly contacted by the VA or local funeral home. The representative (scammer) will inform the family member that the veteran has a host of death benefits from the VA that is obtainable to the next of kin. The scammers provide a very long and detailed list of benefits that the next of kin is eligible to obtain. The scammers then transition to a cancelled insurance policy that will pay the next of kin $50k, $60k, $70k and in some cases over $100k. The scammers go on to instruct the next of kin to purchase an insurance card (what essentially is a gift card) from the local bank, with some amount determined by the scammer. According to the scammers, the “insurance card” is used to pay the nominal unpaid portion of the insurance policy, so that the next of kin could get up to $100k in some cases.
If the next of kin passes on the getting the “insurance card,” or hangs up the phone on the scammer, within 15 to 30 minutes, the next of kin will get a telephone call from what appears to be a local funeral home as showing on caller ID [this part of the scam is where the scammers get most of their victims]. The phony funeral home representative (scammer) will inform the next of kin that the person who called from the “VA” was legitimate. The very persuasive scammer will then take control of the process and inform the next of kin they will handle the situation for the next of kin. The scammers will use actual names of people who work at local funeral homes. As instructed previously, the funeral home scammer will direct the next of kin to wire money to the phony funeral home or send the so called insurance card immediately.
