MEMPHIS, Tenn. — July is Military Consumer Month. So, WREG is sharing three scams military families should look out for. We know this is especially important in our community, where we’re home to thousands of Navy service members stationed at NSA MidSouth in Millington.
Job Scams
From text messages to phone calls, we’ve all been hit with phony job pitches recently. However, military families, especially spouses, can be big targets for work-from-home job scams. The promise of being your own boss sounds good until you end up paying for it!
What to look out for:
- Promise of a cleared check — Remember, no real employer is mailing you a check, then telling you to send part of the money or buy gift cards with it.
- Jobs also tend to promise big pay, with little work
- Scammers often request personal information before an interview for supposed employment paperwork
Moving Scams
Speaking of personal information, we know military families move a lot, so it’s important to be extra careful to protect it during those transitions.
Military moves often mean buying and selling homes or cars, breaking leases, and, of course, sending mail to a new address. These are exactly the types of transactions that make service members targets for thieves.
- Keep financial records and sensitive documents in a safe place
- Consider freezing credit before reporting to the next duty station
- Review options for an active-duty fraud alert on a credit report
- Sign up for free, active-duty credit monitoring
Benefit Overpayment Scams
According to the Federal Trade Commission, veterans and caregivers should watch out for benefit overpayment scams. It starts with a letter that is supposedly from the Veterans Administration.
- If you receive a letter, check your account at va.gov
- The VA offers free repayment assistance
- Beware of claims that offer help for a fee
- Don’t share VA credentials