FTC Warns Veterans to Delete Unsolicited Emails

The Federal Trade Commission is cautioning veterans to be extra careful of scams following the recent data breach at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA). In the past, fraudsters have used events like this to try to scam people into divulging their personal information by e-mail and over the phone.

The FTC is advising veterans and their families to keep a close hold on their credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security numbers, passwords, and other sensitive personal information. One technique scammers use to get this information is phishing: they send an e-mail that appears to be from a well-known company, asking recipients to verify their personal information and luring them to a Web site that looks genuine, but is bogus. Scammers can lie on the telephone, as well, to get personal information.

The FTC’s tips for veterans and their families include the following:

• Do not give out your personal information over the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you initiated the contact and know – or can verify – who you are dealing with."
  
  
• Never click on links sent in unsolicited e-mails. Instead, type in a Web address you know to be accurate.
  
  
• The VA, other government agencies, and legitimate businesses do not contact people by e-mail or telephone either to ask them for – or to confirm – Social Security numbers or other personal information.

More tips are available at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt166.htm. More information from the FTC on phishing and staying safe online is available at OnGuardOnline.gov.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish (bilingual counselors are available to take complaints), or to get free information on any of 150 consumer topics, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the complaint form at http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.htm. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to thousands of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.