Historical and recent data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) show a rise in fraud, especially targeting military members, such as veterans and retirees, who are at heightened financial risk. Fed. Trade Comm’n, Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024, at 4 (2025), https://www.ftc.gov/reports/consumer-sentinel-network-data-book-2024; U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Fraud (Nov. 8, 2024), https://www.justice.gov /servicemembers/fraud. The escalation in fraud likely correlates with technological advances, which have led to a plague of scams, including AI-driven methods. Fed. Bureau of Investigation, San Francisco Field Office, Press Release: FBI Warns of Increasing Threat of Cyber Criminals Utilizing Artificial Intelligence (May 8, 2024), https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/sanfrancisco/news/fbi-warns-of-increasing-threat-of-cyber-criminals-utilizing-artificial-intelligence.

In 2006, the FTC recorded over 670,000 fraud and identity theft cases, with $1.2 billion in total losses. Fraud Cost $1.2B in 2006, Twin Cities (Feb. 7, 2007, 11:01 PM), https://www.twincities.com/2007/02/07/fraud-cost-1-2b-in-2006/. By 2024, the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book had documented 6.5 million consumer reports and total fraud losses of $12.5 billion. Fed. Trade Comm’n, Consumer Sentinel Data Book, supra, at 6. The primary categories of fraud included identity theft, imposter scams, and issues involving credit bureaus and information furnishers.

Military personnel and military-affiliated individuals are attractive targets for fraud because their information is maintained by the Departments of War and Veterans Affairs, which have national and local repositories. These individuals may also be members of public-facing organizations such as Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, further increasing their visibility. According to data compiled by the Department of Justice: Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative, military populations are explicitly targeted because of access to government benefits, pensions, and other resources. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, Fraud, supra. Within the $12.5 billion lost nationally in 2024, military-affiliated consumers suffered combined losses of $584 million (approximately 5% of all fraud). Fed. Trade Comm’n, Consumer Sentinel Data Book 2024, supra, at 17. Military retirees and veterans accounted for most of the military financial impact, reporting $419 million in losses. Id. at 17.

Modern scammers exploit weak consumer privacy laws, search public records, scrape social media sites, and use commercial data aggregators to obtain sensitive veterans’ data at virtually no cost. Justin Sherman et al., Data Brokers and the Sale of Data on U.S. Military Personnel: Risks to Privacy, Safety, and National Security (2023), https://techpolicy.sanford.duke.edu/data-brokers-and-the-sale-of-data-on-us-military-personnel/. Scammers use the data to create targeted campaigns that employ digital exploitation techniques, including text- or email-based phishing, spoofing, and imposter schemes that mimic trusted sources. Fed. Bureau of Investigation, Spoofing and Phishing (May 26, 2026), https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/spoofing-and-phishing. However, advocates can share several tools and safeguards to help veterans and their loved ones protect themselves from fraud. Id.

Share the Physical Document Protection sectionPhysical Document Protection

• Secure Documents: Secure physical records (e.g., Social Security card, DD-214, birth certificate) in a bank safe deposit box, a fireproof home safe, or a lockbox with an AirTag. An advocate’s client file should contain copies only, not original documents.
• Transporting Documents: Transport documents in zipped portfolios or closed manila envelopes rather than loose in folders or bags.
• Disposing of Documents: Thoroughly shred all mail containing personally identifiable information (PII), including bank statements, utility bills, credit card statements, and benefits notices.
• Securing Identification: Use RFID-blocking wallets to prevent scanning of credit cards and identification cards.

Share the Digital Security sectionDigital Security

• Access Control: Consider using multi-factor authentication (MFA) across email, social media, or other accounts.
• File Security: Secure digital files with strong passwords and encryption when emailing. Memory-impaired individuals, such as veterans who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), should consider a password manager with biometric security to protect passwords.
• Email Security: Look for known sender addresses; avoid clicking links from unknown senders. Official government communication will have a “.gov” domain.
• Validate Information: Validate unexpected phone calls or emails by contacting official customer service or using the “contact us” information published on the agency’s primary website. Financial and governmental entities do not initiate contact and then request verification information.
• Public Awareness: Avoid logging into government benefits portals or sensitive websites on public Wi-Fi networks. Always log out completely and clear the local internet cache when using public computers or shared kiosks.

Notably, unhoused persons or those experiencing housing insecurity are exceptionally vulnerable to fraud because they may lack the ability to secure their PII. U.S. Gov’t Accountability Off., GAO-24-105435, Homelessness: Barriers to Obtaining ID and Assistance Provided to Help Gain Access (2024), https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24105435.pdf. The U.S. Government Accountability Office found that homeless individuals “often lack a reliably safe place to store IDs and other important personal documents, making these items subject to loss, destruction by the elements, and theft.” Id.

An unhoused veteran eligible for or receiving benefits whose documents are stolen or compromised may face higher fraud risk due to the nexus of access to government benefits and the ease with which others may use stolen information. Veterans advocates across the country can assist these veterans in securing their PII by providing information-protection guidance and helpful contacts if the veteran believes they have been the victim of fraud. The Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic at Syracuse University has developed a Community Resource Pocket Guide to provide local veterans with a range of financial protection resources, technology assistance, and more specialized legal aid in the event of a fraud incident.