California Attorney General Warns Veterans About Scams and Fraud

In honor of Veterans Day, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has reminded veterans and their families to be cautious of scams and fraud, particularly those involving unaccredited claims representatives, known as 'claim sharks.' These individuals or companies exploit veterans by promising faster claims processing or guaranteed benefit increases, despite not being accredited by the U.S. The Attorney General emphasized that veterans do not need to pay for assistance with initial benefits claims and urged them to seek help from reliable and accredited channels (1). [1]

Receiving reliable assistance is crucial for veterans seeking benefits. Veterans can receive assistance at no charge from their county veteran service office, working in partnership with the California Department of Veterans Affairs, an accredited veterans organization, or from another VA accredited representative. Accredited representatives — including attorneys and claims agents certified by the VA — have passed exams, undergone background checks, and completed ongoing training to ensure they can assist veterans (1). [1]

Common scams targeting veterans include home loan scams, identity theft and fraud, pension scams, affinity fraud, and predatory schools. Home loan scams involve scammers pretending to be affiliated with the government, VA, or mortgage servicer, and may attempt to convince veterans to make payments to untraceable money orders or gift cards. Veterans are advised to never give out personal information to a lender or servicer that contacts them out of the blue (1). [1]

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued a consumer alert warning veterans and their families about scams involving unaccredited claims representatives, known as 'claim sharks' (source ID 1). These individuals or companies exploit veterans by promising faster claims processing or guaranteed benefit increases, despite not being accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Attorney General emphasized that veterans do not need to pay for assistance with initial benefits claims and urged them to seek help from reliable and accredited channels. SB 694, championed by Bonta, prohibits the charging of fees that exceed what a VA-accredited attorney or claims agent can legally charge to represent a veteran with a benefits claim. [1]

Common scams targeting veterans include home loan scams, identity theft and fraud, pension scams, affinity fraud, and predatory schools (source ID 1). Scammers may pretend to be affiliated with the government, VA, or mortgage servicer to gain trust and extract personal information or funds. Veterans are advised to be cautious of any individual or lender that asks for fees upfront or pressures them to sign papers they do not understand. It is crucial to verify the legitimacy of any organization before providing personal information or making payments. [1]

Pension scams target veterans age 65 and over by offering costly annuities or unnecessary fees for help with a veteran’s pension application (source ID 1). Affinity fraud involves scammers posing as fellow veterans or service members to gain trust, often using military-sounding names or symbols. Predatory schools may use high-pressure sales tactics to enroll veterans in programs without providing essential information about graduation rates or job placement. Veterans are encouraged to seek free help from their County Veterans Service Office for Aid and Attendance benefits and to research thoroughly before enrolling in educational programs. [1]

Sources

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra - Press Releases

Prepared with AI assistance from the cited sources.