AARP warns of veteran-related scams

This year is the 100th anniversary of the Nov. 11 signing of the treaty that ended World War I. Nov. 11 eventually was designated Veterans Day.

In what AARP’s Fraud Watch Network calls “a shameful twist,” crooks are pretending to represent charities benefiting veterans. Scammers often use sound-alike names or invent authentic-sounding “organizations” to solicit money, saying they will help veterans.

While there are many charities that help veterans, the Federal Trade Commission has reported a number of fake groups operating under names including the American Disabled Veterans Foundation, Military Families of America, Veterans Emergency Blood Bank, Vets Fighting Breast Cancer and Veterans Fighting Breast Cancer.

These groups have claimed falsely to pay for medical care, a suicide prevention program, retreats for veterans recuperating from stress and veterans fighting breast cancer, the FTC has said.

Before donating, the AARP’s Fraud Watch Network recommends consumers verify each charity by checking their names and reputations at the Better Business Bureau, www.give.org or www.charitynavigator.org.

For more information, go to the FTC’s web page: https://tinyurl.com/ya739wff.

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