July is Military Consumer Protection Month

This July, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and the Federal Trade Commission are highlighting consumer protection issues that impact many American consumers, specifically those members of the United States Armed Forces. While no one is immune from falling prey to scams, there are certain scams that are directed to those who serve the nation in uniform.

“Scam artists prey on the fact that United States service members are the most sacrificial people and exploit their generosity to gain a profit,” Rutledge said. “It is important that current and former members of our armed forces, as well as their families, are able to identify these types of scams so that they do not fall victim to them.”

Rutledge released the following tips and common scams military service members and veterans should be cautious of moving forward:

■Be aware of any scam artists charging money for free records.

■Be skeptical of any exclusive deal only for veterans.

■Be guarded when anyone demands an up-front payment.

■Be suspicious of any individual or entity requiring monetary compensation to file disability claims for veterans. .

■Be leery of email messages claiming to be from a legitimate organization that does not have its own domain name.

■Be careful with any correspondence containing poor spelling and grammar.

■Be cautious with suspicious links and high-pressure requests.

■Be suspicious of unsolicited investment advice. Some scammers have disguised themselves as veterans’ advocates and claim victims are entitled to additional veterans’ benefits.