California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued a consumer alert on Veterans Day, warning veterans and their families about scams that target those seeking assistance with benefits. The alert highlights the risks posed by unaccredited claims representatives, sometimes called “claim sharks,” who may promise faster processing or guaranteed increases in benefits but are not recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These individuals operate outside VA regulations and oversight.
“On Veterans Day, and on all days, we recognize the significant sacrifices and contributions of veterans. Honoring our heroes means keeping them safe, and as part of that commitment, today we raise awareness of predatory practices targeting veterans,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Whether a person claims to be from the VA, or an offer sounds too good to be true, I urge Californians to triple check every offer and seek assistance from reliable and accredited channels when in doubt. Our veterans deserve protection as strong as their service.”
Veterans in California can receive free help with initial benefits claims through local county veteran service offices or other VA-accredited representatives. These professionals have passed exams, background checks, and ongoing training required by the VA. They are subject to penalties if they fail to meet legal standards when representing veterans. In contrast, unaccredited representatives may provide poor-quality services and charge high fees or commit fraud.
The alert lists several common scams:
Home loan scams involve fraudsters posing as government or mortgage officials to convince veterans to make payments via untraceable methods such as money orders or gift cards. Signs include requests for upfront fees before services are rendered or instructions to redirect mortgage payments elsewhere. Suspicious activity should be reported directly to loan servicers using contact information from official statements; complaints can also be filed with the California Attorney General at oag.ca.gov/report and with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Identity theft is another risk area where scammers impersonate officials from agencies like the Department of Defense or VA to obtain personal information for fraudulent purposes. Recipients should verify any requests independently rather than relying on provided contact details—letters containing misspellings or directing recipients to non-government websites may indicate fraud attempts. Victims should place a fraud alert on their credit reports through Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion; consider freezing credit; report identity theft at identitytheft.gov; and file a police report.
Pension scams target older veterans with offers from financial advisers promising help qualifying for Aid and Attendance benefits but potentially causing loss of eligibility due to unnecessary asset transfers or costly annuities. Only the VA can award these benefits; free help is available through County Veterans Service Offices.
Affinity fraud occurs when scammers pose as fellow service members using military symbols or affiliations to build trust before selling products or services under false pretenses.
Predatory schools use aggressive sales tactics aimed at enrolling servicemembers in educational programs funded by GI Bill benefits without providing clear information about outcomes like graduation rates or job placement statistics.
Victims of these scams are encouraged to contact local law enforcement immediately and file complaints with the Office of the Attorney General online.
For more resources on identifying scams targeting veterans, visit oag.ca.gov/report.
