A postcard showed up in the mailbox. Official-looking. Serious. Says you or your spouse may qualify for extra VA benefits, monthly payments, dental coverage, the works. All you have to do is call.
Don’t.
The VA issued an alert June 10 warning veterans across the country about a wave of postcards promoting something called the “Veterans Savings Program.” No such program exists. The postcards reference real programs like CHAMPVA and TRICARE For Life to sound legitimate. They include a deadline, usually five days, to pressure you into calling fast before you think too hard about it.
Once you call, the scammer lays it on thick. Praise for your service. Gratitude. Warmth. All of it carefully designed to lower your guard before they ask for your Social Security number, your bank details, your VA file number or all three.
The VA does not send benefit updates by postcard. Ever.
🎖️ Why veterans are being targeted
Scammers don’t pick random names out of thin air. They buy lists.
Data brokers compile files on millions of Americans from public records, app data, loyalty programs and online activity. Those files include your name, home address, age, household members and in many cases whether you’re a veteran or receive government benefits. That information gets packaged and sold to anyone willing to pay, including scammers running exactly this kind of operation.
Your name on that postcard wasn’t a coincidence. Someone paid for it.
🔒 Do these things right now
- Throw the postcard away. Do not call any number listed on it. The VA will never reach out by postcard to notify you of new benefits.
- Verify directly with the VA. If you have any questions about your benefits, call the VA’s official line at 1-800-827-1000 or visit VA.gov. Those are the only sources you should trust.
- Report it. Call 1-800-827-1000 to report the scam to the VA. You can also file a complaint at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Every report helps investigators track these operations down.
- Get your name off the list. This is important to know.
Before a scammer can send you a targeted postcard, they need your address, your phone number, your employment background and your medical conditions. They buy all this and more from data brokers for pennies.
Incogni sends removal requests to 420+ data brokers on your behalf and keeps sending them every time your data reappears. They’ve already filed 2,748 removal requests for me. You set it up once. It runs in the background.
Crooks can’t target you if they can’t find you. They can’t scam you if they don’t know you exist. Get 60% off now with code KIM60.
They thanked you for your service. Then tried to rob you. That’s who these people are.
📩 Send this to a veteran or military spouse you know. They need to see this.